Help!: Dilemma

[mariem621]

Hi, I've turned to this forum for some professional advice. I am in the middle of a bathroom rennovation I am at the stage where the bath is being fitted today by a plumber and boxed in by a joiner in prep for tiler to come along this week. However my problem is when old tiles removed it was found in the showering area that large chunks came off and down to breeze block in places. The plasterer fitted a small amout of aquaboard to this area and reskimmed the whole room apart from the wall where the electric shower is situated (inside wall). To this wall there was the old plasterboard with large holes in it caused by tile removal, which I believe he filled the holes with newspaper and then skimmed the surfaced with plaster. My dilemma is this particular wall - when you knock on the area it sounds hollow in some places. What I want to know is this sufficient for a shower area and if not what should I do ? The plasterer has been paid and the tiler has asked me to pva the whole room prior to his visit. My concern is should the tiling go ahead as it is or will I encounter further problems in the future as I am spending a great deal of money on this project. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Brian the Tile]

no,no,no make sure you get the wall sorted before tiling or you will have problems ,tell your tiler about it also.

[Bathfix Bob]

"the tiler has asked me to pva the whole room prior to his visit."

This worrys me more than anything,

PVA must not be used!! I hope you haven't used it!!!

How big are the tiles?

[mariem621]

Hi
The tiles are 600mm x 300mm and 1sq metre + 20kg. I really dont want to mess up. If I have to do the wall in question again I would have to cancel all labour for this week and they won't be happy as they are pre booked !! How should the shower wall be fixed and why no PVA ? Thanks.

[mariem621]

Sorry I haven't PVA'd YET.

[faithhealer]

Wall needs new plasterboard Marie, don't let them rush you into a bodge job.
PVA breaks down with water which is why we use acrylic primer these days. Your tiler should be using cement based addy with those tiles, don't let him use tub gear. He won't have mentioned tanking either will he.(A water proof barrier)

[mariem621]

Hi thanks for that. So what your saying is that the particular wall (shower) needs brand new aquaboard, reskimming and then what ? btw the stuff he left me with is Granfix Acrylic bonding and priming agent. Could you please give me the order in which things should be done to put right and can all this be done with bath in place as the bath is to be fitted this AM.

[faithhealer]

Aqua board doesn't need skimming or tanking, just the joints need taping over. and it is possible while the baths in, just easier and safer with the bath out

[mariem621]

Hi is this acrylic type pva in your opinion ok to use ?

[Bathfix Bob]

Yes thats fine, when you said PVA we thought you ments the stuff plasterers use for priming.

Its a misconception that it should be used for tiling and many DIY'ers use it and have tiles falling off affer a couple of weeks.

[CCTiling]

ACRYLIC BONDING
AND PRIMING AGENT

ADHESION PROMOTER FOR WALLS AND FLOORS

DESCRIPTION:

Acrylic Bonding and Priming Agent is a blue pigmented opaque
liquid for use in promoting adhesion and reducing porosity of a
variety of surfaces.The presence of the blue colour indicates that
the product has been applied according to recommendations and
helps to ensure an even continuous coating has been applied.

PREPARATION:

Ensure surface to be treated is completely dry.

APPLICATION:

Apply using a brush or roller at the recommended strength and
allow to dry before tiling.
The product is water based and will dry in approx. 1 hour in
good drying conditions.
Plaster
Apply Granfix Acrylic Bonding and Priming Agent diluted 3 parts
water to 1 part bonding agent to seal plaster before applying
ready mixed acrylic paste.Apply 2 neat coats of Granfix Acrylic
Bonding and Priming Agent to plaster before applying any
cementitious adhesive.
Concrete, renders, brickwork, blockwork, plasterboard,
cement board
Apply Acrylic Bonding and Priming Agent diluted 3 parts water
to 1 part bonding agent to these surfaces as a primer and sealer.
Reduces suction and therefore improves adhesion and application
of adhesive on dry porous surfaces.Will prevent dusting on
concrete floors. Coverage: 40 square metres per litre diluted*

1

Timber surfaces, vinyl, asphalt, anhydrite screeds
Apply Acrylic Bonding and Priming Agent (as instructed on the
relevant adhesive data sheets) to these surfaces to promote
adhesion, improve application and coverage of adhesive.
Coverage: 10 square metres per litre*

2

FLOOR MAINTENANCE:

The floor should be maintained with Granfix EasiCare products.

PACK SIZES:

1 Litre, 2.5 Litre and 5 Litre.

COLOUR:

Blue Opaque Liquid.

COVERAGE:

40metre2 per Litre when diluted *1

10metre

2 per Litre neat *2

STORAGE:

Store unopened in cool dry conditions.
Protect from frost.

SHELF LIFE:

Stored correctly, this product has a shelf
life of 12 months from the date shown
on the packaging.

GRANFIX

[Bathfix Bob]

The bath cannot realisticly be put it, the wall needs to be boarded first and then the bath securely fixed and siliconed to it, your plasterer has let you down I'm affraid.

[jay]

re new wall patched plaster wont hold you need an acrylic primer please dont use pva

[mikethetile]

im a bit worried about the skimmed aquaboard, it should never have been skimmed, aquaboard is an ideal surface to tile to

your plasterer needs educating before he messes anyone elses project up, the skim will need priming and the shower area tanking, this would not have been needed had the area not been skimmed

if it was me I would go after the plasterer for the extra expense and a return of what you paid him to skim the area

[charlie1]

Hi Marie, who is running the project? is it you or have you hired a contractor / bathroom company to undertake the whole project?

[mikethetile]

Hi Marie

just thinking it may be more cost effective to replace the aquaboard and it would be a far better job as you wont have the weak link of the skim to worry about