Applying tile adhesive

[GrumpyGrampa]

Hi, I'm retired, not a plumber but a keen DIYer. I occasionally help a mate who is a one man band - he is a qualified sparky and has taught himself domestic plumbing. His main line of work is refurbishing bathrooms and I labour to him for a couple of days. We constantly disagree about applying tile adhesive to the walls prior to tiling - he "back butters" every tile which I think is mad, he says applying the adhesive directly to the wall doesn't work as it all falls off (??). We normally tile directly onto freshly erected plasterboard. Can someone help me convince him he's wrong?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Depends on tiles but normally addy on wall with notched spread (notched to suite tiles) then back butter tiles then apply etc

 

[Scott_D]

I agree with the electrician

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Depends on tiles but normally addy on wall with notched spread (notched to suite tiles) then back butter tiles then apply etc

Thanks for the reply. Do you mean apply adhesive to the wall and back butter each tile?

 

[townfanjon]

You would generally apply it to the wall with a notched trowel , the adhesive should cover 80/90% of the tile . Dabbing the back of the tile with dabs is not the correct way but is faster .
As for tiling straight onto plasterboard , again no , it needs plastering.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Thanks for the reply. Do you mean apply adhesive to the wall and back butter each tile?

Yes correct gives best coverage and strength

 

[townfanjon]

Yes correct gives best coverage and strength

Good god No . One or the other .

 

[Ben-gee]

Um - no.

Don’t plaster the plasterboard!

Some dodgy advice being given here- maybe move this to the tilers forum as if I tell you how to do it properly everyone will say how do I know - I’m just a plumber etc ( but I do know )

 

[townfanjon]

Um - no.

Don’t plaster the plasterboard!

Some dodgy advice being given here- maybe move this to the tilers forum as if I tell you how to do it properly everyone will say how do I know - I’m just a plumber etc ( but I do know )

Dont plaster the plasterboard , WTF !! sorry pal wrong 100%.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Dont plaster the plasterboard , WTF !! sorry pal wrong 100%.

Actually he’s right

Plastered plasterboard can hold around 7kgm2

Unplastered around 30kgm2

Ish