Anyone seen this happen? glass mosaics losing the backing after tiling

[GoneGuy]

hi all,
I've got a glass and metal mosaic border, it's fitted with white powder adhesive ( palace ) and white grout ( palace ).
I fitted it about 6 weeks ago, and it's been noticed that the glass mosaic backing is dissolving, no bleach has been used to clean them and the manufacturer has said out of the 40,000 they have sold this is the first case.
The manufacturer is replacing them, but I am curious if any of you guys have seen this before?

 

[GoneGuy]

First pic shows one glass mosaic totally "dissolved" and one next to it half way being "dissolved",
Last pic shows bubbling?

 

[Dumbo]

I have only seem it when I was called in to repair job after house holder was given ready mix adhesive to fix glass tiles with coloured background never with powdered adhesive

 

[Qwerty]

Sounds to me like ready mixed tubbed adhesive was used. What was used out of interest?
That grout looks wet still!?

 

[GoneGuy]

Palace powder adhesive 20kg and palace white grout powder.
It's where I wiped it to get a good pic

 

[LM]

I've got a glass and metal mosaic border, it's fitted with white powder adhesive ( palace ) and white grout ( palace ).

Strange, was there any cleaning agents used?

 

[GoneGuy]

Just usual bathroom cleaner, no bleaches.
All info from adhesive and cleaning agents been sent to the manufacturer

 

[GoneGuy]

The only conclusion me and the tile shop have come to is that it could be the paint on the walls?
He even dipped samples in grout, adhesive, bleach, sbr to see if anything would happen

 

[Rookery]

I remember some years ago fixing some glass mosaics (Wickes I think) where the box specifically stated to use a ready mixed adhesive. I would have used White Star.

 

[GoneGuy]

There was no box with these, I'll check with the shop when I pick the new ones up.
What would be the best way to remove the mosaics?

 

[Spud]

I have had the same thing happen using trend glass borders we used palace adhesive powdered adhesive and it attacked the paint on the back of the glass we were told we should have used Bal mosaic fix powdered adhesive we had to rip it all out and redo it , the supplier footed the cost of the tiles we just redid it with the correct adhesive and it was fine after that

 

[MTiler]

Not all makes of cement based adhesives are suitable for mosaics with backings.
I wouldve contacted the manufacturer to see what they recommend.
Mapei and Bal are often recommended.

 

[GoneGuy]

Thank you for the info

 

[GoneGuy]

Tile shop said was fine to use palace adhesive, I'll ask him to contact manufacture to see what adhesive they recommend

 

[GoneGuy]

Thank you guys for all your help/advice

 

[Rookery]

Tile shop said was fine to use palace adhesive, I'll ask him to contact manufacture to see what adhesive they recommend

Presumably because that's what they sell. Personally, I wouldn't use Palace to fix anything to anything else.

 

[Dumbo]

I have fixed loads with palace even going back to when they used to run houseplan as a separate brand and never had an issue with it ever . Whereas you read loads on here about uneven grout colours with things like Mapei ucp or bal mm

 

[Dumbo]

Also I am not saying that palace aren't at fault this time either .

 

[GoneGuy]

Also I am not saying that palace aren't at fault this time either .

I plan on getting the tile shop to send samples to both palace and mosaic manufacturer, I've got replacement mosaics off manudacturer so I'm going to see if palace will do anything as well

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

some times its as simple as not back skimming this leaves air trapped leading to oxidization between
the/ backing/ adhesive/air trapped/ cement adhesive creates heat as it drys uneven drying will create hot and cold spots on back painted tiles this is what can happen

 

[Dumbo]

Oh just one more thing about palace , topp fix is made by palace chemicals for Topps tiles and there are loads of traders up and down the country that use this product ( I am not one of them ) and keep going back for more .
Another thing I am not employed or have any affiliation with palace .

 

[White Room]

Surely though Ray if you don't back skim it will leave voids for the same process as you described.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

Surely though Ray if you don't back skim it will leave voids for the same process as you described.

not back skimming was what i was trying to get across when i said not back skimming causes this

 

[White Room]

With you now Ray, either I read it wrong or you wrote wrong or it could be the dark rum and lemonade I'm on

 

[One Day]

I once fixed a 20+sqm travertine floor using Toppfix white rsf (Palace).
It hadn't even begun to set after 24hrs and I had a water-stained floor as a result and an unhappy customer.
Palace were not interested in even talking about it. Thankfully Topps rectified it.
Never used it since around 2008 and won't now.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

With you now Ray, either I read it wrong or you wrote wrong or it could be the dark rum and lemonade I'm on

could also be the scotch and having seven fingers at the moment

 

[GoneGuy]

Just a quick update.
Palace adhesive Rep was in the tile shop and the answer they gave was.
"The white palace adhesive is ok to use on mosaics but they cannot garantee it working as mosaics are made abroad and they do not know what materials are used to bond the back of them, and also it depends what is on the wall aready, we suggest using palace tub adhesive as it has no acid in it that could react with the mosaics".

 

[Flintstone]

That's gonna stick glass well ain't it

 

[Dan]

Just a quick update.
Palace adhesive Rep was in the tile shop and the answer they gave was.
"The white palace adhesive is ok to use on mosaics but they cannot garantee it working as mosaics are made abroad and they do not know what materials are used to bond the back of them, and also it depends what is on the wall aready, we suggest using palace tub adhesive as it has no acid in it that could react with the mosaics".

Thanks for the update. What's happening to these tiles then now?

 

[GoneGuy]

Thanks for the update. What's happening to these tiles then now?

I've been given replacement mosaics, palace are not playing ball.
So when I get a chance to take them off and replace I will take a few pictures and post them.
Also I will pick everyone's brains for best adhesive to use to put the new ones back up.

Thanks for all the help guys