Adhesion/coverage problem - Tile Advice

[LEH]

Hi guys,

I have had some tiles pull off the wall. Without exception they were all fixed a different (and perhaps wrong?) way - they were all in tight spaces so I troweled the backs of the tiles instead, whereas for the rest I troweled the wall and also back skimmed the tiles. Trowel was 10mm.

It's very obvious that the ridges didn't collapse to give enough coverage?

I'm pretty bummed out about this. I have checked the other tiles fixed the normal way and they seem well adhered.

 

[Ajax123]

Addy too stiff?

 

[LEH]

Could be? I'm using keraflex maxi s1 - mixed according to the packet, but it did seem a bit stiff. I'm also not entirely sure these are completely dry - how long is reasonable to wait before testing?

These were done about a day ago.

 

[LEH]

I think you're right - it's the consistency of the adhesive, probably worsened by not applying it to both surfaces. These tiles were all done with the same mix and manner of application. I've had a swing on ones done on other days and they seem well fixed...

 

[Andy Allen]

Adhesive will take up to 2 weeks to fully cure...

 

[LEH]

Yeah, I think I was having a bit of a panic this morning, as it's my first attempt at tiling. And it is a slow set... Nonetheless the coverage isn't good on these so I think it was for the better to recognise the problem?

 

[Tilergal]

If you were at the end of a mix it could have started to go off before your last tiles were fixed. A small mix is best if you're not familiar with the working time of an adhesive, even though it means doing it more often.

 

[LEH]

Thanks. I'll put new ones in and pay extra attention to the adhesive, will lift a couple to check too along the way.

 

[Spare Tool]

If you can't get a trowel in there to spread adhesive on the wall, do as you've done and trowel back of tile but using short edge of the trowel skim the wall with adhesive too before sticking tile on

 

[Blunt Tool]

What kind of wall are you tiling onto? Plasterboard, plaster, painted plaster ?

 

[LEH]

Jackoboards

 

[LM]

Judging by your pics the adhesive looks like it’s dehydrated too quickly on the back of the very absorbent tiles, mix probably too stiff also. As above, what substrate where you tiling to and did you prime it?

 

[Blunt Tool]

Adhesive could be too dry and that biscuit backed ceramic tiles draw the water from the adhesive quickly, sponge the back of them with water before serrating with adhesive and wash down the jackboards aswell with water

 

[LEH]

Thanks for all the pointers

 

[Dumbo]

To be honest I always prime backer boards because it save damping them down . Once they are primed it's done .