1st Job: Porcelain or Ceramic ?

[Paul]

Hi lads Hope you can help me out here

Im just about to start tiling a splashback for a mate of mine this is my first job and im a little confused by the details on the box of tiles

My mate was told by the guy in topps that they were ceramic but ive got here and it says porcellanato/porcelain stoneware on the front, yet on the back it says dry Pressed ceramic tiles ?

The tiles are 10x10 matt ive done the water test on the square biscuit backs and the water sits there so that leads me to believe thats it porcelain ?

for the job i have

Tubbed addy - Bal grip
Bal Microflex grout
Bal Bond SBR primer for the Plaster Board skim walls

If porcelain the above goes out the window

thanks to anyone who can help me here

[Dave]

In theory they are ceramic....man made...but with a porcelain body...just different clays used and higher firing point....spf adhesive needed here....grout and primer are fine...

[beanz]

Easiest way to be sure next time is to wet the back. If the water just runs off and doesn't soak in at all, they're porcelain.

[Dave]

Easiest way to be sure next time is to wet the back. If the water just runs off and doesn't soak in at all, they're porcelain.

Not strictly true beanz.........through bodied porcelain will show a damp patch where water was...

[tile55]

Easiest way to be sure next time is to wet the back. If the water just runs off and doesn't soak in at all, they're porcelain.

Generally porcelain tiles will be the same colour all the way through the tile and a lot harder than a normal ceramic clay tile.

[Paul]

Thanks a lot dave do i treat them as ceramics or porcelain

[pjc]

Treat them as porcelain and you wont go wrong :Pete

[Dave]

Depends if they are glazed or not paul.......wet the tile face and leave water on it for a few mins...wipe off and if still damp then seal...

[Paul]

Sorry dave i meant treat as in cutting and drilling for future reference

Does anyone know if i can get some Single part flexible in small bags i only need just over a metre just been to topps and its £43 for a bag

[grumpygrouter]

Try Mapei Keraquick, it comes in 5kg bags.

[Paul]

Thanks Grumpy got some in at screwfix may go fot the keraflex 7.99 im just starting out and not very quick that,ll give me extra time instead of rapid

[doug boardley]

Sorry dave i meant treat as in cutting and drilling for future reference

Does anyone know if i can get some Single part flexible in small bags i only need just over a metre just been to topps and its £43 for a bag

you maybe want to get a trade account set up somewhereI pat £13.50 +vat for mine

[Paul]

Thanks Doug im aiming to do that very soon its costly this way