tiling around a new shower installation

Not sure if this is in the corrtect forum but when tiling around a new shower installation what is the difference between applying cement to the back of the tile or to the wall? The cement I have says apply it to the wall and not the tile. Does it really make a difference?

Regards

It definately does but I'm trying to remember why. They did tell me on my course, apart from the fact it's easier to get the tiles nice and level I think it's something to do with air, the adhesive gives off air as it sets which is why you use a notched trowel, so the air can escape, if you apply it onto the tile and then stick to the wall, this does not happen so easily. I think that's why, but a tiler may come along and say thats balls

i hope you're using powdered adhesive and not tubbed

No, I am using ready mixed cement. Does it make a difference?

Regards

In my experience BAL is fine for that as long as you pick appropriate one, I steer clear of most others.

Originally Posted by tonytimms

No, I am using ready mixed cement. Does it make a difference?

Regards

yes it takes ages to dry and isn't waterproof. i had to change a built in shower which required the removal of two tiles they popped off too easily because the "tiler" had used tubbed. i could even reuse the old tiles just soaked them in hot water and the addy dissolved! also you have to wait for a couple of days at least before grouting, with powdered you can grout the next day.

Bal do a tubbed adhesive which is designed for this application. Can't remember which colour, but tilers shop would inform you. In general steveb is right they are pretty useless from a tub, but I've had no probs with this one.

BAL Whitestar or the Grip.

Depends on the tile, tile size, substrate etc if you butter the back of the tile or not. I have some slate to do next week, so it will be notched on the walls/floor and butter the back of the slate. Gives better adhesion. This will be powdered adhesive though.

Simon, this thread has got me trying to remember my tiling course from a couple of years back, was that stuff I'm remembering about the air escaping rubbish, it's bugging me now I've said it.

Honestly don't know. I was told it was to do with the amount of contact of adhesive between tile and surface it's going on. Also depends on how straight your walls are as well

Originally Posted by nickelarsed

Simon, this thread has got me trying to remember my tiling course from a couple of years back, was that stuff I'm remembering about the air escaping rubbish, it's bugging me now I've said it.

It's kind of right but it isn't the air escaping during the adhesive cure, the notched adhesive lets the air escape while you bed the tile down. The notches stop any bubbles of air being trapped behind the tile as it can squish out along the channels until the tile is fully bedded. If you just trowled a full bed on (like plastering), you could easily trap big bubbles behind the tile as you bedded it.

At least that's what my tiler mate says

Tubbed adhesive takes about 8 days to set before you can grout. Powdered adhesive you can grout after 24 hours. Never used tub adhesive myself.

you get your o rings whpes ?

BAL Adhesives - Products - white star

24 hrs for this one

you have to let the moisture evaporate from the adhesive with tubbed, the others its a chemical reaction
imo