TILING FAQ’S Q. Can I use a standard CTA on floors incorporating under floor heating?
A. No, a flexible cement based adhesive must be used. The added polymer content accommodates the movement caused by the thermal expansion and contraction created by the heating.
Q. Can I use a ready mixed tile adhesive to fix large format tiles?
A. No, it is generally accepted that a cement based adhesive should be used to fix tiles larger than 900cm2 (i.e. 300mm x 300mm). Ready mixed adhesives depend upon evaporation in order to cure.
Larger tiles do not allow the water to escape from the adhesive behind them, especially on non porous backgrounds, this extends the drying times considerably.
Q. Can I tile directly onto existing tiles?
A. Yes, providing the tiles are sound, securely fixed, dry, clean and able to support the weight of the tiles and adhesive to be fixed to them.
A key can be provided on glazed tiles by rubbing with course sandpaper and cleaned. Any loose tiles or tiles that sound hollow when tapped should be secured first. Consideration regarding the size and porosity of the tile should be made when choosing the type of adhesive.
Q. How do I fix natural stone tiles to floors? A. Cement based adhesive should be used to fix natural stone, granite, limestone, marble, travertine and similar tiles.
Consideration should be made as to whether a white cement based adhesive should be used when fixing lighter coloured tiles to avoid staining.
‘Solid Bed’ fixing is recommended, this is where a ribbed bed of adhesive is applied to the floor with a notched trowel and the back of the tile is ‘buttered’ with adhesive. Twisting and pushing the tile into place will provide near to 100% adhesive coverage (bedding) and support to the tile.
Solid Bed Fixing is especially important when using tiles that may contain natural voids that can collapse given time. Q. What is Travertine?
A. Travertine is a type of limestone, it has been used in Italy as early as Roman times. It has a very low density, in its natural state is full of holes and voids, these are often filled with synthetic resins on the surface.
Even high quality travertines can have voids and holes throughout. The ‘Solid Bed’ fixing technique as described above must be employed in order to provide sufficient support.
Q. When can I use dot and dab fixing?
A. You can’t. The practice of dot and dab fixing is not recognised. This entails applying 5 blobs of adhesive (one in each corner and one in the centre) to the tile. This does not provide enough adhesive coverage or support to the tile.
Q. Can I use PVA as a primer before tiling?
A. No. PVA is a bonding aid for plasterers and it is not water resistant. Either an acrylic type primer or SBR should be use to prime porous surfaces before the application of tile adhesive.
Q. Do plaster walls need priming before tiling?
A. Yes. When using cement based adhesive, porous backgrounds should be primed with an appropriate primer. When using a ready mixed adhesive, priming is not required unless the surface is dusty or shiny.
See the chart opposite for an indication of where our tile adhesives and grouts are most suitably applied. Our full range of tiling products is listed on pages 33-38.
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APPENDICES: Tiling FAQs
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