Everyone seems to be tiling. . .

I am in the middle of my first wall-tiling attempt.

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it, leaving islands without
adhesive.

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Robert

It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Robert"
wrote:

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it,

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Use better adhesive. Are you using the B&Q "Tile and Grout" stuff ?
It's awful for this.

As to technique, then use the spreader flatter and more like a
spatula. Once you have it "stuck" to the wall, you can go back across
it and comb it into ridges.

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:43:25 +0100, "Robert"
wrote:

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it, leaving islands without
adhesive.

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Tile adhesive can go off quickly, so one possibility is that the
adhesive is drying out. What you should be doing is taking a lump of
adhesive out of the can and then putting the lid back on so that the
air doesn't get to it. Extra work, but it does keep the adhesive
fresher longer.

The other thing is wall preparation. Part of the reason why adhesive
lifts off the wall is because the adhesive isn't sticking to the wall
nearly well enough. Make sure you seal the wall as needed before you
start.

Andrew

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Thanks for the advice.
I believe that you have more time than you think to spead the adhesive and
should not panic to get the tiles on as fast as possible! (Instructions -
product=Knauf - give 20 mins but that spounds way too long.)

I think the initial smeer onto the wall is critical, as Andy suggests; I
will be more attentive to that and not do the combing before all the area is
well-covered with adhesive. A good tool for smeering is probably worth the
investment. (My spreader is a bit too small for that.)

Robert S

"Andrew McKay" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:43:25 +0100, "Robert"
wrote:

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it, leaving islands without
adhesive.

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Tile adhesive can go off quickly, so one possibility is that the
adhesive is drying out. What you should be doing is taking a lump of
adhesive out of the can and then putting the lid back on so that the
air doesn't get to it. Extra work, but it does keep the adhesive
fresher longer.

The other thing is wall preparation. Part of the reason why adhesive
lifts off the wall is because the adhesive isn't sticking to the wall
nearly well enough. Make sure you seal the wall as needed before you
start.

Andrew

Please note that the email address used for posting
usenet messages is configured such that my antispam
filter will automatically update itself so that the
senders email address is flagged as spam. If you do
need to contact me please visit my web site and
submit an enquiry - http://www.kazmax.co.uk

In message , Robert
writes

I think the initial smeer onto the wall is critical, as Andy suggests; I
will be more attentive to that and not do the combing before all the area is
well-covered with adhesive. A good tool for smeering is probably worth the
investment. (My spreader is a bit too small for that.)

Yes go and buy a decent metal toothed spreader, it's much easier and
quicker, and does the job better.

Using that I find I can easily spread and comb the adhesive in one go.
--
Chris French, Leeds

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 08:55:32 +0100, "Robert"
wrote:

I believe that you have more time than you think to spead the adhesive and
should not panic to get the tiles on as fast as possible! (Instructions -
product=Knauf - give 20 mins but that spounds way too long.)

It really depends on how big the tub is. When I tiled a bathroom last
year I bought a big tub. It lasted well enough, but as I got towards
the bottom I saw the benefit of buying several smaller tubs which
could have be left sealed up until the point of use.

More expensive, but perhaps more practical as well. Depends whether
you are doing a lot of tiling I suppose - we each have our preferences
and no-one is wrong.

Andrew

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usenet messages is configured such that my antispam
filter will automatically update itself so that the
senders email address is flagged as spam. If you do
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Robert wrote:
Everyone seems to be tiling. . .

I am in the middle of my first wall-tiling attempt.

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the
adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it, leaving islands
without
adhesive.

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Robert

I always have that problem so I ignore the instructions and always put
the adhesive on the tile. It's worked fine so far and I'm unable to
think of any problems ducks for cover.

MBQ

In article ,
Andy Dingley writes:
It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Robert"
wrote:

I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it,

Anyone have a tip about how to avoid this?

Use better adhesive. Are you using the B&Q "Tile and Grout" stuff ?
It's awful for this.

I use the BAL powered adhesives which you mix up yourself
(regular, not the rapid set type). I've never had that behave
as described by the OP.

I've heard a few less favourable comments about ready-mixed
tile adhesives, but never tried them myself.

--
Andrew Gabriel

Robert wrote:
I have a problem in that the adhesive spreader tends to pull the adhesive
off the wall in places instead of spreading it, leaving islands without
adhesive.

Use a decent sized 1/2 moon or float-style steel spreader. The little
plastic ones provided with ready-mixed adhesive are counter-productive.

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:20:38 +0000, chris French
wrote:

Yes go and buy a decent metal toothed spreader, it's much easier and
quicker, and does the job better.

One thing about the spreader - it might help if it were damp (not
dripping wet!). If it is completely dry it can give rise to the
adhesive sticking to it, whereas some sort of moisture can help the
adhesive slide on the spreader.

Just a quick dip in water and a wipe off should be sufficient.

Andrew

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usenet messages is configured such that my antispam
filter will automatically update itself so that the
senders email address is flagged as spam. If you do
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On 24 Mar 2005 02:40:35 -0800, wrote:

I always have that problem so I ignore the instructions and always put
the adhesive on the tile. It's worked fine so far and I'm unable to
think of any problems ducks for cover.

That will often work, however it's not a good solution if the wall is
slightly uneven.

Andrew

Please note that the email address used for posting
usenet messages is configured such that my antispam
filter will automatically update itself so that the
senders email address is flagged as spam. If you do
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submit an enquiry - http://www.kazmax.co.uk

wrote:

I always have that problem so I ignore the instructions and always put
the adhesive on the tile. It's worked fine so far and I'm unable to
think of any problems ducks for cover.

It will work ok usually (depends a bit on the surface). The two
downsides I can see a It will make it hader to get the tiles even in
level since you can't set one level over a wide area first. It will also
not be suitable for wet service areas where the adheasive needs to be a
solid bed with no gaps (the ribs applied onto the bed of adhesive rather
than right through it).

--
Cheers,

John.

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chris French wrote:
Robert writes

I think the initial smeer onto the wall is critical, as Andy
suggests; I
will be more attentive to that and not do the combing before all the
area is
well-covered with adhesive. A good tool for smeering is probably
worth the
investment. (My spreader is a bit too small for that.)

Yes go and buy a decent metal toothed spreader, it's much easier and
quicker, and does the job better.

Using that I find I can easily spread and comb the adhesive in one
go.

Indeed, good metal toothed spreader. And actually I comb the tile, not
the wall .. !

It's worked for me so far ..

Cheers,

Paul.