www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Bit late to this thread but seeing as ive been doing my own bathroom as per my thread in the gallery on here, I have researched a fair amount and thought I would comment on the primer.

Those skimmed walls absolutley must be primed! Especially with tiles of that size. I just read they they say they applied BAL primer.... its not that easy to see as the primer goes on clear (Mapei Primer G is mixed 3 parts water to 1 primer) and soaks in to the primer and dries clear. I applied two coats to plaster when tiling my kitchen splashbacks with tiny in comparision 150/150 tiles.

I would ask to see proof of the primer purchase / container. Can you check the plastered walls up close or has it all been tiled?

Also there is a weight limit per m2 that can be tiled on to a plaster skim. Do you know the weight of each tile?

Bath is definately the wrong way around and shouldnt that bath have its legs supported on timber!? or is it a concrete floor?

Lastly, leaving that coving up is appauling as has already been discussed. I would remove the row of cut tiles, remove the covng and tile straight up to the ceiling.

any questions please just ask mate, hope you get it sorted. It will all turn out good in the end

The BAL primer I have used is "coloured for easy application" bit similar to turquoise shade.

BAL APD is blue and dries fairly clear but it is possible to tell if it has been primed.

Thanks again.

davemulheran wrote:Bit late to this thread but seeing as ive been doing my own bathroom as per my thread in the gallery on here, I have researched a fair amount and thought I would comment on the primer.

Those skimmed walls absolutley must be primed! Especially with tiles of that size. I just read they they say they applied BAL primer.... its not that easy to see as the primer goes on clear (Mapei Primer G is mixed 3 parts water to 1 primer) and soaks in to the primer and dries clear. I applied two coats to plaster when tiling my kitchen splashbacks with tiny in comparision 150/150 tiles.

I would ask to see proof of the primer purchase / container. Can you check the plastered walls up close or has it all been tiled?

Also there is a weight limit per m2 that can be tiled on to a plaster skim. Do you know the weight of each tile?

Bath is definately the wrong way around and shouldnt that bath have its legs supported on timber!? or is it a concrete floor?

Lastly, leaving that coving up is appauling as has already been discussed. I would remove the row of cut tiles, remove the covng and tile straight up to the ceiling.

any questions please just ask mate, hope you get it sorted. It will all turn out good in the end

Cheers. The floor is concrete. The bath has a wooden frame beneath the edge, and it rests on metal legs, which you can see in the photo.

My belief is that I will get my money back assuming they do not wind up the company, as the tiling is so incompetent. Only some of the tiling has been done. I see absolutely no sign of a colour/texture changes near or under the tiles. And I see no sign of water proofing in the shower area. I am waiting for the good local builder to return (shop has a closed sign) from whereever they are, so they can write a report on the bathroom.

My intention is to get a full refit, and then pursue these rogues. As they are on CheckATrade, the review I will write will cause them damage, and failure to make amends (pay up) will damage them. CheckATrade say most people comply. Trading Standards have advised me too. I am in the situation where I can take the financial hit if need be without being pushed into financial trouble. Some people are not as lucky as me. Which is why I want to take on these lazy and incompetent cants. Oops, my spelling has gone downhill ...

I popped a tile off today, and it came off really easily, just needed a little leverage with a scraper. The plaster looked to have darkish patches, but they disappeared after a few hours. Presumably damp. No obvious signs of a coating prior to plastering. The adhesive came off cleanly, almost none adhering to the plaster, all on the tile.

Painted the newly (1 month ago) overboarded and skimmed sitting room ceiling today, and found a half meter long crack. Oh well. I can but laugh about that.

From your description it sounds like a ready mixed adhesive has been used and far too thick maybe even dot and dabbed. Hav eyou got a picture of the back of the tile you took off?

Colour Republic wrote:From your description it sounds like a ready mixed adhesive has been used and far too thick maybe even dot and dabbed. Hav eyou got a picture of the back of the tile you took off?

No but I'll get one. It was not dot and dabbed, two lots of stripes, one horizontal, one vertical, cream coloured adhesive, Topps powder rapid set cement I think.

wonder were the moisture came from then?

Colour Republic wrote:wonder were the moisture came from then?

Perhaps the fact that they tiled so soon after the skim means that there was residual moisture left in the plaster, and it did not have a chance to escape. Alternatively, condensation, perhaps due to the house getting cool at night as there is no heating (radiators off while I paint, back on in a week though). I'm only guessing as a numpty. I can see no signs of leaks.

It is very messy tiling, with smears of adhesive all over the tile surfaces, and between tiles. The grouting would look poor unless you remove the adhesive smears that are between the tiles.

I do intend to have a proper inspection by good local builders, but they must be on holiday this week as they do not answer the phone, and their shop is closed (yes, they have a shop, they do home improvements, extension, solar etc).

sounds like a no primer and damp plaster base... tiles have no chance of staying up! Talk about dangerous!!

Incorrect adhesive for tiles which are too large, coupled with the adhesive being ribbed the wrong way.

Horizontal ribs should be used vertical should not.

The three factors combined will mean the adhesive had not cured and this is why you had a damp patch, matron.

I popped off a tile and this is what I saw:



And here is the tile:



It came off fairly easily, just a bit of leverage and ping, all done.

More pictures:





There is a lot of adhesive over the surface. No idea if that is usual. Having never tiled, or seen a real pro do it, I have no idea about the above. But the tiling at the coving was a cowboy job.

On the plus side you should be able to soak the tiles in some hot water and reuse them

I was making a list of the basic errors but found so many all I can say is the job is utter 5hite.

So now that you have pointed Chekatrade in the direction of this thread and pointed out how many potential customers visit this site what are they doing about it?

Adhesive on the face of tiles is normal for some and bad practice for others.

I know tilers who will clean when finished and before grouting. As long as the end delivered product is spotless that is the main point.

I personally am from the group who like to clean as they go along during the day.

Clean site is a safe sight, a safe sight is a happy sight.

A clean sight makes the client feel at ease. A dirty sight and work will ring alarm bells and have the client looking for the smallest imperfection and even have them inventing ones.

You can get away with it on ceramics but on porcelein, slate or granite oh dear