Extenal tiling should I protect tiles from rain until grouting?

[FreeD]

Been tiling a balcony this week...haven't had a chance to grout it yet and forecast is looking like heavy rain for next week...do I need to protect tiles from rain?...adhesive used - BAL fastflex?

cheers

[SandyFloor]

I would. You don't want to risk any trapped water under the tiles because when the cold weather comes along water freezes, expands and can pop or crack the tiles.

[kilty55]

yep,i always take a tarpaulin and lay it over the tiled steps etc whenleaving incase it rains

[Phil Hobson]

Been tiling a balcony this week...haven't had a chance to grout it yet and forecast is looking like heavy rain for next week...do I need to protect tiles from rain?...adhesive used - BAL fastflex?

cheers

Hi mate what is the substrate on the balcony?

[Stewart]

Definetly need to cover, but I would make it a priority to get it grouted! Did 10 square metres of steps last week, and I was out at five in the morning to get them grouted before the weather changed.

[faithhealer]

Definetly need to cover, but I would make it a priority to get it grouted! Did 10 square metres of steps last week, and I was out at five in the morning to get them grouted before the weather changed.

dedication threre mate

[SandyFloor]

Definetly need to cover, but I would make it a priority to get it grouted! Did 10 square metres of steps last week, and I was out at five in the morning to get them grouted before the weather changed.

I agree. I would make grouting a priority

[FreeD]

Its a fibreglass flat roof...used as a balcony also.

I haven't finished the tiling yet and start a new job this week...so can't grout yet, have to finish next weekend....

The adhesive is water resistant and has gone off so not sure I see the need for covering? Its highly unlikely we will get freezing conditions this month.

Cheers

[Stewart]

If water makes it's way under the tile (which it will, if it rains) it becomes trapped and is almost impossible to remove. You then grout the tiles trapping the water underneath. When winter comes, trapped water freezes and that's when your problems start. Fingers crossed for no rain!

[david campbell]

get them grouted asap
and cover with tarpaulen if you can't,make sure it's weighted down

[FreeD]

I see what your saying but the adhesive has a high water content in it when the tiles are initially laid...grouting same day would trap this underneath the tiles.

I'm heading over now to cover as you lot have made me really paranoid!

[heavytrevy]

Cement glues dry via chemical reaction not evaporation ? unless your thinking bout Mastic type glues.
Trapped water under tiles will always result in efflorescence and patchy grout , doesn't look pretty

Trev

I see what your saying but the adhesive has a high water content in it when the tiles are initially laid...grouting same day would trap this underneath the tiles.

I'm heading over now to cover as you lot have made me really paranoid!

[Richard Edwards]

Spot on replies to this issue

Bal fast flex is a polymer enhanced cement based ady with fine rubber crumb and is a brillant ady to use on that application. I wont ask you what prep you have done prior to tiling as the tiles are now down and you only get the colly wobbles and go into a decline even further.

Now about this water under the tile.
If it has got wet already, ie rain on it - cover it and wait for a really warm spell so the tiles heat up and wait a couple of days to dry out all the voids between the ady bedding, then grout it and be sure to add a polymer to the grout or grout with a top qual flexible external rated grout . If you managed to keep it dry - grout asap in the dry.

[FreeD]

Ok to follow on from this the customer has now requested that the top of the tiles are cleaned. The tiles have been relayed and some have algae etc on them. I was planning on using Aqua Mix heavy duty tile and grout cleaner. Guess i'm going to have to do this before grouting (they are using a light colour grout)? and be careful not to get the cleaner/water between the joints? then grout...what do you recommend?

[Richard Edwards]

Hi FreeD
I am a bit confused here - If the tiles have / had Algae on them, then presummably there must have been an extended time gap between inital fixing with Bal Fast flex and the present time. When u say that the tiles have been relayed, are you saying that u have lifted them recently and relayed them ?

I would consider using a deep cleaner or biocyide to kill the algae and you will have to accept that washing water and rinse water will get in to the grout joints. Then wait for a dry spell with sunshine on the tile surface to dry out the undertile before grouting.

If the balcony is free-draining I might consider a pressure washer then allow it to dry out fully before grouting -- Sounds a bit of problem there me old lover [Thats Bristolian speak for my mate ]

If you are using light coloured grout externally - you might consider grout protection spray or solution from LTP range

[FreeD]

Hi Richard.

I got this job through my website...it was supposed to be a straight forward regrouting job but on arrival I walked over the tiled surface and all tiles had de bonded from the substrate...I literally picked them up in front of the customer. They were good quality ceramic tiles that the customer wanted to keep as they matched other tiles in the house. So I offered to clean the adhesive of the back and relay. I contacted BAL technical and gave them the details of the construction of the flat roof and they recommended lightly abrading the fibre glass and then fixing with BAL fastflex. The roof is constructed with a fall to the gutter.

My plan was to use an acid cleaner like Aqua Mix heavy duty tile and grout cleaner. Do you think I risk damaging the adhesive with this? What cleaner would you recommend. I did think of a pressure washer but with it getting close to bad spells of weather i'd like to keep the tiles as dry as poss.

Was going to use sealguard spray to seal grout.

[Richard Edwards]

Hello Free D

I assume therefore that from your post, you have relayed the tiles with Bal fastflex already and need to clean the face of the tiles before grouting ?

Acid based cleaners are ok for the ceramic / porcelain tiles but you will risk attacking the cement in the ady and really the tiles should have been throughly cleaned before laying. You will have to clean each tile now or still opt for the pressure washer, being carefull to avoid blowing away the ady as this product never really goes solid - ie always softish and flexible - hence why it works so well in the app you have.

Algae alone can be killed with biocycide - ie beach solution.

More than that I cannot add at this stage.

Good luck with it

[FreeD]

Thanks Richard and others for your help...think i'm going to try and avoid an acid cleaner and try and obtain a neutral cleaner of some kind. Should have cleaned them before they went back down. Will no for next time this is my first external job so bit of a learning curve!

Cheers

Aaron