BAL Best way to apply adhesive , floor job

[Brody29]

I have a 5x5 metre floor to tile with 60x20 porcelain tiles, I am using the levelling type spacers with the wedges for the first time. Is the best way to apply the adhesive with a 10 mm trowel onto floor and also back butter the tiles with same trowel?
Thanks for any advice

 

[Andy Allen]

Yes ......but use the flat of the trowel to back butter the tile you just need a skimmed of adhesive on it.

 

[White Room]

Make sure your ribs of the trowel run the same way....

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Make sure your ribs of the trowel run the same way....

Why?

 

[mma]

Why?

Better coverage

 

[Flintstone]

Why?

Oh Come on John!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

So I've been doing it wrong!

 

[LM]

So I've been doing it wrong!

To allow the air to escape therefore allowing the notches to compress for a more solid bed. Swirled like spreading patterns cause the air to be trapped and the compression resistance won't allow the tile to fully colapse the notch and in turn prevents a true solid bed.

 

[White Room]

So I've been doing it wrong!

Explain where we are all going wrong then John.

 

[Brody29]

Thanks for the responses chaps, so the General consensus is, spread the floor with 10mm notched trowel, then also back butter tile with notched side also, and make sure notches of floor and back of tile run in the same direction to allow air to escape for maximum compression?

 

[White Room]

When you've bedded the tile onto the wet adhesive move it back and forth 90 degrees to the notches to allow a good bed of adhesive...

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Explain where we are all going wrong then John.

Never said you were - just asked why because others might not know!
Me I do it up, down, sideways , swirls, flat backed, ribbed and a bit extra in the corners when required. As long as it's solid bed there should be no air pockets and I wouldn't make the adhesive stiff enough for the ribs not to collapse.

 

[White Room]

Never said you were - just asked why because others might not know!
Me I do it up, down, sideways , swirls, flat backed, ribbed and a bit extra in the corners when required. As long as it's solid bed there should be no air pockets and I wouldn't make the adhesive stiff enough for the ribs not to collapse.

That's a fair comment John, it's making sure the addy isn't mixed to thick where it allow very little movement and bedding.

 

[Italy]

I disagree, it depends, the thickness of the tile. If porcelain is thin, agree with lee and whitebeam . otherwise agree with john.
for a 60x20. I would not do me much trouble. otherwise I go, do pharmacist.
I lay, like andy allen.

 

[Andy Allen]

Hang on....don't bring me into your petty arguments . ..
You know hate confrontation . ...

 

[LM]

Thanks for the responses chaps, so the General consensus is, spread the floor with 10mm notched trowel, then also back butter tile with notched side also, and make sure notches of floor and back of tile run in the same direction to allow air to escape for maximum compression?

You'll only need to back butter that tile with the flat side of the notch so as to leave a thin skim.

 

[Rich Midge]

To allow the air to escape therefore allowing the notches to compress for a more solid bed. Swirled like spreading patterns cause the air to be trapped and the compression resistance won't allow the tile to fully colapse the notch and in turn prevents a true solid bed.

This is exactly how I was taught to do it 20+ years ago and it's how I still spread addy today.

 

[kevsalt]

if your sub floor is totally level ...one size trowel might do ...i use 12mm minimum on the floor ...4mm ribbed for back butter...if its unlevel they all come out ..15mm...20mm round notch...etc i dont use clips