Bal Fastlex onto chipboard!? - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

CCTiling · 23-09-2008

Hi all

Just been out to quote a bathroom floor where the grout has started to crack. The customer did the job and he said that the tile suppliers said to him that it would be fine to tile straight onto the chipboard with fastflex. Not so sure myself but never fixed direct onto chipboard as always used ply then tiled. Is fastflex ok to use direct onto chipboard? Cheers Ross

**grumpygrouter** · 23-09-2008

Fastflex is probably the best stuff you can use directly onto chipboard (along with Ardex 7001) though BAL don't recommend tiling straight onto chipboard at all.

Was the grout used a flexible grout or is there a lot of "bounce" in the floor?

CJ · 23-09-2008

I'm with Grumps on this...........Fast flex is the most flexible of the Bal range of addys...............bet the grout was'nt

**Dave** · 23-09-2008

BAL say that fastflex is suitable for tiling onto chipboard..but i don't think that chipboard is stable enough to tile on to without an overlay of some sort...ply or backerboard etc....

check out the pdf for fastflex.... http://194.223.92.131/pdf/Technical%...d_Fastflex.pdf

Fred · 23-09-2008

What sort of price do you pay for this product?

**wetdec** · 23-09-2008

Waterproof chipboard the green stuff for bathrooms contains wax. As a home warms up its possible for the waxes to release and so adhesive to pull away.

If you use an uncoupling membrane such as Durabase ci to prevent lateral cracking of your tiles and fix it with a BALL lino adhesive then you should be fine.

tilrt

**pjc** · 23-09-2008

Fastflex is flexible but sounds like the floors even more flexible bal will tell you the floor has to be stable but without over laying it it probably wont be unless its something like 40mm chipboard on 300 centres and steel joists which most of the chipboard floors I tile are and I still use a decoupling matting,10mm backer board for me imo the best way :Pete
and as wetdec points out the green stuff aint as good as the plain chipboard but i am not sure that Durabase ci would make the floor stable lol

Fred · 23-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjc

Fastflex is flexible but sounds like the floors even more flexible bal will tell you the floor has to be stable but without over laying it it probably wont be unless its something like 40mm chipboard on 300 centres and steel joists which most of the chipboard floors I tile are and I still use a decoupling matting,10mm backer board for me imo the best way :Pete
and as wetdec points out the green stuff aint as good as the plain chipboard lol

Pete, what is this matting mate?

**wetdec** · 23-09-2008

Here Fred

When do I use a Decoupling Membrane??

**pjc** · 23-09-2008

this is what i use Fred
Movement
Wetdec you a Pete as well ?

Fred · 23-09-2008

Thanks wetdec, good info. Could you us it on floorboards instead of 12mm ply?

**pjc** · 23-09-2008

Fred as wetdec says Now this only aplies to lateral movement thats movement accross the surface not vertical movement. eg the floor expands or contracts.