Diary of an idiot tiler

[TilingIdiot]

So today me and the Mrs decided it's about time to get our bathroom sorted. We moved into a glasgow tenemant flat about a year ago and now we have a bit of spare cash to continue renovating. Usually I know my limits with DIY and will get a porfessional in when I need one but im really keen to give this one a bash on my own and with the help of people on the forum.

With most Glasgow tenemants you're limited with what you can do in terms of layout as they all tend to be long and narrow. Ours is a bit wider than most but still not ideal.

Anyway, So we've chosen our tiles:

Floor - Polished white/cream porcelain 60x60
Polished Porcelain Bianco 59 | Topps Tiles

Wall - Everstone Botticino 30x60 -(chinese tiles, not convinced about quality but look the part) - £35ish per square metre

Mosaic behind shower, toiler - Lignum Scuro Walls and Floors Tiles -Wall Tiles, Mosaic Effect Tiles, Venis (Tile Factory), Wood Effect Tiles, Bathroom Tiles - Lignum tiles - Lignum Scuro tiles - 333x200mm

Before I go on, any feedback on this tile choice would be welcomed.

Anyway, So I started taking the old tiles off the main wall which tore the underlying plasterboard off with them. Bugger. Up at B&Q next day and carted back some new sheets of plasterboard.

The plan today is refix the plasterboard that was damaged and work our way round taking more of the tiles of and repairing the plasterboard as we go.

Before I start the actual tiling I have a few questions.

1) Is plasterboard a good surface to tile over?
2) Does it need to be treated first?
3) What adhesive would be best for my tile choice?
4) Mrs isnt convinced that we should tile to the ceiling as it is so tall (~10ft tall). I think we definately should. Whats your thoughts?

Pictures below:

bathroom2.jpgbathroom1.jpg

[devonmark]

Hi and welcome,

1, plasterboard is and excellent surface to tile onto
2, treat the area where the shower will be with a tanking solution, usually sold in a kit.
3, I would be using single part flexible tile adhesive, it is sold in powder form, you do the mixing yourself, stay away from tubbed adhesive. for the floor use white adhesive.
4,to the ceiling would be fine, but it is down to personal choice.

mark.

[tfs]

Agree with the advice regarding shoer area. If not tanking then hardie or aquapanel etc at the very least moisture board.

Looking forward to the finnished job.

Welcome to the forum mate!

[doug boardley]

yep, as Devonmark from me, welcome to TF and please post some pics of the finished job

[Scott]

Just to point out that you have to use a powdered adhesive for that size tile.

[Bri]

Welcome along to the forum.

[TilingIdiot]

Thanks for the responses so far.

So I installed the new plasterboard today - Bit of a pain in backside in that walls are rarely perfectly flat/level. What I couldn't understand is that I bought the same thickness of plasterboard that was previously on the wall yet it didn't marry up flush to the existing stuff so there's a couple of mills overhang as you can see in the picture. My dad can do a bit of plastering and says a skim of plaster over the new board should sort it

As for tanking solution - Any advice in which is best/cheapest? Does it just get painted on over the plasterboard? Is it left to set or can you tile on it straight awaybathroom4.jpgbathroom3.jpg

[TilingIdiot]

Oh, and do I need to apply tanking up to ceiling or just in the areas likely to get splashed with water

[Scott]

The plasterboard is on back to front....

[TilingIdiot]

please tell me thats a joke.

I said that to my old man but he insisted the brown papery stuff goes to the outside!

[kevin67]

sorry mate but it is on wrong side

[Ron117]

Sorry mate, but its not a joke..... let your old man help but dont take his advice...lol good luck for your project

[Dave]

The plasterboard is on back to front....

Looks that way to me as well.. Oops

[devonmark]

tanking only needs to be where the water goes..

[Scott]

Sorryfella i wouldnt joke about that. Grey paper on the outside. Its a thicker paper than the brown. I wouldnt tile onto the brown side.

I tank about 2/3s up the wall in the shower area.

[paul78]

i believe you tiles are large so watch the weight. 20kg/m2 for skimmed surface and 32kg/m2 for unskimmed. you said your dad is going to skim.....

[TilingIdiot]

Right, spent 20 minutes on the phone tp my dad who#s being stubborn as a mule and currently in denial at his mistake.

Anyway, lesson learned so guess some good has come of it - Plasterboard now in the correct position.

Another question - I am screwing the plasterboard to the existing wooden panels that were underneath the previous plastersboard - Looks like plywood to me - Could be wrong.

Should I be concerned about the strength of this given that Im probably going to tile to the ceiling?

bathroom5.jpg

[aph257]

i wouldn't skim i'd just blend the thickness of the addy in. but best to take the radiator out to make it easier to tile.

[TilingIdiot]

Thanks to everyones responses so far.

Dad's admitted his mistake. In his defence apparently back in the day you could use plasterboard brown side out but apparently the manufacturing process has changed and now its light-side out only.

[whitebeam]

Thanks to everyones responses so far.

Dad's admitted his mistake. In his defence apparently back in the day you could use plasterboard brown side out but apparently the manufacturing process has changed and now its light-side out only.

Yes your Dad is right about 2 different sides, one light side for dry linning, darker for skimming but it's all one surface now..

[TilingIdiot]

i wouldn't skim i'd just blend the thickness of the addy in. but best to take the radiator out to make it easier to tile.

I considered this but thought it would be a bit of a shortcut and could maybe compromise on the finished look? Could I compensate by being more generous with adhesive at the bottom and less so after the overhang?

What's the general consensus on the forum?

[Scott]

You can start normally at the bottom and gently thicken it out as you go up the wall. You can do this by addng a different thickenss when you back skim the tile

[aph257]

it's no shortcut, plaster skim has a less weight load limit.

[TilingIdiot]

So the plot thickens...

After doing some more reasearch Ive realised ive potentially used plasterboard that is too thin. I've put up 9.5mm thick panels and I understand 12.5 is the recommended.

Will I be OK with the 9.5 or should I take it down and start again with thicker plasterboard?

I've just beeing screwing the plasterboard to the existing wood panels on the wall - Is this safe/acceptable or should I be reinforcing it some other way?

Cheers

[Scott]

9.5mm is for ceilings with narrow joist centres.

You would be better changing it, i know its a pain especially after having already fitted it (twice) but this will also help with your lip where it meets the old plasterboard. Screwing it to the original studs is fine, the more fixings the merrier

[mr tile art]

lol.....sorry 4 laffing ........ wong way round lol....