Help with tile adhesive

kerry272 · Post by **kerry272** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:17 pm

I have just bought 15sqms of tiles for my bathroom walls
They are porcelain floor/wall size 330X500mm 8.5 mm thick
I cannot find any suitable adhesive.

Can anyone please advice me on what is best to get
If I cannot find anything suitable I will have to return the tiles
and buy smaller ceramic tiles with lots of choice for adhesive as this is my first attempt at tiling and don’t wont them to fall off the walls

darrenba · Post by **darrenba** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:45 pm

BAL Single Part Flexible

http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products ... t-flexible

or

BAL Rapidset Flexible

http://www.bal-adhesives.co.uk/products ... t-flexible

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:58 pm

Porcelain 330 x 500 for your first go at tiling? Love your ambition!!

As Darren says Kerry, both of the adhesives are ideally suited for your tiles. Both contain porcelbond which is a must!

IMO I would go for Single Part Flexible over the Rapidset as it would give you a longer open time (pot life), the rapidset is as it says rapid setting & not ideal for a diy'er who is about to embark on their first tiling job.

While your getting the adhesive, get some BAL APD too for priming your walls with. What surface are you tiling to?

Mix the adhesive with a paddle (get them from the high st diy stores about £3-£6) attached to a drill with slow speed, add the powder to your water (as per mixing instructions on rear of bag) & aim for a thick creamy mix so your trowel stands up on its own in it.

Use a 10mm notched trowel as these tiles will be quite weighty & aim for 100% coverage across the rear of the tile. press tile to wall & give it a wiggle to get good adhesion.

Good luck

katbloke · Post by **katbloke** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:45 am

will this bal apd work ok for walls that once had tiles on then they got thin wash of emulsion to check for filling then some filler over the top?

thats my next task before tiling porcelain tiles

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:17 pm

If it was only a thin wash of emulsion then yes, the plaster probably soaked most of it up.

If it was just a coat of emulsion (ie not watered down) then score the area to be tiled of rough it up with a wire brush of rough sandpaper.

Personally I'd rough it up anyway no matter what was on the plaster to give it a good key for adhesion then prime. Some plastering can be too shiny like glass when overworked so give it a roughing up anyway, it will be beneficial for you to do this.