Porcelain DIY SOS

maximilon · Post by **maximilon** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:54 pm

Hi all, some expert advice needed if anyone can help me?

I have been tiling my bathroom today with large 30x60cm tiles, i picked up some ready mix adhesive from wickes and off i went! (and they are looking good to my untrained eye).

I have only got a couple of m2 up and only 3 full tiles, i have just noticed that (A) my tiles are porcelain, and (B) the wickes adhesive is not suitable for porcelain! The full tiles and some cuts are on uni-bonded plasterboard and a handful of 3/4 to 1/2 tiles are on uni-bonded plaster.

I am going to do the rest with the correct stuff tomorrow, but they seem to have bonded well, should i try to remove them and start with the correct adhesive or will i get away with the ones already up?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:01 pm

If it says not suitable, one could reasonably expect them to fall off in the near future.

I get the impression the pro's on here don't rate the ready mixed stuff anyway.

darrenba · Post by **darrenba** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:03 pm

I think you'll find that the ready mix adhesive won't set properly on tiles of that size. Make sure you get powered adhesive for the remaining tiles. You're probably best going along to a tile supplier like Topps tiles and discussing it with them. They can advise you the correct adhesive for what you've got.

maximilon · Post by **maximilon** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:20 pm

Thanks guys for the quick response, what do you think about leaving the ones i have done, is there a risk that they will fall off when someone slams the door in a few weeks? or are they just going to take longer to cure?

Only-Me · Post by **Only-Me** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:29 pm

Take them off before they fall.

As mentioned..........powdered adhesive.

Better off going for a flexible one as well

maximilon · Post by **maximilon** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:25 pm

Tis done, there off, i thought for the sake of an hour extra work sticking them back on, its best to be safe...

And the adhesive i had applied 6 hours was still as wet as it was when i put it on.

Thanks for all the advice.

katbloke · Post by **katbloke** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:12 pm

thanks for the heads up, my new tiles are procelain and 800x300

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:58 pm

BAL single part flexible with porcelbond powdered adhesive, while your getting the adhesive ask for a small BAL APD to prime the walls with too.

I would try & steer clear of Topps & look for a local independant tile shop if possible unless you have a trade account with them...very expensive to walk in customers.

Prime your walls with BAL APD & leave for an hour, then mix your addy, you want to be looking for a slightly stiff mix, similar to a thick porridge (so your trowel will stand up in it on its own), don't mix the whole bag as you will probably find it goes off before you've got 4 or 5 tiles up. Just mix a bit at a time until your comfortable with amounts & curing time. It will be set in 24hrs & ready to grout

Good luck