putting tiles onto a painted surface

[spenny]

hi guys,

got a job starting monday in a new build housing scheme(was newly built about 4 years ago) and the customer wants his existing bath to now have a shower. So, i only need to fix tiles to the top half of the wall around the bath as obvioulsy the bottom half is already tiled.

The area i need to tile onto is painted (i think its plaster underneath). My question to you all is how should i prepare the wall? I know we obviously cant go onto paint as it will just peel off, so my thoughts were that i would just apply paint stripper and then i would be alright?? I dont think fixing ply wood would be an option as it would then make then not on level with the existing tiles below.

Thanks in advance

spenny

[bigandy]

simply sand it off,prime then tile

yes i know its time consuming try a razor scraper and see what is the most effective!

another thing i carry is a wood shaver(sorry cant think what its called)from the pound shop

[andersontiling]

are you using bag or bucket adhesive,porcelain or biscuit back tiles??

[andersontiling]

if its biscuit back tiles you can go straight on with bucket adhesive and as andy says scour it first to get a key to the plaster

[medlar]

personally mate i would get every bit of paint off,even using a block of wood with some medium grade sandpaper,then prime the wall prior to tiling

[spenny]

what is biscuit back?? SOrry for my ignorance!? Im going to used tubbed ady. The tiles im using are ceramic mosaic effect tiles from topps......having never used the mosaic effect tiles before-i presume the best way to use them would be to use a small spacer fo rthe best effect?

And again excuse my total ignorance, but when you say prime the wall.............i always understood that to be making the wall as flush as possible, but am i maybe missunderstanding this?

[medlar]

check what spaces are between the "mosaic effect) and keep to the same spaces between tiles mate.Prime the walls with a priming solution prior to tiling mate,please dont use PVA.

[andersontiling]

sorry a bicuit back tile is the cheaper end of the market ...clay with a 2mm glaze on top the 1 where you can grout 2m2 at a time.i know it sounds unprofesional when i fix mosaic panel tile i use a beer mat for the joint as any bigger than 2mm the tile doesnt blend in and you see everyside to the tile

[medlar]

sorry a bicuit back tile is the cheaper end of the market ...clay with a 2mm glaze on top the 1 where you can grout 2m2 at a time.i know it sounds unprofesional when i fix mosaic panel tile i use a beer mat for the joint as any bigger than 2mm the tile doesnt blend in and you see everyside to the tile

couldnt have put the description of "biscuit backed" any better myself mate

[spenny]

cheers guys,
fantastic help as usual

[bigandy]

what is biscuit back?? SOrry for my ignorance!? Im going to used tubbed ady. The tiles im using are ceramic mosaic effect tiles from topps......having never used the mosaic effect tiles before-i presume the best way to use them would be to use a small spacer fo rthe best effect?

And again excuse my total ignorance, but when you say prime the wall.............i always understood that to be making the wall as flush as possible, but am i maybe missunderstanding this?

PRIME the walls means, prime with SBR (available at all tile shops) not pva or anything else you have been told. it helps the adhesive mechanically adhere.

PREP the wall by ensuring its flat then prime