quick question - travertine & painted walls

[Grace'sDad]

Just wondered what you'd do?

I'm faced with painted plasterboard walls (dot n dabbed). The paint (2 layers) has been well keyed and doesn't pull off at all with the duck-tape test.

There are so many stray pipes and cables behind the boards that I am loathe to drill, plug and screw backer boards up. (I think the walls were altered by rogue traders).

I need to fix 450 x 300 travertine, using BAL SPF.

I want to score up the paint using my hardibacker knife, right through to plaster, prime with BAL Bond SBR and tile away.

Would anyone else do this? I don't think I'd do this with BIG travertine but my metal detector was lit up like a xmas tree on these walls. I cut out a few holes and there were leccy cables strung at 45 degrees and microbore heating pipes everywhere!

watyoofink???

[grumpygrouter]

have you weighed a tile to see how heavy it is?

[Grace'sDad]

One tile weighs around 2kilo (on customer's kitchen scales) - they are 10mm thick @ 450x305mm.

[GazTech]

I would be well tempted to use mosaic fix Mark, it is far and away the best adhesive for this situation.....Gaz

Allow 4kg per m2 for adhesive and grout, you are within the limit, no need to score or prime with mosaic fix....Gaz

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by Grace'sDad

One tile weighs around 2kilo (on customer's kitchen scales) - they are 10mm thick @ 450x305mm.

At 7 tiles per m2 that makes the tiles well within the plasterbaord weight limit doesn't it?

[grumpygrouter]

For some reason I can't "quote" your reply Gaz, It says I don't have access priveliges. lol.

Got to agree about the mosaic-fix, brilliant stuff, real dogs danglies in my opinion.

[sibs]

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

For some reason I can't "quote" your reply Gaz, It says I don't have access priveliges. lol.

Got to agree about the mosaic-fix, brilliant stuff, real dogs danglies in my opinion.

Does mosaic fix have extra sticking qualities? Whats the difference between that and spf apart from the obvious?

[GazTech]

[quote=sibs;87912]Does mosaic fix have extra sticking qualities? Whats the difference between that and spf apart from the obvious?[/quote]Chris, the mosaic fix is the most polymer modified adhesive we make in powder form, single part flexible is just modified not highly modified. There is only a certain limit to how much flexi property you can add to adhesive before it is too sticky to work with when fixing.......Gaz

[sWe]

Adhesive meant for mosaics normally has increased sticking properties, as mosaics tend to be made from porcelain or glass, which is really dense and non-absorbant.

[sibs]

Originally Posted by GazTech

Chris, the mosaic fix is the most polymer modified adhesive we make in powder form, single part flexible is just modified not highly modified. There is only a certain limit to how much flexi property you can add to adhesive before it is too sticky to work with when fixing.......Gaz

So mosaic fix is the most modified adhesive that you can add just water to and using that will negate the need to score the paint? Have I got that right? Its just if thats the case its a handy thing to bear in mind so just looking for clarification Thanks Gaz

[Grace'sDad]

Thanks Guys.

Gaz, I used the mosiac fix on that job last week and it stuck those new ceramics onto the old glazed tiles a real treat. It's lovely stuff to work with too. Now all you need to do to make it the "perfect tile adhesive" is DROP THE RRP!!!

It's too late to swap the adhesives now, so I'll be roughing up and using the SPF. Do you think there is any advantage in priming with SBR though?

[TilingLogistics]

I am really surprised that the tiles only weigh 2KG!

Kev