Tile adhesive not setting
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Leif
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Tile adhesive not setting
I tiled the central area of my porch this afternoon. The surface is screed with a thin coat of BAL APD primer to reduce suction. Today I used Unibond rapid set tile adhesive with porcelain tiles. The adhesive sets in 3 hours. After five hours I pulled out the spacers, leant on one tile, and it moved. The adhesive was not set. Adhesive between tiles was still squidgy. What is going on? I have a suspicion I am going to have to lift all the tiles, and buy a reputable brand of adhesive, and more tiles.
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darrenba
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davecroft
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Re: Tile adhesive not setting
Setting time seems to be affected by a lot of things - thickness of adhesive, condition of surfaces, weather etc. I laid some floor tiles in kitchen and the adhesive I used stated a 24 hour drying time. I could still move them 3 days later and it was almost a week until I was satisfied they were 100% solid. I followed the instructions on the adhesive (1.5mm trowel) but to be honest it looked a bit thick to me and I reckon I could have used less as the floor was very smooth and non-absorbant.
Your tiles should set in time but if it is an area where they are likely to be disturbed you might be better redoing them. It might also be an issue with the combination of adhesive and primer, DTWCeramics often posts on here and seems to have good technical knowledge about adhesives etc.
Your tiles should set in time but if it is an area where they are likely to be disturbed you might be better redoing them. It might also be an issue with the combination of adhesive and primer, DTWCeramics often posts on here and seems to have good technical knowledge about adhesives etc.
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Leif
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Re: Tile adhesive not setting
Bag. From B&Q. Suitable for porcelain. Tiles are 33cm by 33cm so not big. I had my kitchen tiled by a pro, 60cm by 60cm porcelain tiles, it was finished and useable by the evening.darrenba wrote:What size of tiles? Is the adhesive in a tub or bag?
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Leif
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Re: Tile adhesive not setting
It did set, in almost 24 hours. So much for 'rapid set'. Perhaps the primer interfered with the drying. They recommend using PVA, but from what I've read, that is a no-no. I think in future I'll use Bal or Mapei adhesives, despite the high price.
And a side note, I tiled a 1.5m by 1.5m screed floor with porcelain tiles, cut using a wet saw, and it took me almost 1.5 solid days work. It is neat, but certainly no better than my 3.5m by 3m kitchen which was tiled with 60cm by 60cm tiles by a pro, in a morning. Actually I'd say his work was a bit better than mine.
What I paid him was well worth it. Pity the bathroom floor tiler was not as good!
How the hell do you lot do tiling so fast?
And a side note, I tiled a 1.5m by 1.5m screed floor with porcelain tiles, cut using a wet saw, and it took me almost 1.5 solid days work. It is neat, but certainly no better than my 3.5m by 3m kitchen which was tiled with 60cm by 60cm tiles by a pro, in a morning. Actually I'd say his work was a bit better than mine.
What I paid him was well worth it. Pity the bathroom floor tiler was not as good! How the hell do you lot do tiling so fast?