Hi all,

I'll be tiling a bathroom floor tomorrow, there is already ply down so plan on tiling straight on this. The customer has gone and bought some tops 'trade' adhesive even though I told them I would get the adhesive! Is there any need to prime the ply, it has had carpet on it before I think. Also anyone used tops addy before, i've always used bal in the past?

Ta

How thick is the ply and what is it laid on to..? and how is it fixed.?

It's screwed onto floor boards I think -12mm I hope, I get a bit complacent sometimes just asuming but i'm pretty sur, i'm going to make sure it's well fixed first. the whole bathroom suite is sitting on top of it, but I can take one piece up to check.

as for the addy! it's fine,i used it for years when i used topps and actually preferred it to bal it does tend to go off quick so be careful mixing up your first batch

What is a trade adhesive.
Is it a cement based flexible product and what size tles are you using.

Have to call you cheeky!

Originally Posted by Rascal

It's screwed onto floor boards I think -12mm I hope, I get a bit complacent sometimes just asuming but i'm pretty sur, i'm going to make sure it's well fixed first. the whole bathroom suite is sitting on top of it, but I can take one piece up to check.

just measure the depth at the door

Just look in the doorway.. you will see the edge there....

Now if that ply has been down a while under a carpet, it might be contaminated now with old water/muck residue when the carpet got wet from showers etc..

It might be wise to use a 6mm cement board over the top..

Originally Posted by timeless john

What is a trade adhesive.
Is it a cement based flexible product and what size tles are you using.

Have to call you cheeky!

it'll be toppfix john

[QUOTE=timeless john;407749]What is a trade adhesive.
Is it a cement based flexible product and what size tles are you using.

'Trade' is just a word they stick on products to make it sound professional! 30 x 30 tiles, its a rapid set flexible.

Cheeky??

Originally Posted by Dave

Just look in the doorway.. you will see the edge there....

Now if that ply has been down a while under a carpet, it might be contaminated now with old water/muck residue when the carpet got wet from showers etc..

It might be wise to use a 6mm cement board over the top..

The ply is sound...looks like new. So what about a primer...no harm in a coat of bal sbr I take it...how long till you can tile on this?? All other bal primers are 30 mins but cant find info on SBR??

Bal say not to use primers.. but IMO SBR is the one if you were too.. and that takes about 15 mins but open the window to speed up..( Air flow)

As for Cheeky.... Your user name i think.. Cheeky Rascal.. i think john meant..

Originally Posted by Dave

Bal say not to use primers.. but IMO SBR is the one if you were too.. and that takes about 15 mins but open the window to speed up..( Air flow)

Well to quote Bals website for sbr "Priming of plaster/screed/timber/ vinyl surfaces" ?????

I've read on here that some always use it on the top surface of ply anyway with no probs. It's just that the ply is old so I thought it might help.

That is the instructions on the SBR... read the ones on the adhesive.. but like i said above it won't hurt to SBR it..

Quote also from Bal website:

Overlay existing timber floor with WBP or marine grade plywood,
min. 15mm thick, screwed (not nailed) at 300mm centres.
Prime all timber surfaces on the back face and edges with neat
BAL BOND SBR priming agent. Allow to dry.

Yeah i've read all that before....it's all a bit contradictory tbh. Will call their technichal helpline in the morning.

Just want to say how much I love these forums....always such quick and informed responses to sometimes same old same old questions, hats off to all you pros!

No probs.. But i deffo think you are fine with the SBR..

Yeah, confusing all that. To prime or not to prime?

Originally Posted by Phil Hobson

Yeah, confusing all that. To prime or not to prime?

That is the question

years ago adhesive manufactures used to tell you to prime ply but we wasn't always using rapid set as the rapid drys faster it doesn't let so much water into the ply now days they tell you to use rapid but don't prime it on the side you are going to tile

Just to follow up on this. I called BAL this moring just to see what they said not that I was worried about using the SBR on the ply. Anyway we know why to prime the underside and the sides, the reason they say not to prime the top side is just that it's not necessary, the addy bonds to ply with no probs without a primer. But it's fine to use SBR as a primer 4/1 with water on ply if you want but generally it's not needed. In my case the ply was old a bit dusty some spots of cement and stuff etc so they said it was a good idea, so just a precaution really but worth doing for the sake of ten minutes and a tenner!

I always prime just as a precaution. I know with a lot of flexi rapidset its not necessary as they are able to bond without being primed, however I just do it as part of the job to be on the safe side. Just make sure its dry before applying any adhesive onto it