tiling on chipboard?????

[CJ CERAMICS]

hi all just been to look at a job.
24sqm ceramic tiles in kitchen and sun room/extension.
now i know that tiling on chipboard is considered a no no but the customers are looking to use unibond tile on wood which they have been told is an excellent product and does exactly what it does on the tin.
i am not so sure as i have used this before when customers have supplied it and had calls back due to cracking of tiles.


normally i would rip out the chipboard and replace with marine ply.


they want me to tile on to the chipboard so as to not raise the height and to keep the costs down.(tiles were bought as end of line and they got a good price). so no ply or hardi boards. Hence the questions i have are.

1. does anyone know of another product that can be used instead .
2. can i use a latex slc on top of chipboard(slight different heights(1-2mm).

thanks in advance for your replys.
chris.

p.s if i do not respond to your advice it is because i am going out to play football with the possibility of pub after but i will respond when i come back.

[Thespanishtiler]

if its not bouncing i would use a ci matting and specify your prefered brand of s1 addy, i personally wont use customers addy or grout unless it happens to be one i would specify myself.

hope that helps

[Matt]

Mapei say you can tile direct onto Chipboard with Keraquick and Latex Plus.

I have never heard good things come of tiling direct to chipboard though

I would give Mapei Techinical a call to see what they say.

Edit: Unibond Tile On Wood is a tubbed adhesive

[kilty55]

unibond tile on wood is tubbed gear i think mate,,also i wouldnt class chipboard as solid wood so not sure it applies ,personally id overboard it

[biffa]

If its solid enough I'd use ditra mat and single part flex such as Keraquick. would'nt use tubbed stuff on a chipboard floor.

[brian c]

the unibond stuff is useless imo,i would overboard with 9mm ply or if you must tile on chipboard then a two part flexi would be better.

[grumpygrouter]

Only adhesive I know of that actually mentions using on chipboard is Ardexflex 7001 used in conjunction with P51 primer. Even BAL Fastflex recommend overboarding!

[tkm18]

One of the 'sheds' had a bagged addy that claimed to work direct onto chipboard.

For the life of me but, I can't remember exactly who it was, may have been Unibond.

[trevortine]

Preference would be to overboard, if not then bal fastflex two part system. Not my preffered route but its amazin stuff, really sticks well and dries out like rubber.

[whitebeam]

Mapei say you can tile direct onto Chipboard with Keraquick and Latex Plus.

I have never heard good things come of tiling direct to chipboard though

I would give Mapei Techinical a call to see what they say.

Edit: Unibond Tile On Wood is a tubbed adhesive

I did and they say their addy can be used but their really not keen on the idea

[beanz]

Is taking the chipboard up and replacing with ply not an option either? I wouldn't let the customer dictate to you, especially with regards to the adhesive. If you can't win em round, walk.

[faithhealer]

agree with beanz and the others you can't let a customer tell you how to do your job, it's your reputation on the block. (understand you were short of work last week and sometimes we have to grab straws but explain about 'tubbed' gear and try to talk him round)

[smac74]

Might be a good idea to get the customer to sign a statement saying, “In your professional opinion, this is not a suitable method of fixing and you will not guarantee the work. You have instructed them on your preferred method of fixing and will undertake the work at their request and full understanding of the above”.
May seem a bit over the top, but at least it covers your back. If they have problems in the future, a verbal agreement means nothing and they could turn it around on you. Years of working in private homes, you think you’ve met all kinds, but someone new always pops along to surprise you and leave you scratching your head in disbelief.

[Oli]

Might be a good idea to get the customer to sign a statement saying, “In your professional opinion, this is not a suitable method of fixing and you will not guarantee the work. You have instructed them on your preferred method of fixing and will undertake the work at their request and full understanding of the above”.
May seem a bit over the top, but at least it covers your back. If they have problems in the future, a verbal agreement means nothing and they could turn it around on you. Years of working in private homes, you think you’ve met all kinds, but someone new always pops along to surprise you and leave you scratching your head in disbelief.

This has been debated on the forums many a time, the general concensus is that it wouldnt be worth the paper it was written on and should the floor fail because the proper methods havent been applied that you would be liable, being the professional who is aware of the correct way to do things.

I'd be looking to either use an addy that the manufacturer will stand by on chipboard or tell the customer that its either done the correct way or by someone else.

[smac74]

Sounds like a bit of a grey area, fortunately it’s not something i’ve had to do it myself. Rubbish position to be put in, especially if like mentioned earlier he needs the work.

Suppose it's a problem when people don’t budget properly, especially as tiling’s normally one of the last jobs to be done along with decorating. They over spend in other areas and your expected to do work at a knock down rate to compensate or take risks and cut corners, none of which is good for a fitter..

Like you say, an addy manufacturer will stand by its claim to fit straight onto chipboard, then they take responsibility if the floor fails.

[groucho]

totally agree with beanz. its done your way or not at all. if they want to get some other tiler in to bodge it then let feel free and walk away. its only you that it comes back on if you do there way.

[gizzy2007]

bal rapid flex with widejoint grout with gt1 grout admix

[Dave]

bal rapid flex with widejoint grout with gt1 grout admix

I think if you contact them , they will say NO to that on chipboard floors.

[gizzy2007]

if its secure enough its ok as av done it not had any complaints

[Dave]

if its secure enough its ok as av done it not had any complaints

Oldest saying i have heard....but that doesn't say it is right...

Always check with the manufturer to see if a product is suitable....and BAL will say fastflex for chipboard, not rapidset flexible....infact i'm not sure if they have altered thier spec again to overboarding...

[gizzy2007]

if u want to be really safe use bal flex stuff goes like rubber no chance on coming up

[doug boardley]

bit like the old drink/drive analogy, done it loads of times and never got caught/crashed (not me personally)

[gizzy2007]

total differant ball game all together drinkin n driving cant compare that to tiling lol nuts

[grumpygrouter]

Oldest saying i have heard....but that doesn't say it is right...

Always check with the manufturer to see if a product is suitable....and BAL will say fastflex for chipboard, not rapidset flexible....infact i'm not sure if they have altered thier spec again to overboarding...

BAL specify overboarding for Fastflex too!!

[Gazebo]

The only covering to use on chipboard is lino.....am i right or am i right.?lol

[Dave]

BAL specify overboarding for Fastflex too!!

I thought i had heard that russ.....being a mapei man now i have lost what bal recommend to try and keep in with thier 25 yr guarentee....seems drastic to overboard and fastflex but thats thier spec....

[Dave]

The only covering to use on chipboard is lino.....am i right or am i right.?lol

SO SO SO right.....

[grumpygrouter]

I thought i had heard that russ.....being a mapei man now i have lost what bal recommend to try and keep in with thier 25 yr guarentee....seems drastic to overboard and fastflex but thats thier spec....

...and expensive too!!

[whitebeam]

Glad I read this post, did'nt realise that the spec has been changed to over boarding for fastflex

[tkm18]

BAL specify overboarding for Fastflex too!!

Is that not for floating chipboard floors, rather than chipboard properly secured to joists?

If not, can find exact specs at the moment, they spec overboaring for chipboard, but not TAG floor boards with FastFlex??


Very strange.