Hello all, anyone finding the low temperatures affecting setting times this week and last?
We're using a pallet of keraquick white and it's damn slow in a cold house,lol.
No doubt into double figures setting time, it is setting well though when done.

Been using proflex, this week. 6/8 hours to set instead of 2, easily sits in the bucket for 4 hours, good for pot life, not so good for grouting the same day.

Just as well i'v been laying full tiles since tuesday then,lol.
It's handy even at lunch time, leave a half bucket etc.

the webers been ok, heard some where that they do winter and summer mix's, the winter mix is ment to go off faster, so god help us in the summer when we get the left over winter mix...

Setting times are all based on 20 dgs cel

The colder it is the more tea you have to drink

Ive been leaving a little blob out of each mix on a tile coz I wasn't convinced it was ever going to set! Set fine though, which is always a relief.

I have to ditra a bathroom floor on saturday morning and tile it too

Originally Posted by hillhead

I have to ditra a bathroom floor on saturday morning and tile it too

Grout as well? Good luck!

i thought there was a new product out on reading the title

Originally Posted by Bri

Grout as well? Good luck!

No grout on saturday, i could do it all with rapid and let it set together.
I have heavy marble shower slab walls to fit in there on monday and tile away at it too.
Marble vanity unit and mirror surrounds too, fancy one with 60x60 porcelain too.

You've got confused Mike, you must be thinking of rapid setting slow set, not slow setting rapid set

im on site and had same probs couldnt do any grouting this week incase of the freeze with the grout

I have mapei limestone ultracolour to use tomorrow, 10 bags.lol.
I wonder how it will set.
Also i'm wearing 2 tee shirts, a sweater and a bodywarmer plus wolly hat !!!
Great fun this tiling.lol

mix with warmer water! thats what i do, been using keraflex all week :-)

u dont get warm water on site lol

I'd have to boil the kettle where i am,lol.

Originally Posted by hillhead

I have to ditra a bathroom floor on saturday morning and tile it too

How many metres you got there Hillhead? I've just done an outhouse 15m2 and it took 4 days, Ditra, tile and grout, just so slow at drying even with an oil heater.

Same inside unheated house in kitchen 5 days, SLC, Ditra, tile and grout tomorrow for 25m2 with an oil heater.

The air inside the rooms are warm but the floor being concrete is bitterly cold affecting drying times.

Put some waste adhesive in the skip and the next morning it had just about started going off.

I'm not sure how many m2 i have there, i have an agreement on price(which is good) for whole room. I'd say 7-10m2 on floor but there is people in the house so heat there for sure.
This is on another job, not the one i started the thread about.

Originally Posted by hillhead

I'm not sure how many m2 i have there, i have an agreement on price(which is good) for whole room. I'd say 7-10m2 on floor but there is people in the house so heat there for sure.
This is on another job, not the one i started the thread about.

Thats where you need to brush up on your negotiating skills...hehe. I managed to get a day rate for the house we're doing, 2 bathrooms, outhouse and kitchen. and I've done ok. I've no heating and no running water and that ain't easy. As Dave says tho, I'm backwards and forwards to the local caf for tea regularly.

I'll be well covered in this one John too, i have done some class jobs for this marble company since last year and the don't buck me at all.
I don't be afraid to shout if i need more,lol.

I had to go back to a job and grout it at 21.00, Not really cold over this part tho, The rapid set had been in my shed for a couple of months and I think it had gone off a bit.





You know it's cold when you sit on the 110 transformer to take your tea lol

Joe you better get up early Saturday no drinking Friday night and get early night

I went to fit a floor yesterday that had been latexed on tuesday......still hadn't dried. Was still to wet to walk on!!

I have to get stair carpet covering in the morning and ditra matting before getting to the job, meeting the plumber and help him fit a marble shower tray.
Then i have to screw down a bit of ply, lay ditra and tile 12m2!!!
Oh i love saturdays....

the tray and ply was all meant to be done today ! typical.