Help - Are these tiles ok?

[cgadmin23]

Hi All,

I am having my bathroom tiled and have a question about whether a specific tile can be used in the wetroom area.

The room has a Tuff2 tray former and the entire floor has been tanked with a Durabase WP membrane. Most of the floor has been tiled with Ceramic tiles 333mm x 333mm.

I have used Mapei Keraquick adhesive to apply both the membrane and tiles.

However, I have bought mosaic tiles to cover the tray former area of the wet room. see attachment.

The mosaics are quite unusual in that they are random in shape and some of the mosaics butt up to each other and therefore have no between them. As such it won't allow grout in between.

Please can anyone advise whether or not these can be used on a wetroom floor (over the tray former)?

Does there need to be a minimum grout with between tiles?

(the supplier is refusing to take them back as they say they are ok)

Any advice apprciated.

Regards

Chris

[cgadmin23]

Hi Paul,

because the shape of each mosaic is random, some of them butt up against each other and as such there is no space to work the grout into. As such I don't believe there would be a water tight seal?

What do you think? Could you see the photo?

Regards

Chris

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

You should be carefull mosaic can be very slippery under foot you can get anti slipp for the floor good luck dude

[CJ CERAMICS]

agree with gooner from the picture cant really see if they are, but they look as if they are polished mosaic and as such can be slippy. hopefully i am wrong and its just the piccy. normally stone mosaics are fine for wetrooms.
chris

[timeless john]

They'll be fine!
Just make sure you use a good waterproof adhesive and a slightly deeper trowel so the adhesive comes up a bit between the joints.
Make sure you grout well and fill any pinholes.
The mosaic is better for the former tray as it follows the shape easier and they do have a better non slip property as the foot is gripping over many pieces rather than 1 tile.
You'll have fun cutting those to the edges!

Timeless John.

[cgadmin23]

Thanks for the info Guys. Much appreciated.

[diamondtiling]

They'll be fine!
Just make sure you use a good waterproof adhesive and a slightly deeper trowel so the adhesive comes up a bit between the joints.
Make sure you grout well and fill any pinholes.
The mosaic is better for the former tray as it follows the shape easier and they do have a better non slip property as the foot is gripping over many pieces rather than 1 tile.
You'll have fun cutting those to the edges!

Timeless John.

Sorry John but to post a reply saying "they will be fine" is not the thing to say, I have seen these tiles close up and although they are nice and pretty they are certainly not meant for what chris bought them for, If he hadn't had the services of a professional tiler and had tried to lay these mosaics himself he would have ran into considerable problems, I wish I could show you the tiles because I am sure that you would have changed your mind, Mosaics follow the falls of a wet room tray, these particular tiles could not do that because there were no gaps between 40% of them, that means that they are pushed closer together as they bend causing stress to the pieces themselves, Chris changed to a travertine mosaic and got a far superior finish, The tile retailer should be ashamed of himself for recommending such a silly product for a wet room.

[doug boardley]

I'd say "no", for tiles to be butted up, doesn't give a good waterproof surface imo. Water should be going down the outlet/drain, not under the tiles

[Dave]

Unless an epoxy grout is used then water will penetrate through the grout and wet the adhesive bed but go no further than the tanking so tight or open joints do not water proof with normally cementious grouts but tight joints do not allow for grout to take hold and create a surface that is not likely to collect crap...If the joint is too tight that it will not accept grout but accept bodily excess from showering then it will stink in time as crap collects in the voids...In this instance you can flood grout the tiles and it will seep in from other joints and if it is a wall then you simply back grout the sheets before fixing.. there is always a way around these things ..but as for not bieng water proof...howay man step back and think...

[doug boardley]

is that a "yes" or a "no" then Dave,

[Dave]

err..maybe..

[doug boardley]

you sitting on the fence, tut tut!!