Tile adhesive not setting

[little eagle]

This is the third time i have had the problem that the powdered floor adhesive is not setting after 3-4 hours. I have been tiling for about 4 years now and have never have this happened before. It first happened in the summer tiling outside with rapid set adhesive and has happened again today inside using a rapid set flexible adhesive. After 6 hours the adhesive in my gorilla tub looked like i had just mixed it and was still soft. Would love some advice...thanks.

[kilty55]

what make of adhesive was it,,was it the sam brand on all 3 occasions

[kilty55]

what does it say its pot life is and setting times

keraquik is described as rapid setting but cantake up to 4 hours

[Sir Ramic]

Which brand is it and it was quite nippy today. The adhesive I used took longer than usual.

[timeless john]

It would be helpful if you could inform us of the make and type of adhesive.
Do you still have the packaging to check the best before date etc.

[hillhead]

Brand needed .......

[little eagle]

it was from topps tiles, it was toppfix rapid set flexible tile adhesive today and before it was toppfix rapid set adhesive, ive just checked my gorilla tub in the van and the adhesive has still not set and still very soft, i think i could easily re-use it it hasnt started to harden at all. (was mixed about 12.30 today)

[sts1]

had the been opened before today bag.I find this slows down the drying time.

[kilty55]

ok is it a heated house you were working on today? or a cold concrete floor?

doesnt sound right its still soft in your van what does the bag say

[doug boardley]

I haveThis is the third time i have had the problem that the powdered floor adhesive is not setting after 3-4 hours. been tiling for about 4 years now and have never have this happened before. It first happened in the summer tiling outside with rapid set adhesive and has happened again today inside using a rapid set flexible adhesive. After 6 hours the adhesive in my gorilla tub looked like i had just mixed it and was still soft. Would love some advice...thanks.

still trying to get my head round this tbh....

[little eagle]

its a new bag just opened today, its a concrete floor but i have layed warm up insuallation boards yesterday with the same adhesive which i have no idea how long it took to set apart from the fact that it had set by this morning when i turned up to tile

[CJ]

Wot colour bags are they........

I have use toppfix stuff quite a lot, and never had a problem with it.

[trevortine]

Toppfix, wouldnt touch it with a barge pole!! doesnt really explain your problem though mate! I know palace make it but i tend to stick with premium adhesives.

[little eagle]

the flexible adhesive is in a grey bag and the rapid set is in a blue bag, i have used toppsfix adhesive along with others since i started tiling and never had this problem, i know when its a bit colder outside it can take a bit longer the same as in summer when youre fighting to get the adhesive down before its starting to dry.

[hillhead]

Bad batch maybe???
The rapidiser went for his tea. Lol.

[Mike]

i use toppfix a lot and only had one problem with it when tiling over heather browns on steps. it took longer to go off but i put that down due the old tiles being non absorbent. i have noticed the slow set going 'wetter' after a couple of hours in the bucket though

[Lincoln-tiler]

back in January last year I was tiling wet rooms onto screed using a slow set adhesive. It was freeeeezing and had been snowing so I decided Ill tile the floors first in the plot I was starting in on a friday so it would have the weekend to go off as the kitchen floor I tiled the day before was still wet. Got there on the monday 48 + hours after floors had been layed and they was still wet??? couldn't believe it. Fortunately the plumber finished the heating in the house on the Monday and switched it on before leaving site. All was good the following day!!!

[deanotile]

did you use anything containing lemons to clean the tub?

[Dave]

did you use anything containing lemons to clean the tub?

What has Keith got to do with this..

[doug boardley]

..must be potatoes...

[Ajax123]

You need to establish shelf life. The setting element is controlled by various chemicals inluding gypsum and ferrous oxide along with various plasticisers. Most of these have a shelf life. Typically bagged cement should be used within 6 months of bagging. I would think addys are similar.

[Ajax123]

Course it might just the flippn cold.........

[Dave]

You need to establish shelf life. The setting element is controlled by various chemicals inluding gypsum and ferrous oxide along with various plasticisers. Most of these have a shelf life. Typically bagged cement should be used within 6 months of bagging. I would think addys are similar.

I like you better full of wine

[Dave]

You need to establish shelf life. The setting element is controlled by various chemicals inluding gypsum and ferrous oxide along with various plasticisers. Most of these have a shelf life. Typically bagged cement should be used within 6 months of bagging. I would think addys are similar.

Now that depends up on manufacturer.

[pjc]

at certain times of year say when its hot they put less hardener in it when its cold they put more in so if you have say a summer mix it will take longer to dry or if you get a winter mix in the summer it will go off quicker

[enduro]

Mix the rapid set with hot water...that will make you work quick!!

[Tabby Cranks]

Thats the problem with ''cheap'' adhesives, they're cheap for a reason. When you pay bit extra for BAL, Mapei or Ardex, you get the benefit of stuff like QC, that means each batch should come out near enough the same.

[hillhead]

Adhesive with a mind of it's own....
Now there's a thought.

"I don't want to set"

Lol.

[pjc]

Thats the problem with ''cheap'' adhesives, they're cheap for a reason. When you pay bit extra for BAL, Mapei or Ardex, you get the benefit of stuff like QC, that means each batch should come out near enough the same.

they keep an better eye on their retailers and keep better stock control and charge for it thats what you are paying for

[Tabby Cranks]

they keep an better eye on their retailers and keep better stock control and charge for it thats what you are paying for

That too.