tile pushed out

[reggell]

i tiled a bath panel yesterday. 9mm ply. i bonded it first not with pva, but with a good bal sealer. the tiles (600x400 porcelain) were applied with topps cement based wet mix flexi adhesive ( suitable for porcelain). i got back thismorning to find 2 tiles had kind of pushed themselves away from the ply about 1 inch. any idea why anyone?

[easyt]

How thick was the ply. Did you seal both sides of ply?

[reggell]

9mm ply put on by the builders

[kilty55]

how is the ply fixed?

[Stewart]

Sounds like it's buckled with the moisture.

[reggell]

not fixed very well, only a strap on the floor at the base. i didnt bond both sides

[reggell]

9mm, sealed omly one side

[kilty55]

as stew says its sounds like its buckled as it isnt properly fixed

[reggell]

maybe coz the ply wasnt fixed too well to the bath?

[reggell]

yeah, i started to think that myself. thanks

[kilty55]

watch what your doing reggell if builders or anyone leaves you a poorly prepped room and you tile it knowing full w ell its not good enough then your the one responsible if the job goes belly up mate

[reggell]

maybe next time i should get them to use gyproc

[easyt]

If you seal one side only then ply will buckle without provocation.

[reggell]

good advice, tho it is dificult to slag the builders work when u are getting paid from them.

[whitebeam]

Hardie would have been more suitable

[Dave]

If you seal one side only then ply will buckle without provocation.

Not true.. Rapid set should be used and the ply needs to be at least WBP grade.... quite a few adhesive comps advise not to seal the face side of ply.. always read the bag for priming info.. but i agree with the ply being to thin and not up to moisture grade, hence the water from the adhesive warping it..

[kilty55]

good advice, tho it is dificult to slag the builders work when u are getting paid from them.

yes mate you dont have to slag the builder off,either fix it yourself if its a minor issue and at end of job highlight to the builder that it wasnt properly fixed......let them know they are not to leave you poor prep otherwise they will do it all the time

[Alan.P]

Classic case of moisture getting into the ply and it then cupping, as Dave says, usual to prime only back / underside, and edges, but do check with the adhesives' instructions.

[reggell]

will do, thanks for your input

[Max@ableskills]

600 x 400mm tile!, 9mm ply?. ply defo to thin, agree with whitebeam should have used hardie

[andy8758]

Good luck Regell - sounds like some good experience picked up from this Job -lol!

[reggell]

yip, every day a school day as they say