Porcelain Wall Tiles

[mwss77]

Hi All

I have a bathroom tiling job booked later this month. The customer is having large porcelain wall tiles all round.

Need a few pointers as I have not had to tackle porcelain tiles before:

1)What product is best to prime the walls before tiling (bal SBR??)

2)The tiles are 1sqm each, what size spacer would you advise to use.

3)What adhesive would you recommend is best, I was thinking of using either Profix Flexible fast-set or Dunlop Large Format and Natural Stone tile adhesive

Any further tip would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Mark

[pjc]

done em on the floor but not the walls Dunlop Large Format and Natural Stone tile adhesive is ptb not for walls whats the weight of one ?

[grumpygrouter]

Not familier with either adhesive you have mentioned, but if you go along the lines of BAL SPF and prime with BAL APD you won't have any problems. Just make sure the wall is strong enough to support the tiles you are fixing. Wouldn't want them falling on anybody!

As for spacing, it is a personal choice of you and the customer. Big tiles can get away with larger spacing, it also gives you more leeway if the tiles arn't straight/square as it is easier to "lose" a narrow grout line if things start to go wrong.

Grumpy

[Dave]

as long as the walls or in good condition then there will no probs with weight issue with porcelain ... they usually are only 9/10mm thick so will be ok...i would advise using a slow setting flexi cement based adhesive as this will give you more time to work with this larger tile format...prime the walls first....as for joint size. well its down to customer preference .. i tend to give no more than 3mm so that the joints don't become too domineering over the tiles....
Use a 10mm trowel and you may need to lightly back butter to get a solid fix.. check periodically to see you are achieving this...good luck and post us some pics in the tile gallery.... http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/tilegallery/

[pjc]

have only fixed 12-15 thick 1mtr tiles not sure if plaster would hold that ?

[Dave]

If the tiles are 1mtr sq....then weigh the tile to see wot its weight is ( over 20kg a tile) which i dowt with porcleain.. but naturals then deffo to heavy...

dont forget to allow for adhesive and grout weight...

[pjc]

hey Dave they seem a lot heaver when your laying them

[Dave]

to right pete...you need arms like Garth....you know when you done a big floor especially on your back...

[mwss77]

Thanks guys, taken on board what has been replied back. Will be looking to get all supplies for the job nextweek ready for the job.

Myself and my brother-in-law (who's a plasterer) along ith Tom our plumber friend are doing the bathroom from scratch. I will post pcs when job is complete and let you all know how it went.

Thanks
mark

[pjc]

Mark what are tiling onto i think the tiles maybe about 28 kg a mtr 60 x 60 are about 23 kg just make sure the walls are sound (how are you cutting them ?)
Pete

Well spotted pjc, no one had asked what surface Mark was fixing to. If the walls aint yet plastered, keep it that way. Dont allow your brother anywhere near them with that material!

[pjc]

Len you got it

[mwss77]

Hi Pete
Sorry for the delay in posting back, There are 3 internal brick walls and 1 internal stud wall. All walls were previously tiled but have had tiles knocked off by the customer.

I have a ishi big clinker manual cutter and the Plaspugs pro tiler plus wet electric tile cutter. I understand that the plasplugs cutter will handle porcelain tiles.

From what i gather the big clinker should also cut porcelain or would this be incorrect.

Thanks
mark

excuse me for steping in while your waiting for peter.Are we talking bare brick or is there a finish on it. As for the studwork wall,the preferance would be Wedi board or similar.Second ,and much cheaper option is bare plasterboard.