www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I'm about to re-tile my shower room. In removing the old tiles they seem to have come off all together, is this a sign of an underlying problem with the walls?

Clearly quite handy in taking them off but seemed as though once I'd got one loose that about a dozen came off together.

They're pretty old so could be that adhesive has just given up. Tiles are on a solid internal wall.

Thanks in advance for anyone who spares some time on this.

Always difficult to tell...if the substrate is sound, then you are good to go with your new tiles...

Sounds good to me insofar that I can start tiling.

Looks as though when it was last tiled that they didn't remove old adhesive as definitely two different grains of adhesive, that might have contributed to the loose tiles. And adds half a day while I knock it all off.

Thanks for the reassurance.

maybe a good idea to post what tiles / adhesive you plan to use though (tile size, type etc..)

What's the substrate wall...sand/cement render,bonding and skim ect...is there any damage...

Post some pics if unsure...

Tile fixing is 99% preparation..

I've uploaded a picture of what I'm up against. The walls are skimmed with plaster.

The tiles I'm putting up are ceramic from Wickes
http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/166239

I'm using Unibond adhesive
http://www.screwfix.com/p/unibond-ultim ... sq-m/48751

Am I right in thinking that I do need to remove the old adhesive or can I make it as smooth as possible and continue tiling?

Ok first things first...

Is it a osb...(over bath shower,or wet room)...

The wall,you could use a wallpaper steam stripper and remove all the old adhesive,and probably the skimm coat as well....
Then when all off,you will 99% need to replaster the wall...Finnish plaster will need time to breath/dry at least 5days IMO...

So other options are a quickset render...ardex a45/bal/mapei ect...(costly tho)
Or if only needs a couple off mm skim,then a flexiable rapidset adhesive,again one off the above mfr...
Also prime wall first,just follow mfr inst..

As for the uniBomb adhesive you have got...take that crap back mate...

You will need to remove the adhesive first tho...elbow grease also...

Again dependant on the room obs/wet room ?...
You can use tubbed adhesive for tile size you have,but again room what is it?

Also if you have the space you could dot/dab a backer board or plasterboard to walls,again if space allows..

Thanks for that.

It is an ensuit shower so more like a wet room. I'll get the adhesive off and see what state the walls are in. Not sure what's wrong with unibond but guessing its not what's used in the trade.

If the walls need a skim I'll get onto that and leave them time to finish and then start tiling.

Thanks for advice, I'll get cracking first thing...

Tank the wet area only... Homelux wall matting ect...use a powdered cement based adhesive in this area...
tubbed addy... Bal white star.. ect in the rest off the room....

UniBomb is crap mate...as before it take it back...I would rather use blue tac to fix tiles rather than that stuff...

But get that old adhesive off them walls first..


Ps
I don't know how to put the tag for.....
Donnasdream house....so feel free to look into it and maybe drop a small amount....well you have saved some heartache and a few pounds.....mate...