It's me again. Quick question about priming.

Before I started tiling a wall, I decided to have a little practice run on tiling the window sill - just to get a feel for the trowel etc. (I don't get on with a trowel incidentally - an 11 incher, and wonder if I'd be better off with a smaller adhesive spreader).

Anyway, I decided to remove the tiles yesterday and some of the adhesive was stuck to the window sill and some came off as easy as slicing through butter.

Now, obviously I didn't prime the window sill or anything as I was just practising, but how come some adhesive had set and some hadn't?

It looks like a cement based adhesive that's on there.

Primer G instructions tell you to "dilute 1:1-1:3 depending on the absorbtion substrate". How do I know how much to dilute?

Here's a picture of what's there.



I was going to put a skim of adhesive on there to try to level the window sill out before tiling

Try and stick with the trowel if you can Minnie, it far better than a plastic spreader, what is the adhesive, bagged powder or ready mixed tubbed stuff? as for your primer mix it 1 part water and 1 part primer, you will see how quickly it is absorbed into your walls, give it a couple of coats. If you are going to level your sill you would be better off getting a small piece of plasterboard, stick it with your adhesive. If you are going to use a tubbed adhesive ( not my choice ) then you have to let the tiles dry properly before grouting

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

Try and stick with the trowel if you can Minnie, it far better than a plastic spreader, what is the adhesive, bagged powder or ready mixed tubbed stuff? as for your primer mix it 1 part water and 1 part primer, you will see how quickly it is absorbed into your walls, give it a couple of coats. If you are going to level your sill you would be better off getting a small piece of plasterboard, stick it with your adhesive. If you are going to use a tubbed adhesive ( not my choice ) then you have to let the tiles dry properly before grouting

Yes, I have tubbed adhesive because I'm an amateur and figured I'd make less of a mess.

Do you know why one part of the window sill dried and the other didn't?

Not sure about plasterboard. Don't have time to go and source it, and it would interfere with my measurements for the wall tiles ie. I won't know how much of a gap to leave for the border if I don't know the width of plasterboard (unless you tell me what measurements they come in ).

I'm taking wall tiles off now and starting at a different point thereby giving me a 15cm tile at the top instead of a few centimetre slither!

I figured it I worked from top of shelf above sink, that's 40cm to window sill, but I need to take into account adhesive and tile on window sill before I cut the 15cm one. The sensible thing of course is to leave the top tile and the border off until I've figured out what I'm going to do with window sill. I think that's what I'll do - assuming I can stay sensible for long enough.

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

If you are going to level your sill you would be better off getting a small piece of plasterboard, stick it with your adhesive.

I hear what your ssying Diamond but I don't believe she has room, if you look at the picture once plasterboard (even 9mm) plus addy and tile she is going to be tiling over the window hinge which by the look of it is a tilt and turn window

I did not notice the picture, cheers CR, are you leaving the sill till last Minnie? that would be preferable, you can tile up to it and get your tiles all nice and level, as for your adhesive drying or not it could be the surface, the temperature in the room, tubbed adhesive takes longer than bagged.

Originally Posted by Colour Republic

I hear what your ssying Diamond but I don't believe she has room, if you look at the picture once plasterboard (even 9mm) plus addy and tile she is going to be tiling over the window hinge which by the look of it is a tilt and turn window

That's correct, it's one of those windows that opens inwards from the top or the side, depending which way you turn the handle.

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

I did not notice the picture, cheers CR, are you leaving the sill till last Minnie? that would be preferable, you can tile up to it and get your tiles all nice and level, as for your adhesive drying or not it could be the surface, the temperature in the room, tubbed adhesive takes longer than bagged.

I think I'm going to have to leave it 'til last, but the problem is, I'm not sure where my borders should go. Do they cover the edge of the window tile?

Also, because I'm not sure how much I need to level it out, I don't know what size tile to cut under the border. It needs to be around 15cm, but I can't be sure until I know where the border tiles go exactly, and until I've done the window, I'm not going to know the correct measurement, so I'm a bit confused.

Oh, whilst you're here!

I've just removed all the wall tiles as I'm starting from the level of the shelf above the sink now instead of level with the sink.

Now I've removed the tiles and adhesive, do I have to do anything with the wall (eg. sanding/wiping down with a wet cloth) or am I good to start tiling again?

Sorry for so many questions. I know brickies, chippies, sparks, window fixers etc. but don't know any tilers.

PS: Why did the adhesive dry on one part of the window and not the other? The 3 tiles were all laid at the same time and days ago (ie. Tuesday or Wednesday)

A border looks good going into the window reveals, it does come down to personal choice really. If your walls are in good condition and are not painted then you can apply your primer, work out where you want to start from and away you go. If you can try and start with the longest lowest line and work up, you might consider a batten to hold them up whilst they dry. Keep asking the questions, the more you ask the more we will help you.
Does the window sill collect condensation? this would delay drying times.

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

A border looks good going into the window reveals, it does come down to personal choice really. If your walls are in good condition and are not painted then you can apply your primer, work out where you want to start from and away you go. If you can try and start with the longest lowest line and work up, you might consider a batten to hold them up whilst they dry.
Does the window sill collect condensation? this would delay drying times.

I thought about that, but wouldn't that mean I'd have one big wall with no feature?



These tiles are all off now as the corner tiles were cut badly and I realised some of the tiles were different size thereby screwing up the grout line, plus I'm starting shelf height now



The mosaics in the picture below are what I'm going for (3 tiles width, ie. 5cms). I know green is probably a strange colour to put with cream but I like them.



As for battens, don't have any. As you can see, old books and videos have become my batten!

Keep asking the questions, the more you ask the more we will help you.

You may regret saying that.

As for the window collecting condensation, it's not something I really notice. I'm 5ft so don't really notice it. Probably though as the ceiling does get wet but I will in future make it a rule to turn on the fan and stop b/f leaving towel on radiator which stops room from drying out.

I love the book battens if it works for you then who cares.
I am not sure if I am reading you correctly, if the border goes into the window then you will still have it on all walls.
Your tiles should not be different sizes, are they all the same batch number, it should be printed on the boxes.

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

I love the book battens if it works for you then who cares.
I am not sure if I am reading you correctly, if the border goes into the window then you will still have it on all walls.
Your tiles should not be different sizes, are they all the same batch number, it should be printed on the boxes.

Exactly. I was worried about there being hidden pipes and stuff and as I don't have the means or knowledge to find out buy but I thought bugger that and all the hassle of going off and finding battens, so used old books instead. (I know there's an instrument you can get that tells you if there's hidden pipes/wires).

I'm not sure I'm reading you correctly. Are you saying to put the border up to the window sill and then stick another border on the window reveals (albeit at a different height). Where's the "totally confused" smiley!

If your border is higher than the window sill then it will wrap around the reveals, if you position it lower then it will come under the sill,, as I said it is personal taste, I prefer to see it going into the window. Are you only tiling half way up the walls?

Originally Posted by diamondtiling

If your border is higher than the window sill then it will wrap around the reveals, if you position it lower then it will come under the sill,, as I said it is personal taste, I prefer to see it going into the window. Are you only tiling half way up the walls?

Only planning on going as high as the window sill (time and money constraints as need to do this by Christmas ) but that's higher than the council did it, although they did above sink higher than above bath.





Still have another 5 walls plus all the area around the sink





and all the horizontal bits which I know are going to have me near tears

I've just done half that main wall again and realise I've done it wrong again.

Tough, I ain't pulling it all down again