I am considering giving up using rapid set(spf r) on the majority of my commercial work due to the high level of waste involved ,we lose countless of bags where subbies are knocking up gorilla buckets of rapid and having it set then throwing half of it in the skip,I am trying to guage whether the cost of occasionally someone walking on the work and having to reset tiles from time to time would outway the cost of all the adhesive that goes off before its used .what are your opinions on this? as I think if we make up good signage and hi vis bunting to stop idiots walking on wet floors we could save a lot of money over a year

Great thread Gary, I have insisted on it for the last 4 weeks, I was fed up of watching guys cleaning out mixes that had set and thinking "that's my money", slow set ctfa is now what I use, and I make sure no-one comes close to the wet tiles.

rapid set

from your 'commercial' point of view lads standard set seems practical. Can't expect a subbie to think of 'your', money

When ever possible i use standard set but you have already mentioned the problems. That said why not work out the adhesive required for the job and tell them there is enough to do it ( with extra to be on the safe side) and tell them any extra comes out their money.....I bet they would be more careful then.
As for signage to stop people walking on the floor ....whats your next joke ?

I must admit, I use standard set the majority of the time on walls, unless it's a job that I can get tiled and grouted the same day, or on the last tiling day of a job that means I can get it grouted too.
I nearly always use rapid on floors tho' as most times I dry lay a significant area first and that means I get little wastage on the addy as I'm not having to fiddle about with cuts while it's in the tub.

good signage and high vis bunting your going need one of these mate.....
and barbed wire

i use standard set most of the time on pool mosaic, as most of you know a lot of mosaic is rubbish so you need the extra time for straightning out, but fast set has its place too,ie domestic kitchen floors, where the customer is at work then expects to cook when home!!

hiya gary,cant you work out what materials are needed and set up some sort of system for your subbies so they know what they are going to be allocated for each job on a spec sheet before they start...if they go wasting full gorilla buckets of addy ove the top of your allowance well thats coming out there pocket.soon put a stop to wastage subby or not wasting peoples money like that is unprofessional and imo not a good trait

Originally Posted by doug boardley

I nearly always use rapid on floors tho' as most times I dry lay a significant area first and that means I get little wastage on the addy as I'm not having to fiddle about with cuts while it's in the tub.

Me too Doug! I defo prefer to dry lay most of the tiles on smaller areas

I think you are being a bit harsh on your subbies!
Its not their fault that the instructions on the bag tell them how much water to add to a full bag of adhesive.
Do you really expect them to be able to judge a smaller mix!

I would go for standard set and photo the work when laid

any callbacks should be on daywork

if your rapids going off cant you use something that doesn't go of so quick like a 3 hour set ? i have found whatever barriers you put up they move them and as soon as you walk out the door they are on them you only have to pop out when you come back look for the footprints people nowadays are only able to think of themselves they don't think they are doing any wrong

Gary why dont you use a " slow " fastset , i use one on bigger jobs that has a 6 hour set time..

Rapid for smaller jobs but anything larger then a standard set, even the standard will hold the tile after a short time

hi gary

or you could use keraquik and then you've got an inbetween lol....anybody else think mapei keraquik isnt ?? or is it just me

i use standard set normally but i think this down to me being slow, if i do need to use rapid i go with way of doug and dry lay with cuts

Originally Posted by AstonTiling

hi gary

or you could use keraquik and then you've got an inbetween lol....anybody else think mapei keraquik isnt ?? or is it just me

I call it kera slow lol

Originally Posted by AstonTiling

hi gary

or you could use keraquik and then you've got an inbetween lol....anybody else think mapei keraquik isnt ?? or is it just me

Been using it today and its not the fastest setting adhesive around but that didnt matter today.

Bal now do and additive which can determine how long you want to wait before adhesive sets.
May be useful.

Originally Posted by arrowtiling

Bal now do and additive which can determine how long you want to wait before adhesive sets.
May be useful.

Variset..and have you priced it...