Help!: After a little advice...

[beanz]

I've got a bathroom to take a look at over the next couple of days, but it's making me a little nervous already (even though i haven't seen it).. Apparently it was re-plastered about a year ago in preperation for tiling, but they couldn't find a tiler at the time, so it's just been left. The bathroom's been in use the whole time, so i'm wondering what the plaster's going to be like!?! Either damp, or maybe been PVA'd in some hope of protecting it from the moisture?

I know you can buy meters to test the moisture content, but can't really afford one at the moment. Can you hire these?

If the walls have been PVA'd, how do i get it off?

One of the walls is going to be Mosaics. I've never done a Mosaic wall before, so any tips would be appreciated. Also my local tile shop doesn't stock MosaicFix, so what would you recommend? Would a normal SPF do the job? Weber do a tubbed gear for Mosaic's, but i'm reluctant to try that, as they will probably be stone (just guessing at this stage)!?!

Cheers
Scott

[david campbell]

never had to remove p.v.a but i'm pretty sure it could be washed off as it becomes active after contact with water,would probably use a rough sponge for this or maybe a light sandpaper,when applying mosaic i tend to use my float for gently pressing them into place,avoid using your fingers as it can pull them all over the place,white spf should be fine but i always try to use mosaic fix especially if the are glass as spf doesn't take with the glass

[grumpygrouter]

For Mosaics Beanz, you need to make sure the walls are flat! i would have thought it unlikely they will have PVA'd the walls, but I may well be wrong.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

is there a shower? you may well have to tank it ,a plasters plastic float is good to beat the mosaic flat to

[beanz]

So far, i've yet to meet a customer that was willing to pay for tanking. The general attitude seems to be "The tiles that are on there have been up for 10/20 years, and they weren't tanked..." You can lead a horse to water and all that... lol

Yeah i'll be checking the walls, fingers crossed they'll be flat. My main worry is that the plaster could be damp. I've no idea if there are any visible signs i should be looking for!?! Would you be worried, or would you just tile it?

[timeless john]

Scott - if your not confident in your approach to this job the customer will realise this and youv'e lost the job before you price it!
You can't be negative before you've looked at the job, wait till you've seen it and assess the plaster then. Test the plaster for colour and strength in the used areas and you'll soon know if its dry/damp/strong/week etc.
When doing your pricing break it down in sections and in 1 section give a price for tanking - they don't have to accept all the estimate but compare each aspect and then make a choice.
If youv'e never done mosaics before then be nervous - although easy to do they are also easy to make a xxxx job of.

Good Luck.

Timeless John.

[beanz]

If youv'e never done mosaics before then be nervous - although easy to do they are also easy to make a xxxx job of.

Good Luck.

Timeless John.

Hehe! Cheers John.

I can well believe they are easy to **** up. All the story's i've read in here about Mosaics coming out at different sizes etc.

[davy_G]

So far, i've yet to meet a customer that was willing to pay for tanking. The general attitude seems to be "The tiles that are on there have been up for 10/20 years, and they weren't tanked..." You can lead a horse to water and all that... lol

Yeah i'll be checking the walls, fingers crossed they'll be flat. My main worry is that the plaster could be damp. I've no idea if there are any visible signs i should be looking for!?! Would you be worried, or would you just tile it?

I aint been tiling that long either but now im in a position where I pick and choose my work and most of them call me wanting me to do it without quoting. Just book us in when your next free. So if i think it needs tanked, and they dont want it, i dont tile it...

However whan i started it was like speaking to a brick wall. A handy demo is to tank the inside of a cornflake box, fill it with water while you chat to them and then show them the box after 10 minutes. Never fails to demonstrate the concept.

[milan11]

If the walls have been PVA'd, how do i get it off?

It might sounds stupid, but why would you do that?
Why you can't tile on PVA'd wall?

[whitebeam]

Pva leaves a skin on the plaster and can soften when wet

[milan11]

About the skin, I knew, but thanx.
I actually use PVA for all skimmed and plastered walls if they are too dry.
And I've always found that more helpfull then problematic.