Help!: Tiling my shower

[thearch]

Hi there i have recently added an ensuite onto our bedroom - stud wall and plaster board which has been plastered. The shower area is like an alcove the tray is 1000x800 (so i have to tile one wall x 1000 and 2 x 800)
The tiles i have are heavy italian 400x300 and having read some of the posts i am starting to worry they may be too heavy for the plaster?
Do i need to prime the walls at all or does it depend what adhesive im using? I have got powdered one for showers/bathrooms.
How long should i give plaster to dry? Builder says it will be ok this weekend to tile but it was only plastered on tuesday!
With the type of tile i have im guessing it should be done like bricks however as my wall is 1000 but tile 400 is it going to look silly or where should i cut/start. Same as 800 walls do i go for a full and 2 half tiles?
I'm going to have loads of other questions but im guessing you will have some for me so i'll leave it at this for now and hope you guys can help!!

[Oli]

Hi and Welcome to the forum,

The maximum weight for plaster skim on plasterboard is 20kg/m2, taking into account approxiamtley 4kg/m2 for adhesive and grout and you only have 16kg/m2 left for your tiles.

If you already have bought the tiles, work out what they weigh per m2, if the tile and adhesive and grout are over 20kg/m2, you may need to reconsider your options, you dont want a heavy tile falling on your head whilst your taking a shower.

[thearch]

Cheers oli so am i best just weighing about 8 tiles and if more than 16kgs im in trouble!

[GazTech]

Cheers oli so am i best just weighing about 8 tiles and if more than 16kgs im in trouble!

Welcome to the forums, yes weigh a sq m of tiles and then let us know, we can best advise you then....Gaz

[Oli]

If my maths is holding up then 8.3 tiles will be 1m2 in your case, just stick em on the scales mate.

[whitebeam]

If they are porcelain at 10mm they will be about 28kg m2, Natural stone at 10mm is about 31kg m2. You will be pushing the limit either way

[thearch]

well im guessing 8 tiles= 2kgs max per tile and i can tell you they weigh far more than 2 bags of sugar!! I'm screwed lads i reckon one tile weighs at least 5kgs

[Oli]

Two options then mate really, change the tiles or change the walls for something that can bear more weight, going to leave a bitter taste after paying for the walls plastering, but you could reboard the walls with a tile backer board / cement board, shame to rip all the new plaster down.

Have a look here for the weight ratings of different backgrounds and dont be too downhearted, tis' a common mistake, which comes up alot on the forums, better you found out now, rather that finding out a month down the line having had the tiles fall off.

[thearch]

or theres the option of a new wife who doesnt pick the heaviest tiles in the world ha ha

[Oli]

............

[thearch]

confused more oli the tiles weigh 5kgs each and guy in shop said they will be fine. he has them on plaster board in the shop on top of other tiles and they are dead on. is it just like a guideline or do you think its a definite no no