wall preparation and tools for 30x60 ceramic tiles

[John in Chester]

I'm a DIYer and have tiled sucessfully with tiles up to 20x30 and tubbed adhesives. Bought these 30x60 double fired ceramics without realising the extra problems you face. Read lots of good stuff on this forum but please check my thinking and warn me if I've got things wrong.

Three walls are partition walls with plaster skim in reasonable condition (one was part tiled before and has some residue of old adhesive). My tiles weigh 15.7 kg/sq m so if I keep the adhesive to 3-4mm I should just be within the weight limits. I propose Mapei Kerafix Maxi as the adhesive. What's the best primer and trowel?

The other two walls are external plastered walls (yes there are 5 walls - the room is a rectangle with a corner cut off by a line mid point to midpoint of adjacent walls). The larger wall was part tiled, part painted. The tiles have brought the topcoat plaster off with them leaving a rough surface underneath which seems well adhered. Can I tile direct to that? The paint also seems well adhered - if I scratch it throughly will that be OK?

The last wall is the problem. Only 1500 wide by 2030 high but used to have part of a window before the house was extended. I filled in the alcove with studs and plasterboard but the wall is not very even. It also seems to have a lintel about 30cm deep which is filled in with plasterboard. Some of the plaster over the board has come off and the whole lot sounds hollow when knocked. This will also be the wall behind my new shower enclosure. I guess I have to bite the bullet and board the whole wall with a backer board (Marmox bords look good - are they OK?) then apply a tanking coat.

Sorry this has been so long but I'd appreciate any advice you can give.

John

[timeless john]

1) Primer G and a 6/8mm trowel.
2) Prime and use the adhesive to straighten up the voids. Make sure all loose paint is removed.
3) Use a waterproof board and just use tanking tape for all the corners and edges.

Everything else you've covered with the help of Tilers Forum.

[Mike]

if you're tiling brick bond, check your tiles aren't bowed and make sure your walls are flat or you'll get bad lippage. good luck

[Perfect Tiling]

As the above guys have said and you'll be fine. Good prep is the key...get everything level, flat and solid then the job will be a lot easier and look perfect when completed. Good luck!!

[Rich]

Yep, all good advice above. 8mm trowel and primer G for Mapei powder adhesives and Marmox boards are perfect. When it comes to the tiling, take your time and you should be able to pull of a cracking job safe in the knowledge that its done correctly

[John in Chester]

My thanks to all the tilers who've responded and the good advice generally on the forum. My boards are due to be delivered today and I'm feeling very confident and ready to go. Thanks again.

John

[ian158]

if you're tiling brick bond, check your tiles aren't bowed and make sure your walls are flat or you'll get bad lippage. good luck

been there, learnt the hard way, before i discovered this place!