Strategic Question - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

Smitten · 27-10-2007

I see many of you note that you are able to complete a tiling job in one day and this leaves me with a bit of confusion. The materials that I use when tiling say to allow the mortar to dry beneath the tile for 24 hours prior to grouting, and then to let the (sand based) grout dry for at least 1 week prior to sealing the job. Are these one day jobs you speak of completed with a silicone based grout? And even then, are you using an adhesive type mortar instead? What is the drying time recommended for these? Are the recommendations of the manufacturer just guidelines that can be bypassed to get the job completed? Smitten

**grumpygrouter** · 27-10-2007

Many tilers over here use cementitious adheseives that set rapidly and can be tiled something like 2 or 3 hours after fixing. This is because the adhesive sets by way of a chemical reaction. This is adhesive that is usually mixed with water. Tubbed adhesive (pre-mixed) dries by way of dispersion, i.e the moisture in the adhesive has to dry by evaporation/dispertion so need to leave the grout lines open until dry - 24hrs.

It may be that you are not using cementitious adhesive so will need to wait for the adhesive to "dry" before grouting.

This is a very general summary as, of course different substrates/tile materials etc require different procedures.

Grumpy

PS Welcome to the forums Smitten.

**Dave** · 27-10-2007

You can also get rapid setting grouts as well.......dave..

**Fekin** · 27-10-2007

Welcome to the forums

davy_G · 27-10-2007

Used Ardi-flex rapid set flexible grout for the first time on a floor ths week 30 mins to dry, kept me busy! Good stuff though. Grouted the day after tiling even with a rapid set floor adhesive (3hrs).

NickH · 28-10-2007

If you use a rapidset cement based adhesive then you can finish a job within hours. Just finished a bathroom floor of about 10 m2, tiled over half by tea break, went to the sandwich shop, sat down for half hour lunch, first lot of tiles now set rock hard, tiled rest of floor by 1 oclock, had a cuppa and cleared tools away, another cuppa then grouted up, job done by 3 oclock. Just dont mix up too much at a time

Smitten · 28-10-2007

Thanks for the replies! I am learning so much from this web site!
Being in the US, in a small city, I'm a bit at the mercy of the local suppliers/ Do It Yourself Home Improvement stores and what they choose to stock their shelves with. But there is a new one opening soon and I can't wait to see what they will stock!

Smitten

Fred · 28-10-2007

All this, I can tile 20m2 in a day! It's all rubbish. It's better to put up 8m2 properly, then to mess up 20m2 in a day. A bathroom 20m2 plus 4 m2 on the floor takes me 3 days. If you have a labourer, thats a different subject, but on your own in 2 days, total rubbish.

**grumpygrouter** · 28-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

All this, I can tile 20m2 in a day! It's all rubbish. It's better to put up 8m2 properly, then to mess up 20m2 in a day. A bathroom 20m2 plus 4 m2 on the floor takes me 3 days. If you have a labourer, thats a different subject, but on your own in 2 days, total rubbish.

I agree, have to say it would probably take me a bit longer than that, Fred. Took me 5 days for 13m2 walls and 6.5 m2 floor, excluding prep, UFH and leveller.

Grumpy

**Holohana** · 28-10-2007

hey Smitten, maybe an opportunity to open your own shop eh!

Smitten · 29-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holohana

hey Smitten, maybe an opportunity to open your own shop eh!

Sure! Would you like to back me financially?

Nah, I'm just a working gal who loves to tile. I'd rather be up to my elbows in mud and grout than to be selling the products any way.

Smitten

NickH · 29-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

All this, I can tile 20m2 in a day! It's all rubbish. It's better to put up 8m2 properly, then to mess up 20m2 in a day. A bathroom 20m2 plus 4 m2 on the floor takes me 3 days. If you have a labourer, thats a different subject, but on your own in 2 days, total rubbish.

Easy Tiger, I dont know where you got the "20 m2" from, no mention of it in this thread. Personally, I was talking about a 10 m floor, mostly square floor area on new 18mm ply, not difficult to achieve.