All the questions I asked when i joined - Answered

[Oli]

So, I joined the forum a while back when I decided to embark on a tiling career, When I first joined I was aprehensive to ask questions, probably mainly because I thought they'd sound stupid, I took the gamble and asked away regardless, boy am I glad I did.

I thought i'd take bite the bullet again and try and give something back to the forum so i'm going to add the stuff I asked to this post, I wrote the stuff down in what I refer to as by 'Bible' and I keep it handy so I can keep refering back to it.

I hope that this is helpfull to those who want to know but are a bit shy to ask.

[Oli]

So to kick off......

Substrate weight ratings

A common question, how much weight can my wall support, here are the reccommended max weight ratings in KG / m2

Plaster Skim on Plaster Board........20KG
Skim and Set Plaster...................28KG
Plaster Board.............................32KG
Sand and Cement.......................40KG
Cement Backer Board..................55KG
Hardibacker Board.......................45KG
Lightweight Tile Backer Board........40KG
Glass Reinforced Cement Sheet.....50KG
Gypsum Fibre Board.....................40KG

Remeber to factor in the weight of the tile / m2 AND adhesive and grout

Grout.........2KG / m2
Adhesive....4KG / m2

[Oli]

Which trowel......

Different trowel's for different scenario's, as a guide........

Mosaics...........................4mm Notch
Kitchen Walls....................6mm Notch
Good Bathroom Walls......... 8mm Notch
Bad Bathroom Walls...........10mm Notch
Good Floors.....................10mm Notch
Reasonable Floors.............12mm Notch
Large Format Tiles............12mm Notch
Rough Floors....................13mm Notch


Dry Wall Area's................Notched Trowel
Wet Wall Area's...............Thin Solid Bed Trowel
Floors / External Area's.....Thick Solid Bed Trowel
Tiles over 300 x 300.........Large Format Trowel
Mosaics upto 100 x 100....4mm Mosaic Trowel

[Oli]

One minor thing I took a while to get to grips with was the abbreviations we use, these are the ones I could think of from the top of my head....


SLC - Self levelling compound
PTB - Pourable thick bed
SPF - Single part flexible
2PF - 2 Part flexible
UHF - Under floor heating
WBP - Weather and boil proof ply (also reffered to as exterior grade)
SBR - (eg Bal Bond SBR), A priming and bonding agent)
I cant think of any more of the top of my head at the moment,

[Oli]

Background Preperations,

Gypsum Plasterboards
Make sure the boards are dry and free from dust, they must be securley fixed and must be rigid, make sure the fixings are flush to the surface, plasterboard usually has two different surfaces, the surface that is intended to take the finish should be exposed. Before tiling, prime with a suitable primer, NOT PVA, something like Bal Prime APD. Allow the primer to dry before tiling.

Newly Plastered Walls
Dont make the mistake of rushing to tile on new plaster, it must be allowed to dry fully before tiling. 4 Weeks should suffice, try and leave a window open to allow air to circulate over the plaster. Make sure the surface is free from dust and loose plaster.
If the plaster has been finished to a shiny, smooth glass like surface brush over it with a stiff brush. Before tiling, prime with a suitable primer as per the manufactures instructions before you tile. If any plaster is loose it will need to be removed and any gaps refilled with fresh plaster or a suitable filler.

Tiling over existing tiles
You need to bare in mind, weight ratings for the surface underneath the existing tiles, the size of the old and new tiles and the weight. If possible remove the old tiles.
If you cannot remove the old tiles, and are sure that the weight of the old and new tiles will be within safe limits then ensure the existing tiles are securley fixed and not at all loose. Score the surface of the existing tiles, and wash down with a suitable sugar soap. wash again to remove and sugar soap residue then tile.

Plywood
Make sure that if overlaying, the existing floorboards are secure and dry, lay the ply sheets with the cross joints staggered leaving a 1/2 to 1mm gap between boards, screw down at 300mm centres, make sure the screws are flush to the surface. Prime (not pva) then tile.

Concrete / Screed base
Ensure new bases have been allowed to dry completley, 6 weeks for concrete, 3 weeks for sand:cement screeds.

Tile Backer board
Fix securley, make sure they are dry and rigid, No need to prime prior to tiling

Tiling over screeded floors with UFH
Allow cement screeds to dry out for three weeks, unless quicksetting cement used. Once dryed out fully, turn on the UHF an allow it to heat 5 d/c per date, until a temp of 25 d/c is reached, leave the UHF on at 25 d/c for three days then allow it to cool to normal room temp. Once tiled leave the UHF off for two weeks, then raise the UHF to desired temp at no more than 5 d/c per day.

[TilingLogistics]

Which trowel......

Different trowel's for different scenario's, as a guide........

Mosaics...........................4mm Notch
Kitchen Walls....................6mm Notch
Good Bathroom Walls......... 8mm Notch
Bad Bathroom Walls...........10mm Notch
Good Floors.....................10mm Notch
Reasonable Floors.............12mm Notch
Large Format Tiles............12mm Notch
Rough Floors....................13mm Notch


Dry Wall Area's................Notched Trowel
Wet Wall Area's...............Thin Solid Bed Trowel
Floors / External Area's.....Thick Solid Bed Trowel
Tiles over 300 x 300.........Large Format Trowel
Mosaics upto 100 x 100....4mm Mosaic Trowel

Oli,

The only thing there is I take it you mean a tipped trowel for mosaics?

Kev

[Oli]

Oli,

The only thing there is I take it you mean a tipped trowel for mosaics?

Kev

For floors mate yes to get the right bed thickness.

[GazTech]

So to kick off......

Substrate weight ratings

A common question, how much weight can my wall support, here are the reccommended max weight ratings in KG / m2

Plaster Skim on Plaster Board........20KG
Skim and Set Plaster...................28KG
Plaster Board.............................32KG
Sand and Cement.......................40KG
Cement Backer Board..................55KG
Hardibacker Board.......................45KG
Lightweight Tile Backer Board........40KG
Glass Reinforced Cement Sheet.....50KG
Gypsum Fibre Board.....................40KG

Remeber to factor in the weight of the tile / m2 AND adhesive and grout

Grout.........2KG / m2
Adhesive....4KG / m2

4kg per m2 is general for adhesive and grout, it is less with lightweight adhesives such as Supercover or PCI nanolight......Gaz

[Oli]

Very true Gaz, I should have added that these are all general and approximate ratings.

[Dave]

All the same Oli....many thanks....we love threads like these...keep up the good work mate...you will be rewarded............

[Oli]

Cheers Dave Mate,

Thanks for putting the link in my siggy as well, 'Tile Bible' Lol.

[GazTech]

Yea Oli, big thanks for this cracking post.......Gaz

[Dave]

Cheers Dave Mate,

Thanks for putting the link in my siggy as well, 'Tile Bible' Lol.

Wasn't me.............must have been Dan.........but if you asked i would have anyway..

[Oli]

Wasn't me.............must have been Dan.........but if you asked i would have anyway..

I didnt want to distract you from trying to beat that basketball score mate, practise makes perfect as they say.