Mosaic tile / Plaster / Adhesive question!

Moptop · Post by **Moptop** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:07 am

Redoing my bathroom, had it all boarded and skimmed the other week, is dry now and ready for tiling. I'm tiling a smooth area of about 7sq m where a walk in shower enclosure will be installed.

Picked up a good bargain last night on wall tiles, porcelain mosaic 300 x 300, with mesh backing. I have done the skimmed walls with watered down emulsion, I got some Unibond Waterproof Wall Tile Adhesive & Grout. Will this be ok to use on the mosaic tiles? Will it be strong enough, as I've seen the BAL Mosaic Tile Adhesive stuff also, been thinking should I use this instead of the Unibond stuff?

Also a bit concerned as half will be tiled onto normal skimmed plasterboard (not aquapanel), been reading about all the BAL tanking, should I definitely apply this to the (skimmed) enclosure section before tiling? I've done a lot of work on this project and am willing wait a few more days and pay for the products that I know will be correct for the job required, rather than rush. Don't want my tiles falling off 6 months down the line

Any help and advice on these matters would be much appreciated.

Mudster · Post by **Mudster** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:25 pm

Tanking an absolute must with mosaics.

Don't go with any form of ready mix adhesives with mosaic, you're on the right lines with BAL products - then use a separate high quality powdered grout in a suitable colour.

Emulsion not so good, but it's done now and really there's nothing you can do about it, so tank over it then tile and you'll probably be absolutely fine and it will all last for years.

Moptop · Post by **Moptop** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:43 pm

Mudster wrote:Tanking an absolute must with mosaics.

Don't go with any form of ready mix adhesives with mosaic, you're on the right lines with BAL products - then use a separate high quality powdered grout in a suitable colour.

Emulsion not so good, but it's done now and really there's nothing you can do about it, so tank over it then tile and you'll probably be absolutely fine and it will all last for years.

Thanks for the advice Mudster.
I got most of my stuff last night, so haven't started anything yet!. Will take that adhesive back then, and go with the BAL mosaic grout. The only reason i'm a little wary of using the finishing powdered grout is getting the mix absolutely spot on!? Any tips?

As for the tanking, is it the WP1 kit, or a seperate item you recommend.
Thanks again, feel better knowing i'm doing the correct thing for the long run rather than cutting corners.

Mudster · Post by **Mudster** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:03 pm

WP1 kit will be fine for what you require.

As for the grout, invest in a whisk to go in a cordless drill, always add grout to water as opposed to the opposite, until a thick creamy consistency is reached, let it settle for 15 minutes or so before you start using it.

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:45 pm

The emulsion needs to be removed completely before you apply the WP1, it just won't stick to it.

Moptop · Post by **Moptop** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:45 pm

bstyle wrote:The emulsion needs to be removed completely before you apply the WP1, it just won't stick to it.

The WP1 won't stick to it?
Needs to be stripped then?

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:51 pm

Yeah, it's no good for tanking or tiling onto in general.

Moptop · Post by **Moptop** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:56 pm

bstyle wrote:Yeah, it's no good for tanking or tiling onto in general.

Cheers bstyle, will get onto that in the morning.

Mudster · Post by **Mudster** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:11 pm

Curious, how do do strip a watered down emulsion wash?

Will that just peel off?

I got the feeling the wash just soaked into the plaster and short of replastering there's not a lot you could do.

Now if it were a neat emulsion I've seen those literally peeled off in sheets.

Moptop · Post by **Moptop** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:46 pm

Been looking around, best stuff I could find for removing emulsion on new plaster, was something called Stripper NB-510. Apparently apply it with brush, and it peels off in sheets (depending on accuracy). But know what your saying about it being watered down etc, as most of it soaks in. Hopefully it will remove the majority, i'll carefully scrape the rest then tank.

ps. quick question re tanking, apologies never done it before so have no knowledge, I presume it's just a case of rolling it on/brushing on the coating, but will the tape and matting be required in my case?

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:52 pm

im with muddy here. if it is a watered down mist coat then it should have soaked right in which would be fine to tile, but bstyle reckons the tank kit will not stick to it. if thats the case then surely pva then a tight skim of board finish should prepare it ok for tanking?

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:11 am

Moptop wrote:Been looking around, best stuff I could find for removing emulsion on new plaster, was something called Stripper NB-510. Apparently apply it with brush, and it peels off in sheets (depending on accuracy). But know what your saying about it being watered down etc, as most of it soaks in. Hopefully it will remove the majority, i'll carefully scrape the rest then tank.

ps. quick question re tanking, apologies never done it before so have no knowledge, I presume it's just a case of rolling it on/brushing on the coating, but will the tape and matting be required in my case?

Take a look on the UHM website, there are a few pictures of how to tank a shower, the tape does need to be used in the corners of the enclosure. I tend to use a wallpaper paste brush for WP1 and simply paint it on.

I wouldn't use any chemicals on the wall, try a steamer or a belt sander.

It's worth removing for peace of mind.

Mudster · Post by **Mudster** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:20 am

On the plus side of all this is it's mosaic, which weighs very little per sq/m compared to most modern gubbins.

I'd be more concerned of it were travertine being fitted.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:28 am

bstyle wrote:
Moptop wrote:Been looking around, best stuff I could find for removing emulsion on new plaster, was something called Stripper NB-510. Apparently apply it with brush, and it peels off in sheets (depending on accuracy). But know what your saying about it being watered down etc, as most of it soaks in. Hopefully it will remove the majority, i'll carefully scrape the rest then tank.

ps. quick question re tanking, apologies never done it before so have no knowledge, I presume it's just a case of rolling it on/brushing on the coating, but will the tape and matting be required in my case?
Take a look on the UHM website, there are a few pictures of how to tank a shower, the tape does need to be used in the corners of the enclosure. I tend to use a wallpaper paste brush for WP1 and simply paint it on.

I wouldn't use any chemicals on the wall, try a steamer or a belt sander.

It's worth removing for peace of mind.

This is one of bstyle's projects

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/building_a_shower.htm

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:57 pm

That reminds me, i've got a shed load of photos for you UHM, probably 50 odd.