A few questions

[petey]

Hi folks,

I have few random questions on things I am uncertain of:

1) I am worried the wall-tiles need weight-support while drying. They are 250x500x8mm ceramic. I've fitted a steel bath, and its dead-level. Do I need a batton and start on the second row of tiles - or can I run off the bath, in which case, should I just insert spacers between bath and first row in order to give weight-support and also to maintain a silicon joint for later.

2) What size spacers should I use for this format of tiles ?

3) Substate is pretty-level rendered bathroom walls. Should I use an 8mm trowel - and do I back-butter the tiles or just apply adhesive to wall ?

4) I brought a tub of BAL White Star (ready mixed) before I found this forum and the recommendations of using powdered. Should I use the ready mix or dump it and buy something else? This will be used for tiles in bath/shower area.


Many thanks for any words of wisdom you could give!
Petey.

[diamondtiling]

Hi Pete, you are right about the ready mixed adhesive, its not up to the job.
Are you going to tank the walls around the bath?
After you have worked out where the tiles are going and where the cuts will be you can come off the bath if you want to, strike a horizontal line to work to and get them dead level, try and leave a 3mm gap between the bath and the tile for your silicone.
I would use an 8mm trowel as a minimum and back spread the tiles because of their size.

Pictures of the walls at this stage would be helpful.

[Scott]

Spacer size is personal preference, i would use 2mm is right for that size. Bear in ind that you have less leeway for error with 2mm.

As Diamond says dump the tubed adhesive and get cement based.

[petey]

Hi, here is a pic, I have tanked and lipped the tape on to the bath.

Bath is level, and I will only have to trim about 20mm to fit the last tile in at
at ceiling height - so I will just work straight from bath and use some 3mm spacers to help hold weight while they dry and use 2mm spacers between tiles.

I tried looking for info on back-spreading tiles - but can't seem to find any. Do I spread a full thickness of adhesive accross the whole tile, or do I use the 8mm trowel ( in which case, how is it different to spreading on the wall?)


SO annoying that I can't use the ready-mix.

A local indipendent tile-shop holds the range of BAL products. Could you tell me what BAL powdered adhesive I should ask for - as there seems to be loads of different ones?!

Thanks guys.

[diamondtiling]

Back skimming is just using the flat edge of your trowel to cover the tile.
Cant you adjust the tiles to get a bigger cut at the ceiling, 20mm is very small and even more so with your tiles.
I dont use bal so cant comment on their products, have you got a Tile Giant near to you?

[petey]

Hi, sorry - I meant I will need to remove 20mm from last tile to fit it in, so I was just gonna use a tile saw to trim the last row down by 20mm.

I guess I wont need an 8mm trowel if I am to give a full spread on the tile.

I'd imagine its harder to lay tiles like that, as you haven't got the ridges to take up some of the adhesive when giving them a little push/wiggle against the wall ? I was feeling more than confident about the tiling, but not so sure about backspreading. I imagine you need exactly the correct thickness on the back of the tile ?

There is a tileGiant 20miles up the road. I am happy to make the trip if they have the ideal product for my situation ?


many thanks!

[diamondtiling]

Pete you are still using your trowel to spread the adhesive on the walls, you are only applying 1 or 2mm to the back of the tiles when back skimming and you only have to do this when you have tiles the size you have.

TG will have everything you need for the job.

[Dave]

petey;351228]Hi folks,

I have few random questions on things I am uncertain of:

1) I am worried the wall-tiles need weight-support while drying. They are 250x500x8mm ceramic. I've fitted a steel bath, and its dead-level. Do I need a batton and start on the second row of tiles - or can I run off the bath, in which case, should I just insert spacers between bath and first row in order to give weight-support and also to maintain a silicon joint for later.

You can start from the bath no probs and as you say leaving a small gap for a silicone joint.

2) What size spacers should I use for this format of tiles ?

I like to work with 2mm on walls but 3mm would be ok as well.

3) Substate is pretty-level rendered bathroom walls. Should I use an 8mm trowel - and do I back-butter the tiles or just apply adhesive to wall ?

8mm trowel will be fine if the walls are flat and do exceed 3mm variation in a mtr run.. by back skimming the tiles with adhesive then this increases the bonding process and makes it easier to get a solid fix of 80% or more.

Back skimming as mentioned is easy, all you do is psread adhesive onto the tile back and then simply pull your trowel across the tile flat edge down and remove the adhesive leaving a very thin coat , almost removing it fully.
This fills in the profile on the tiles biscuit and helps with adhesion.

4) I brought a tub of BAL White Star (ready mixed) before I found this forum and the recommendations of using powdered. Should I use the ready mix or dump it and buy something else? This will be used for tiles in bath/shower area.

Ready mixed dispersion adhesives are not really suitable on tiles of that format, so i would recommend a bagged cement based adhesive, you say you can get hold of bal easy enough then go for bal spf in white.

Many thanks for any words of wisdom you could give!
Petey.

That is what the members are here for.. enjoy the project and maybe a few pics for us would be good.