Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?



1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get very uneven
spreading - some ribs, but also some very thin patches and some 'clumps'. I'm
using good (Bal Green) adhesive and a 5mm notched spreader. I've been
applying a layer of adhesive to the wall first then combing the notched
spreader along at 45deg.. I just can't seem to get nice even ribs of
adhesive.



2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use? Does it help if
they are soaked in water first? Is it helpful to use washing up liquid? Is
it OK to pour the washings down the drain (will it clog the drains?) if not,
what is the alternative?



Many thanks



Steve

Steve wrote:
Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?



1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get very uneven
spreading - some ribs, but also some very thin patches and some 'clumps'. I'm
using good (Bal Green) adhesive and a 5mm notched spreader. I've been
applying a layer of adhesive to the wall first then combing the notched
spreader along at 45deg.. I just can't seem to get nice even ribs of
adhesive.

Sounds like you may not have mixed the adhesive well enough. Some of
these things are better mechanically whisked into the water, but I'm not
familiar with the product



2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use? Does it help if
they are soaked in water first? Is it helpful to use washing up liquid? Is
it OK to pour the washings down the drain (will it clog the drains?) if not,
what is the alternative?


I wash the tools in a bucket of water every half an hour or so. Bits of
adhesive start to harden on the spreader quite quickly during use and
make the job harder.

Leave the bucket for an hour to let the solids sink to the bottom, and
pour off the clear water

In message , Stuart
Noble writes
Steve wrote:
Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?
1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get
very uneven spreading - some ribs, but also some very thin patches
and some 'clumps'. I'm using good (Bal Green) adhesive and a 5mm
notched spreader. I've been applying a layer of adhesive to the
wall first then combing the notched spreader along at 45deg.. I just
can't seem to get nice even ribs of adhesive.

Sounds like you may not have mixed the adhesive well enough. Some of
these things are better mechanically whisked into the water, but I'm
not familiar with the product

Agreed - I used Mapei (the other really good adhesive brand) and used a
paddle on an electric drill for all mixing to produce a really smooth
gloop.
Once you have achieved a good working consistency, even application is
down to practice.

2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use? Does it
help if they are soaked in water first? Is it helpful to use washing
up liquid? Is it OK to pour the washings down the drain (will it clog
the drains?) if not, what is the alternative?


I wash the tools in a bucket of water every half an hour or so. Bits of
adhesive start to harden on the spreader quite quickly during use and
make the job harder.

Leave the bucket for an hour to let the solids sink to the bottom, and
pour off the clear water

Agreed again - also a large damp rag is very useful to clean up the very
frequent blobs that seem to get on tool handles and clothes.

--
Robert

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?


1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get very uneven
..
clipped
..
2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use?
..
clipped
..
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed adhesive,
so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to technique/practice I
guess.

Steve wrote:
"Steve" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?


1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get very
uneven
.
clipped
.
2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use?
.
clipped
.
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed
adhesive, so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to
technique/practice I guess.

Did you PVA the wall first? If not the wall could be drying out the
adhesive as you spread it.

I chuck my tiling stuff in a bucket of brick acid every now & then.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Steve wrote:
"Steve" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise on a couple of wall tile adhesive questions please?


1. What is the best way to apply it to get even 'ribs'. I get very
uneven
.
clipped
.
2. Is there a best way to clean tiling tools after use?
.
clipped
.
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed
adhesive, so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to
technique/practice I guess.

Did you PVA the wall first? If not the wall could be drying out the
adhesive as you spread it.

A good tile adhesive should be able to cope with porous walls

I chuck my tiling stuff in a bucket of brick acid every now & then.



Easier to clean up as you go. You only need a bucket of water

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed
adhesive, so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to
technique/practice I guess.

Did you PVA the wall first? If not the wall could be drying out the
adhesive as you spread it.

Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster and in
poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the most absorbent
wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any problems tiling direct
to that using a decent ready mix.

--
*A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed
adhesive, so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to
technique/practice I guess.

Did you PVA the wall first? If not the wall could be drying out the
adhesive as you spread it.

Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster and in
poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the most absorbent
wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any problems tiling direct
to that using a decent ready mix.


Plasterboard is positively dense compared to my walls.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Thanks for that Stuart and Robert. FWIW I'm using BAL ready-mixed
adhesive, so poor mixing isn't my problem - its just down to
technique/practice I guess.

Did you PVA the wall first? If not the wall could be drying out the
adhesive as you spread it.

Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster
and in poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the
most absorbent wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any
problems tiling direct to that using a decent ready mix.

I get a surprising amount of 'a few of my tiles have fallen off' jobs.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster
and in poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the
most absorbent wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any
problems tiling direct to that using a decent ready mix.

I get a surprising amount of 'a few of my tiles have fallen off' jobs.

Probably through using a cheap/unsuitable adhesive. I had that when using
a Wicks one.

--
*If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster
and in poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the
most absorbent wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any
problems tiling direct to that using a decent ready mix.

I get a surprising amount of 'a few of my tiles have fallen off'
jobs.

Probably through using a cheap/unsuitable adhesive. I had that when
using a Wicks one.

I never know what adhesive has been used, but its always the adhesive has
firmly stuck to the tile but not the wall, so I assume its due to lack of
PVA.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster
and in poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the
most absorbent wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any
problems tiling direct to that using a decent ready mix.

I get a surprising amount of 'a few of my tiles have fallen off'
jobs.

Probably through using a cheap/unsuitable adhesive. I had that when
using a Wicks one.

I never know what adhesive has been used, but its always the adhesive
has firmly stuck to the tile but not the wall, so I assume its due to
lack of PVA.

Suppose if the grout had failed and water got in that's where it would
give way first, since tiles don't usually absorb water. But I'm not sure
PVA would help in that case since it's not waterproof either.

--
*Organized Crime Is Alive And Well; It's Called Auto Insurance. *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Only time I've PVA'd a wall before tiling is if it is lime plaster
and in poor condition - to give it some more strength. I'd say the
most absorbent wall would be bare plasterboard - and not had any
problems tiling direct to that using a decent ready mix.
I get a surprising amount of 'a few of my tiles have fallen off'
jobs.
Probably through using a cheap/unsuitable adhesive. I had that when
using a Wicks one.

I never know what adhesive has been used, but its always the adhesive
has firmly stuck to the tile but not the wall, so I assume its due to
lack of PVA.

Suppose if the grout had failed and water got in that's where it would
give way first, since tiles don't usually absorb water. But I'm not sure
PVA would help in that case since it's not waterproof either.


All pva ever does is stop the liquid part soaking into the plaster
before whatever you're using has had a chance to cure, so it's an
inhibitor rather than a barrier.