how long to dry

juandan · Post by **juandan** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:15 pm

hi, I tiled my bathroom wall over 48 hours ago, I was taking some of the spacer's out to get it ready for grouting but some of tiles come off the wall, the tile adhesive is still soft, the manufactures instructions says grout after 48 hours, mind you it is cold in my bathroom could that affect the drying time? I'm using Cerafix tile adhesive for B&Q

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:33 pm

It should be hard by now

I'd leave it until you are certain that the adhesive has gone off.

Only-Me · Post by **Only-Me** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:38 pm

Is that the cement & grout in one

If so.......about a week to go off

darrenba · Post by **darrenba** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:35 pm

What size are the tiles? Ready Mix adhesive won't set properly/quickly with large format tiles.

jozeffo · Post by **jozeffo** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:19 pm

Check the tub. If the walls are too cold, turn the heating on full. Some say 15 degrees minimum. if you have used a flat bed rather than a notched trowel, drying may be a problem at low temperatures

LouLizR · Post by **LouLizR** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:56 pm

A number of factors affect drying times:
temperature
type of tile - ceramic or porcelain, etc
the substrate, ie wall
adhesive used

The wall has to be perfectly dry to tile on to. If it has been wet, give it a good week to dry out, with the heating on. Use a 6mm notched trowel and try and make one consistent pass with the trowel on the wall.

If using tiles other than ceramic, then drying times will probably be greater, esp porcelain.

Never grout until you know your adhesive is dry - put a heater in the room.

Just been using 16hr adhesive, with ceramic tiles, which hadn't set after two days - temperature was the issue there as no working heating in the new development.