Finishing off a ceiling - Do we have too much gap?

[Bathfix Bob]

You've done the right thing to remove them, although ready mixed is meant for diyers there's no reason you cant do a professional job.

Tubbed addy is water based and dries through the grout lines hence the fact you cannot use it for large tiles as the addy in the middle would never dry.

Any pics as it stands re the cement board?

[Dave]

Tubbed adhesive is a dispersion adhesive, this means to set it has to lose it's moisture and that is through the grout lines as said above and through into the substrate and tile biscuit..

IMO you would be better using a slow set bagged adhesive as this will allow you take up any deviation in the walls as dispersion adhesive should not exceed 3mm depth... and can shrink crack if used deeper.. and will set quicker as it sets hydraulically...

[KylieZona]

Hey Bob - I'd like to do a decent job and not have tiles popping off all over the place - that's for sure!

They're 25cm x 40cm the dot and dabbed seemed to dry ok. Do you think the all over will dry OK once redone?

Pics of cement boad damage below.

CementBoard-Damage2.jpgCementBoard-Damage.jpg

[Dave]

If you do go for bagged adhesive t hen make sure you acrylic prime plaster areas..directions for this will be on the bottle

[Bathfix Bob]

How was the Aquapanel fixed to the wall, screw only or screws and adhesive?

Not saying you should remove it! just thinking if you can cut out the damaged sections and replace if you have any left over, and tape the joints.

Or you could use the cement based bagged addy to fill the holes and then tank the area over for belt and braces.

[Bri]

The cement board is ok just spread a bit of adhesive in the damaged parts to repair it. As Dave has mentioned above, use a powdered, cement based adhesive, you will get more out of a bag than a tub so is better value and also it's really easy to use (get a slow setting one) and the only difference is you have to mix it yourself. I make it sound simple, and it is really!

[KylieZona]

Thanks so much for your hep Bob, Dave, Bri.

We'll be hitting the shops first thing in the morning for the bagged adhesive. We WILL have a bathroom!

[Bathfix Bob]

Go to Tile Giant, Topps or similar.

Don't go to Homebase!

[Colour Republic]

Thanks so much for your hep Bob, Dave, Bri.

We'll be hitting the shops first thing in the morning for the bagged adhesive. We WILL have a bathroom!

I personally wouldn't go to Topps Tiles for your adhesive as their retail price on adhesive is eye watering. I'd suggest you go to either a small independant or someone like CTD or Tile Giant. If you find yourself in B&Q then get the 'Buildfix' adhesive rather than unibond or the likes

[KylieZona]

Sorry to throw more naive questions out there... but I'm reading conflicting stories about how long to leave acrylic primer.

I've bought Buildfix Plaster Primer from B&Q but it doens't list a drying time.

Other acrylic primers seem to have a 1 - 12 hour drying time. Which isn't a great help. I've also ready on one primer that you shouldn't let it dry before tiling over.

Any thoughts? (I'm scared of doing another rubbish job!)

[Dave]

Usually dries in about an hr... so you prime and then have a nice cuppa tea

[KylieZona]

Dave - the kettle's on. Thanks again. 45 minutes to cement adhesive time

[KylieZona]

Done. Well one wall anyway. And it went back together OK. It didn't take too long to get used to the trowel thingy but I have one heck of a blister!

The tiles feel so much more secure now.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all your patience in helping this newbie avoid a total disaster.

The evidence of a Dot & Dab-free zone:

CementAdhesive-(3).jpgCementAdhesive-(7).jpgCementAdhesive-(9).jpg

I'm going to go collapse now.

[Phil Hobson]

Good result Kylie

[Dave]

Who said tiling was easy hey

[KylieZona]

I will always stop and notice a nice bit of tiling work from now on (now I appreciate how bleedin' difficult it is)!

[tommyzooom]

Looking much better Kyliezona,
thanks for posting pics

[Colour Republic]

Well done Kylie, not least for taking the advice and going the whole way with it despite how disheartening it must have been to start all over again when you thought you'd nearly finished. I don't recall you at any point trying to cut a few corners to make it easier, you just went for it and took the pro's advice


The two pictures below look similar don't they? yet one hides some horrors and the other is done correctly and more importantly safely.

[Dan]

Makes you think for sure.

[KylieZona]

Thanks Colour Republic. It was disheartening and we are still battling on - finding new unknowns. It seems never-ending but we're so glad to have got the pro's advice in time to start again. Thanks again for your help. I will post some piccies of the finished job if we ever get there!