DIY Related: adhesive problems

[DUKE]

anybody had a problem with profix adhesive? it seems to take a long time to set and when i press the tile on it seems to "squash" rather than stick to the tile!! if you know what i mean! there is no best before date and it has only just been bought i have done tiling before and not seen this, any ideas?

[cornish_crofter]

I'm not familiar with that adhesive.

I assume it's a ready mix adhesive, possibly from B&Q?

What size tiles are you fixing to the walls? General concensus is that anything over 12" square needs bagged adhesive, readymix stuff will not dry.

Forum members here tend to use BAL or Mapai products, available from the likes of CTD or Topps.

Other more experienced members will be along shortly.

[DUKE]

thanks the tiles are 25*41 the adhesive is ready mixed and was supplied with the tiles from a local tile supplier

[Sir Ramic]

I have tried the Profix ready mixed adhesive a few months ago and while i didnt get the squashy feel, i did find that it took days to set. I dont use it now , it was a free trial offer.

[GazTech]

Are your tiles porcelain ?

[pjc]

it has skinned you should be using cement based adhesive on tiles that size be careful they are liable to full off :Pete

[faithhealer]

I think it was Profix I 'searched' for on the forum a while back. Only found one tiler who used it and that was because it was cheap and he could make a lot of profit on it!!!!

[DUKE]

the tiles are ceramic, last time i got similar tiles from the same place they supplied bal ready mixed and did'nt have this problem, the tiles do seem solid now it just took longer than i expected, only part way through the job wondering if i should take the other 2 tubs back?

[Sir Ramic]

The tile is too big for that adhesive...end of!

[DUKE]

on the invoice it says BAL-PROFIX SH/PROOF does this mean it is made by BAL?

[Sir Ramic]

I believe it is made by Bal but that doesnt alter the fact that the tile is too large for this adhesive. You may find this info on most adhesive manufacturers websites.

[whitebeam]

Get some powdered adhesive, Spf and use an 8mm spreader, You may find in the centre of the tile the tubbed gear will take ages to go off

[pjc]

i think the most worrying thing is it sounds like it has Skinned

[Dave]

i think the most worrying thing is it sounds like it has Skinned

sounds like it pete..

It does state on the bucket and bags usually what the open time of the adhesive bieng used is...this can be accelerated if a window etc is open and a draft is blowing in or bieng applied in direct sun light etc...

Always spread what adhesive you can cover with tiles within the specified open time...

[Branty]

i think the most worrying thing is it sounds like it has Skinned

How do you work that out?
After reading the original post again, I see what you mean Pete.

[pjc]

sounds like it pete..

It does state on the bucket and bags usually what the open time of the adhesive bieng used is...this can be accelerated if a window etc is open and a draft is blowing in or bieng applied in direct sun light etc...

Always spread what adhesive you can cover with tiles within the specified open time...

or you are a bit slow when you get to my age lol

[cornish_crofter]

Duke

The tile shop has sold you the WRONG adhesive for the tiles. They have given you bad advice assuming you asked the question.

If you asked them for adhesive suitable for those tiles then you should take back the adhesive you haven't used, explain that you have been MIS SOLD the adhesive by the staff and that you would like a FULL REFUND for all the adhesive you bought.

That is my stance on the issue. It really ticks me off when people are given bad advice by store staff who should know better.

TBH I would expect something like this from B&Q but not a specialist tile shop

[charlie1]

Duke

The tile shop has sold you the WRONG adhesive for the tiles. They have given you bad advice assuming you asked the question.

If you asked them for adhesive suitable for those tiles then you should take back the adhesive you haven't used, explain that you have been MIS SOLD the adhesive by the staff and that you would like a FULL REFUND for all the adhesive you bought.

That is my stance on the issue. It really ticks me off when people are given bad advice by store staff who should know better.

TBH I would expect something like this from B&Q but not a specialist tile shop

Sorry crofter, I have to disagree there mate.

The tiler is the one responsabile for there work and they should know the correct adhesive for the job they are doing.

As a tiler I would be responsabile for all aspects of a certain job once i had started it, as a tiler I should know where to use dispersoin and cement based adhesives and why. If i have a tile falure and it is because i have used the wrong adhesive I could not turn round to customer and say it was the tile shops fault for providing me with the wrong gear.

[cornish_crofter]

Sorry crofter, I have to disagree there mate.

The tiler is the one responsabile for there work and they should know the correct adhesive for the job they are doing.

As a tiler I would be responsabile for all aspects of a certain job once i had started it, as a tiler I should know where to use dispersoin and cement based adhesives and why. If i have a tile falure and it is because i have used the wrong adhesive I could not turn round to customer and say it was the tile shops fault for providing me with the wrong gear.

Yes I agree, that is because you are a professional who does this for a living, you should be able to walk into the tile shop, pick up what you need, pay for it and walk out again.

In the case of a DIYer (as I suspect DUKE is) who buys on advice given to him, the shop has a moral obligation to get basic facts like this right.

[charlie1]

You are correct crofter, duke is DIY. He should be able to rely on staff supplying correct addy. My miss understanding.

[Dave]

Totaly agree..Staff training should be a high priority for Tile shops.....Gives customers confidence if staff know there products etc...

[Branty]

Totaly agree..Staff training should be a high priority for Tile shops.....Gives customers confidence if staff know there products etc...

True.
Duke, where did you buy this from?

[DEtileD]

Holds Breathe..

Most ready made adhesives will have the maximum size, normally 300x300 on the side of the tub. I find though, unless it is a small area that powdered is not easier to use anyway.

Either way, some 'professional' advice is not that professional. In some businesses staff turnover is so high that your 'professional' may only have been in the job for a month or two. I know this is no excuse but it is normally better to read the book load of information on the back of each product just to double check.

If you wanted to still use a pro-fix product which IS made by BAL, then CTD South has the powered bags on offer at mo.

[Branty]

But remember it's NOT BAL. If you want the full technical support and the 25 year guarantee, then you need to use BAL.