Please help getting conflicting advice!!!

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

I'm new to the site, so hello to everyone.

I'm looking for advice as i've been told different things by people and read so much forums etc my head is in a spin!!

I'm installing a new bathroom in my flat to refresh it cause i need to sell, with new suite and tiles going in. When i started removing old tiles, whatever they were stuck onto fell to bits so i am now back to the brick!!!

Me and may mate who has some diy experience were planning to put pva onto the brickwork, then dot and dab plasterboard onto the wall then, pva again, then tile onto the plasterboard.

However, after speaking to others and reading this forum, this is probably not going to work.

I'm trying to keep costs down to a minumum as i'm selling, so is what i've suggested enough?? I'm worried about moisture from shower, i've a bath/shower not a seperate shower.

Any info/help would be gratefully appreciated and by the way my tiles are pretty heavy and due to size, door frame, window and area for bath i cannot put in studwork.

Cheers

**grumpygrouter** · 03-03-2009

You will be fine to dot n dab the plasterboard, but don't pva the tiling surface, pva has no place in tiling. You say your tiles are quite heavy, how heavy?

Oh Welcome to the forums.

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

Thanks for the propmpt reply.

compared to my last tiles these things are heavy, they are 300x440x9mm.

Should i still pva my brickwork or do i need to bother? The thing i'm worried about is moisture, if i use normal plasterboard should i coat this with anything before tiling to make it waterproof?? Or should i just buy waterproof plasterboard, or would it be cheaper waterproofing normal plasterboard with some kind of stuff (technical term) lol

Also, i've bought evo-stik tile adhesive and grout, which apparently is waterproof, mould resistant etc, but my mate says to stay clear of combined adhesive and grout and to use seperate?

I thought this was gonna be not too bad, but the more i read the more confused i get that i don't have the right stuff and i'll make a rubbish job!!

Thanks for the info

**grumpygrouter** · 03-03-2009

Don't think you need to pva brickwork before dot and dabbing plasterboard but one of the plasterers on here may advise better. if you are going to be tiling a wet area i.e. shower area then it is always advisable to tank te area first. The genrally preferred method on here is to use a mambrane system from the likes of Durabase or Schluter. You stick this to the plasterbaord forst with cement based adhesive and then tile on top with cement based adhesive.

Tiel and Grout in 1 bucket is not a good idea. adhesive has a differretn function to grout and unless it is epoxy, you should have separate products for each function.

Never hear of waterproof plasterboard, you thinking of tile backer board?

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

with grumpy on this one, theres no reason why you shouldnt dot and dab but no pva

plasterboard is an excelent back ground for tiling

take care to keep it plumb and flat or it will show when you tile

its a good idea to use a tanking kit behind the tiles at the shower end and let potential buyers know that you have done so

**Eddie** · 03-03-2009

You could plug and screw your plaster board, through the dabs of p/b adhesive, as a extra fixing, if your tiles are that heavy.

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

your thinking of aqua board which is basicly a water resistant plasterboard, you can use this and waterproof adhesive followed by waterproof grout

but i still prefer to tank as i believe it to be a better job

aqua board is water resistant but i have still seen it break down when constantly wetted in a shower

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

Tank the area? Is that that bal wp1 stuff that folk on this webwite refer to? Does that make normal plasterboard waterproof?

I thought you could buy waterproof plasterboard???......maybe not!!! lol

God this is turning out to be complicated, maybe best to bite the bullett and pay someone to plaster?!

I thought it would be as easy as dot and dabbing plasterboard then sealing it then putting up tiles, well that's what my mate led me to believe!!!

**Fekin** · 03-03-2009

No point in having it plastered as the weight limit that can be tiled will drop as plaster has a lower weight limit that can be stuck to it compared to plasterboard.

If I remember correctly, bare plasterboard can hold 32kg per sqm, where as plaster can only hold 20kg.

Dot and dabbing plasterboards fine, just use pleanty of dabs of dry wall adhesive

Lots of places sell different tanking kits, some as little as £30 upwards and over £100.

**grumpygrouter** · 03-03-2009

Originally Posted by bcurtis

Tank the area? Is that that bal wp1 stuff that folk on this webwite refer to? Does that make normal plasterboard waterproof?

I thought you could buy waterproof plasterboard???......maybe not!!! lol

God this is turning out to be complicated, maybe best to bite the bullett and pay someone to plaster?!

I thought it would be as easy as dot and dabbing plasterboard then sealing it then putting up tiles, well that's what my mate led me to believe!!!

It pretty much is, you just need to seal (waterproof) the plasterboard with a membrane system before tiling. The BAL system is of the same sort, but Durabase CI from wetdecs our wetrooms sponsor is probably a better option.

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

dont get it plastered , tile onto the board

you can use bal wp1 its an easy kit to use, dunlop make the same kit available from screwfix , its cheaper retail than bal

ive never used the dunlop kit but dnlop is owned by bal

Andrew M · 03-03-2009

I think you mean the moisture resistant plasterboard(green) which is no substitute to tanking ordinary p/board,
As you are boarding out anyway why not substitute plasterboard in shower area only with tile backer board, it will probably work out cheaper than having to buy a tanking kit

Certainly dont use pva before tiling. you will need a cement based adhesive for tiles that size,depending on which manufacturer you go for they will have a primer to suit

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

you can use bal/dunlop tanking kit or a waterproof membrane they achieve the same result

its just what system you feel most comfortable with

**Dave** · 03-03-2009

You only need to tank the shower area of the bath.....A membrane will be quicker and cheaper....Use a flexible cement based adhesive....this can then be used on the walls and floor if suitable prep work is done on the floor..

The membranes are about 5 quid a mtr....

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

So the tank stuff, can i just tank the plasterboard around the shower and then tank this bit, then leave the plasterboard that won't really get wet normal. Is the tank a thin application, so that i can do this or is it thick that will make things uneven when tiling.

thanks for the info guys

**grumpygrouter** · 03-03-2009

The durabase stuff is pretty thin and should not make any difference to the levels for the tiles if properly applied. yes just tank the area that is going to be getting quite wet. The rest should be ok.

doug boardley · 03-03-2009

dot and dab (12.5mm) plasterboards, no pva, tanking, tiling (single part flexi adhesive)

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

Cheers dave, by the time i'd typed my question you'd already answered it!!!! lol

You mention membrane, what's that??

**Dave** · 03-03-2009

Watch this video...

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

yes just tank behind the shower area tiling , it wont cause a step in your tiling and wont show when its done

it sounding a bit complicated but it isnt really, just be methodical and take your time

**bcurtis** · 03-03-2009

Ok cheers guys, must say really impressed with forum. I was expecting to have to wait a few days for a reply if i was lucky!!! So much appreciated.

One final thing, can anyone reccommend a good adhesive and a good grout??

doug boardley · 03-03-2009

mapei do a good range to suit all tile types

**mikethetile** · 03-03-2009

you may have to buy mapei from b&q under the buildfix name but good choice

**Dave** · 03-03-2009

You tell us what tile shops you can get to and we will tell you whats better to use that they might sell......

**Saltire69** · 03-03-2009

Originally Posted by bcurtis

Ok cheers guys, must say really impressed with forum. I was expecting to have to wait a few days for a reply if i was lucky!!! So much appreciated.

One final thing, can anyone reccommend a good adhesive and a good grout??

It will depend what tile shops stock around your area, as doug say's Mapei good stuff to work with. Better to get the addy from tile shop though,not Diy stores.

To long typing

. As above