What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to new
dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower location?

Unlike the floors, I don't need anything fancy - but now I've plowed through
all the fancy products, I'm somewhat lost now I need something normal...

Using Mapei for everything else, but this doesn't have to be one of theirs.
All I know is I'm happy to mix from powder as it's probably better and I'm
not bothered about vertical slip properties as I'll be using tile spacers.

Ta

Tim

Tim S wrote:

What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to new
dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower location?

Bal Greenstar, 15kg, £5.70 +VAT from Topps with a Trade Card.
Good quality stuff, I have used it for the last year with no problems at
all.
Alan.

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On 8 Aug, 10:38, Tim S wrote:
What would be a cheap tile adhesive [be]

A bad idea?

Tiles are moderate-huge price, labour is high but the tile adhesive is
peanuts. False economy to go cheap here, as the cheap ones aren't
good. They have poor water resistance, they might not work so well
long term and (most importantly) they're unpleasant to work with. In
particular, avoid combined "stick & grout" products, as they do
neither well (and are horrid to work with). If you want to save money,
buy dry powder and mix it yourself. Now that is a useful saving.

As suggested, Bal works.

I'd also advise care in choosing your grout. Go for the best you can,
this is the factor that makes a huge difference between a job that
looks good for a month and one that looks good for years. Especially
if anyone dyes their hair! I'd appreciate a good recommendation for
this myself, for something that's really waterproof and doesn't yellow
- I've been disappointed by the yellowing of epoxies before.

A projected line laser and a real rubber tiler's sponge are well worth
having.

A.Lee wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Bal Greenstar, 15kg, £5.70 +VAT from Topps with a Trade Card.
Good quality stuff, I have used it for the last year with no problems at
all.
Alan.


Thanks Alan - that sounds like the ticket.

Cheers

Tim

Andy Dingley wibbled:

On 8 Aug, 10:38, Tim S wrote:
What would be a cheap tile adhesive [be]

A bad idea?

Tiles are moderate-huge price, labour is high but the tile adhesive is
peanuts. False economy to go cheap here, as the cheap ones aren't
good. They have poor water resistance, they might not work so well
long term and (most importantly) they're unpleasant to work with.


Thanks Andy - I agree - I phrased the question badly. "Cheap" as in "cheaper
compared to the flexible stuff I'm using on the floors".

In
particular, avoid combined "stick & grout" products, as they do
neither well (and are horrid to work with).

Yes - I've used that as a quick patchup up to replace some loose tiles. It
sticks but its grouting abilities leave much to be desired.

If you want to save money,
buy dry powder and mix it yourself. Now that is a useful saving.

That's not a problem - I'm used to mixing my own adhesive.

As suggested, Bal works.

Cool "It works" from people who've used it is a good gauge.

I'd also advise care in choosing your grout. Go for the best you can,
this is the factor that makes a huge difference between a job that
looks good for a month and one that looks good for years. Especially
if anyone dyes their hair! I'd appreciate a good recommendation for
this myself, for something that's really waterproof and doesn't yellow
- I've been disappointed by the yellowing of epoxies before.


That much I've sorted - I'm using (for walls and floors) Mapei Keracolour
(there are various sub models like FF and others) - and adding Fugolastic
additive where flexibility is required on the floor.

A projected line laser and

Check - I have Stanley cross line jobbie. It's accurate to within the mm or
so that you can reckon the line to (it can be a thick line at a distance
but I've got good at working to the estimated middle). Already paid for
it's 90 quid ebay cost several times over in general usefulness.

a real rubber tiler's sponge are well worth
having.

I've got a rubber grout float.

By sponge, do you mean one of these:

http://tooltray.com/Grout-Floats-%26...out-Sponge.htm

?

Cheers

Tim

A.Lee wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Bal Greenstar, 15kg, £5.70 +VAT from Topps with a Trade Card.
Good quality stuff, I have used it for the last year with no problems at
all.
Alan.


Just to confirm - that was the ready mixed stuff (the only version I can see
on the web)?

Cheers

Tim

In article
,
Andy Dingley wrote:
In particular, avoid combined "stick & grout" products, as they do
neither well (and are horrid to work with).

I fairly recently did a large bathroom with porcelain tiles - on a mixture
of wall types. And quality of wall finish too. Used Homebase ready mixed
'waterproof' stuff which is listed as a combined stick and grout -
although I didn't use it for the grout. And I had no complaints. How would
another type have improved on it? I did try Wicks stuff which was
cheaper, and that was rubbish. But to be fair didn't say suitable for
porcelain.

--
*It is wrong to ever split an infinitive *

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

Tim S wrote:

A.Lee wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Bal Greenstar, 15kg, £5.70 +VAT from Topps with a Trade Card.

Just to confirm - that was the ready mixed stuff (the only version I can see
on the web)?

Yes:
http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod292...n-Star-15KG.ht
ml

£20 retail, so it is best to get a trade card.
Alan.

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To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

A.Lee wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

A.Lee wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Bal Greenstar, 15kg, £5.70 +VAT from Topps with a Trade Card.

Just to confirm - that was the ready mixed stuff (the only version I can
see on the web)?

Yes:
http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod292...n-Star-15KG.ht
ml

£20 retail, so it is best to get a trade card.
Alan.


Not a disimmilar price at wallsandflooors.co.uk, which is where I'm getting
my tiles

I noticed in the Greenstar datasheet they say to roughen (with a brush) and
SBR (1:4) prime polished new plaster.

Have you ever done that?

Cheers

Tim

Tim S wibbled:



Not a disimmilar price at wallsandflooors.co.uk, which is where I'm
getting my tiles

Similar to your trade price I meant

Andy Dingley wrote:

I'd also advise care in choosing your grout. Go for the best you can,
this is the factor that makes a huge difference between a job that
looks good for a month and one that looks good for years. Especially
if anyone dyes their hair! I'd appreciate a good recommendation for
this myself, for something that's really waterproof and doesn't yellow
- I've been disappointed by the yellowing of epoxies before.

The last shower I did with nicobond powdered grout, and then sealed it
with Lithofin grout protector. It does not change the appearance of the
grout but makes it far less likely to discolour or stain.

--
Cheers,

John.

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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

and then sealed it
with Lithofin grout protector. It does not change the appearance of the
grout but makes it far less likely to discolour or stain.


I'd overlooked that - cheers John - I'll get some of that on too.

Cheers

Tim

Tim S wrote:
John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

and then sealed it
with Lithofin grout protector. It does not change the appearance of the
grout but makes it far less likely to discolour or stain.


I'd overlooked that - cheers John - I'll get some of that on too.

Note that a little goes a long way - I only used about 250ml for 15m^2
of tiling.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wibbled:

Tim S wrote:
John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

and then sealed it
with Lithofin grout protector. It does not change the appearance of the
grout but makes it far less likely to discolour or stain.


I'd overlooked that - cheers John - I'll get some of that on too.

Note that a little goes a long way - I only used about 250ml for 15m^2
of tiling.



Any tips on application... Is it paint on and wipe excess off tiles? Or does
it need to be applied with extreme care?

Ta

Tim

Tim S wrote:
John Rumm wibbled:

Tim S wrote:
John Rumm coughed up some electrons that declared:

and then sealed it
with Lithofin grout protector. It does not change the appearance of the
grout but makes it far less likely to discolour or stain.

I'd overlooked that - cheers John - I'll get some of that on too.
Note that a little goes a long way - I only used about 250ml for 15m^2
of tiling.



Any tips on application... Is it paint on and wipe excess off tiles? Or does
it need to be applied with extreme care?

Small brush, paint along the grout lines and just wipe off any residue
on the tiles as you go IIRC. Pretty simple to use.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 8 Aug, 13:11, Tim S wrote:

I've got a rubber grout float.

By sponge, do you mean one of these:

http://tooltray.com/Grout-Floats-%26...g-D-Grout-Spon...

Mine is this:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=20364

Rather than this
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=20365

I can't speak for float vs. lump, but real rubber works far better
than PU foam.

On 8 Aug, 13:31, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Used Homebase ready mixed
'waterproof' stuff which is listed as a combined stick and grout -
although I didn't use it for the grout. And I had no complaints.

Maybe it works OK as a grout, but the "Sunday afternoon special" I
used was sufficiently non-viscous that I couldn't keep it on the
trowel when applying it for tiling. I got there in the end and the
job's probably fine afterwards, but it was unpleasant to work with.

John Rumm wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

Any tips on application... Is it paint on and wipe excess off tiles? Or
does it need to be applied with extreme care?

Small brush, paint along the grout lines and just wipe off any residue
on the tiles as you go IIRC. Pretty simple to use.



Sounds great - it's on the shopping list

Andy Dingley wibbled:

On 8 Aug, 13:11, Tim S wrote:

I've got a rubber grout float.

By sponge, do you mean one of these:

http://tooltray.com/Grout-Floats-%26...g-D-Grout-Spon...

Mine is this:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=20364

Rather than this
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=20365

I can't speak for float vs. lump, but real rubber works far better
than PU foam.

Ah - I see. Ta for that.

Cheers

Tim

In article
,
Andy Dingley wrote:
Used Homebase ready mixed
'waterproof' stuff which is listed as a combined stick and grout -
although I didn't use it for the grout. And I had no complaints.

Maybe it works OK as a grout, but the "Sunday afternoon special" I
used was sufficiently non-viscous that I couldn't keep it on the
trowel when applying it for tiling. I got there in the end and the
job's probably fine afterwards, but it was unpleasant to work with.

Ah. The Homebase stuff wasn't cheap - but I got it on a BOGOF sort of
deal. Which made it cheaper than the 'branded' ones. And it stuck to
anything. Of course it's likely made by one of the major brands anyway.

--
*Marriage changes passion - suddenly you're in bed with a relative*

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

Tim S wrote:
John Rumm wibbled:

Tim S wrote:

Any tips on application... Is it paint on and wipe excess off tiles? Or
does it need to be applied with extreme care?
Small brush, paint along the grout lines and just wipe off any residue
on the tiles as you go IIRC. Pretty simple to use.



Sounds great - it's on the shopping list

www.extensive.co.uk if you can't find it locally.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 2009-08-08, Tim S wrote:
What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to new
dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower location?

Errm, why bother to plaster? If you want cheap, go traditional: If
necessary level the wall with a skim of mortar. Soak the tiles overnight.
Butter the tiles with cement based mortar made with sieved sand then
set them on the wall.

Jan Wysocki coughed up some electrons that declared:

On 2009-08-08, Tim S wrote:
What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Errm, why bother to plaster?

It's already plastered ;-o

If you want cheap, go traditional: If
necessary level the wall with a skim of mortar. Soak the tiles overnight.
Butter the tiles with cement based mortar made with sieved sand then
set them on the wall.

I remember that technique from a 1950's house.

On Aug 28, 7:54*am, Tim S wrote:
Jan *Wysocki coughed up some electrons that declared:

On 2009-08-08, Tim S wrote:
What would be a cheap tile adhesive for an undemanding application, to
new dried plaster, normal light ceramic tiles in a bathroom/shower
location?

Errm, why bother to plaster? *

It's already plastered ;-o

If you want cheap, go traditional: If
necessary level the wall with a skim of mortar. *Soak the tiles overnight.
Butter the tiles with cement based mortar made with sieved sand then
set them on the wall.

I remember that technique from a 1950's house.

There's also the option to use thistle plaster, discussed here
recently. I wouldnt try and cut corners in a bathroom though, its the
one area where a good result is necessary.


NT