www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Here's the thing: got the tiles now get some sticky stuff and stick them to the walls. Not so easy. I am having brain freeze trying to workout which is the best stuff to use.

I have to tile to an old plastered wall and to a marine ply splash-back.

I feel I should prime the surfaces first, but have heard contradictory advice. Should I use watered down PVA on board and paster, or don’t prime at all?

Should I use waterproof adhesive and waterproof grout? Any suggestions.

I thought I may go one of this route:


Adhesive (Will this be ok on 18mm marine ply?) :

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mapei-kerafle ... -5kg/42841


Grout:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Adhesiv ... 107/p24031


Thanks everyone

Don't use PVA under tiles, that much I do know; I'll leave adhesive recommendations to those that know more than me about tiling.

The adhsive you have linked to will be a good choice, you will need to prime with Mapei Primer G (NOT PVA) Although a 5KG bag will not get you very far, around 1.5 sqm if you're lucky, best get a 20kg bag which will do 5-6sqm

The grout linked is rubbish! Get Mapei grout from screwfix. By the way grouts are not 'waterproof' but water resistant. If you want waterproof then you will need an epoxy grout but unless you are tiling worktops then it is not required and in any case I wouldn't recommend a novice trys epoxy grout as it could end up a mess.

Thanks CR, you have put my mind at rest.

IMO....remove the marine ply and replace with plasterboard....

tictic wrote:IMO....remove the marine ply and replace with plasterboard....

I understand your concern tictic, but you can’t make a splash-back across a sash window with plasterboard. It’s been there for twenty years, so I recon it should be fine.

Anyone got any ideas on a quality grout that doesn’t come in huge sizes? Like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/ultracolor-pl ... -5kg/71681

5KG isn't a massive amount :)

Biased opinion but Ardex do great grout, available in 2.5kg bags.

Look for Ardex Flex FS grouts in shops, come in 32 different colours as well so something to match if you need it!

Cheers

Here’s another question: what’s the difference between pot time and open time for a tile adhesive?

from my rudamentory understanding,
cemetous based adhesives go off via chemical reaction so will, given enough time, set solid in the pot.

pot time being in a bucket covered over, open time being the time before it skins over??