Glue - does it all need to be off floor

[garyb]

I have done various small tiling jobs in the past and have been asked to do my sisters bathroom. Two problems:-
1. she wants the tiles fitted in a brick effect, tiles approx 33x66 ceramic, with the longer edge going breadth ways. I don't have a clue how to set this out, any advice appreciated.
2. have started to lift existing floor covering of vinyl tiles with cork glued underneath. the floor is concrete and tiles ceramic, so i am planning to use rapid set adhesive. how much of the glue do i need to remove? will glue react with adhesive if i leave it on?

[Mike]

With regards to the glue you need to get it all off the floor as any thing thats stuck to the subfloor could compromise the bond between the tiles anhesive and the substrate. If any differential movement then occurs between the tiles and the substrate the tiles could become bebonded as the tile adhesive is only stuck to the glue which may not have that strong of a bond.
If the glue is impossible or too time consuming to remove then an uncoupling layer such as Schlüter DITRA could be used which would remove the stress between the tiles and the substrate and prevent debonding.
One thing to be aware or when laying large tiles in a brickbond fashion is that the tiles are often very slightly bowed and the middle of the tile will sit slightly higher than the ends. This can cause small lips in the tiles and make them harder to keep flat. Setting out will depend on room size and shape and what your tiling around if anything.

[garyb]

Cheers mike, thanks for the advice.

[wayne]

you could also go over it with arditex latex slc

[Dave]

ARDITEX would be great for this project.....nice one wayne....
here's how to prep the area..as specified by ardex..........

PREPARATION
The surface of the sub-floor must be clean,
sound and free from dust, plaster droppings,
grease, paint, polish and any water-softenable
or loosely adhered materials. On absorbent
surfaces it may be necessary to damp down,
or prime the surface using the ARDITEX latex
liquid diluted 1 part to 4 parts water and
allow to dry before applying the ARDITEX
mortar. Where rising damp is present it is
recommended that an ARDEX surface damp
proof membrane is incorporated into the
sub-floor construction, consult the ARDEX DPM
data sheet for detailed advice. The adhesion
and hardening of ARDITEX is unaffected by
the presence of dampness in the sub-floor
providing the floor is free of surface water.
If sub-floors are impervious, e.g. flooring grade
asphalt, or have adhesive residues that will
be affected by subsequently applied adhesives,
an overall application of ARDITEX at least
3mm thick will be required. This is to ensure
uniform drying of the new adhesive or to
prevent interaction either with the old adhesive

residues or with the asphalt sub-floor.

[grumpygrouter]

If you are inexperienced, you might find rapidset a touch more difficult to use. Maybe consider using BAL SPF or something similar, much longer working time (5hrs) than rapidset ( about 30 -45 mins) though they obviously take longer to fully set.

Grumpy

[pjc]

pci primer 303 then tile with any cement based adhesive drys quickley tile the same day and cheap

[Mike]

Originally Posted by dhceramics

ARDITEX would be great for this project.....nice one wayne....
here's how to prep the area..as specified by ardex..........

PREPARATION
The surface of the sub-floor must be clean,
sound and free from dust, plaster droppings,
grease, paint, polish and any water-softenable
or loosely adhered materials. On absorbent
surfaces it may be necessary to damp down,
or prime the surface using the ARDITEX latex
liquid diluted 1 part to 4 parts water and
allow to dry before applying the ARDITEX
mortar. Where rising damp is present it is
recommended that an ARDEX surface damp
proof membrane is incorporated into the
sub-floor construction, consult the ARDEX DPM
data sheet for detailed advice. The adhesion
and hardening of ARDITEX is unaffected by
the presence of dampness in the sub-floor
providing the floor is free of surface water.
If sub-floors are impervious, e.g. flooring grade
asphalt, or have adhesive residues that will
be affected by subsequently applied adhesives,
an overall application of ARDITEX at least
3mm thick will be required. This is to ensure
uniform drying of the new adhesive or to
prevent interaction either with the old adhesive

residues or with the asphalt sub-floor.

Surely the fact that the above states the floor must be clean and free of contaminents would mean all the glue would need to be removed before the Arditex is laid. If the glue is still on the floor surely this could crate a week bond between the substrate and the leveller. Just a thought.

[garyb]

Thanks guys I appreciate all the advice and suggestions. Will look into slc and see if it seems best option.

[Dave]

hi mike..arditex sticks like hell to what ever its poured on...and as long as all loose and water softenable is removed then no probs going over old adhesives..etc...

an overall application of ARDITEX at least
3mm thick will be required. This is to ensure
uniform drying of the new adhesive or to
prevent interaction either with the old adhesive residues .