Recommendation: Tiling on fresh one coat plaster

[smith_21]

i want to skim my kitchen walls with one coat, as the surface is bad, how long realistically should i wait to tile with 200x100mm johnson tile, people say at least a week, is a week minimum

[Bri]

In my experience there is no set time for leaving new plaster, depends how thick it's put on and the temperature in the room. It will be obvious from a visual point of view when it's dry. As it's drying out it will start to look patchy, just wait until all the damp patches have gone and it is a consistent colour.

[Alan.P]

Rule of thumb is 1 day per mm, but that varies on temperature etc, as said, you'll see when it's drying / dry.

[Martyn Leeds]

If its to tile on, how about skimming with a bit of rapid instead?
2-3hrs and you're away

[Rich]

Its all been said above really, you should be able to see when it is dry by the colour of it. If you have the choice, leave it as long as you can to be safe. Good idea above, if its a small area using a rapid set powder adhesive to skim the walls could save you a lot of waiting time.

[vosnack]

what's the point of skimming on the tiling area? And if the surface is that bad are you sure it's suitable for tiling?

[cornish_crofter]

what's the point of skimming on the tiling area? And if the surface is that bad are you sure it's suitable for tiling?

I was thinking the same thing.

If practical, I actually replace plasterboard prior to tiling.

If it is a solid wall, you could skim the area to be tiled with rapid set as suggested, or if it is sound, level but just not looking great and would hold the tiles just tile over it.

I have actually rendered walls specifically for tiling before now. On one job where I was renovating a house I stripped out and re rendered a whole wall in the bathroom that was to be tiled floor to ceiling. I didn't skim it as any tile adhesive will stick like wotsit to a blanket to the wall.

4 to 1 sand cement render with lime if the wall calls for it - works a treat. Level off with a good straight edge to make the tiling even easier!

[whitebeam]

I just use a plasiciser for adding to the render

[Dave]

what's the point of skimming on the tiling area? And if the surface is that bad are you sure it's suitable for tiling?

It is called making good to tile too..ffs.. what all tilers do when a substrate isn't flat enough to tile too... but not with a bonding coat...

[lucius]

One coat is good stuff for squaring up walls ive used it quite a lot with no probs but i wouldnt use it any wet areas as i wouldnt any gypsum plasters remember it needs priming if you are using bagged addys.

[vosnack]

It is called making good to tile too..ffs.. what all tilers do when a substrate isn't flat enough to tile too... but not with a bonding coat...

But skim of plaster will not give more than 10mm. I don't think that even this thickness is a good idea as plaster is not really designed for straightening big dips. So really if it's up to 10mm is it not achievable with tile adhesive? And skimming simply a waist of time? And if more than 10mm multi/board-finish not suitable for this task? I do plastering more often than tiling but i never plastered specificaly prior to tiling except when wall is only partially tiled. Skimming is a finishing coat so is tiling.

[Rich]

I assume that smith 21 isnt comfortable with tiling onto a less than flat surface and relying on skill to bring the tiles out flat. It is all very well saying that you can just make good the wall with the adhesive but if he has the time to let it dry then skimming the wall first than he has a much better chance of making a good finish, plaster may well not be the way to go but I dont see any problem with making good with rapid adhesive. I notice that this is his own kitchen and not a job so anything to help him get the best finish he can

[lucius]

Vosnack you are quite right but he is talking about one coat plaster which you can put on as thick as you can but looking back at his post he says skimming with one coat so ime not sure what he means or how bad the walls are now.

[vosnack]

Vosnack you are quite right but he is talking about one coat plaster which you can put on as thick as you can but looking back at his post he says skimming with one coat so ime not sure what he means or how bad the walls are now.

In that case(one coat plaster) I apologise, my mistake as I never used this stuff before. I'll look into it more though as I already tried to find out what I can use for straightening walls prior to tiling(except adhesive) and no one mentioned this. Thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR

[Dave]

Patch up plasters like One coat etc are fine.. they dry very fast and very hard... it is base coats that should not be tiled too..