Acrylic primer didn't bond to Larsen Tile Adhesive

bsc ceramics said:

Just a thought but the plasterer didnt pva it did he?

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Tiler87 said:

I'd say roughly 20% of the primer stayed on the tile when removed the rest was on the wall with both sides still tacky. My issue is the lack of bond, the skim coat is maximum 3mm thick so when removing a tile it should theoretically take skim and all. Walls were prepared before sealer was applied and when 1:1 mixture was painted on the skim its darkened as to suggest it had penetrated the skim and bonded. Rep came up with 3 excuses in less than 5 minutes
1. Weight of the tile was too much for the sealer/plaster
2. Coverage on tile (ridges not fully collapsed)
3. Expansion-he said larsen require a minimum of every 5 meters for am expansion joint.
So I've a feeling I'll get nowhere with then, I think the best solution is to stop using Larsen products 🤷🏻‍♂

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Kevbos said:

If it is still tacky then something has gone wrong somewhere !but not to say anything about certain adhesives !but larsen is one I will never use ! Along with ultra and a few others !! I have used mapei products years now and their adhesives are if not the best certainly amongst the best !keraquik and keraflex !! And just use sbr to prime walls and floors etc it is so strong

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Tiler87 said:

I think its the last time I'll be using them, I've informed local tile shops not to send any of their products out to jobs I'm on. If they can't guarantee the product I can't guarantee my work and that is not acceptable

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detroitMi said:

All Primer, SBR is not ok with all surfaces, for ex. some months ago I have done a job where the builders leveled up the floor with some self leveling compound. Cleaned up the surface, tried it 3 days in a row, on dry and damp surface, applied several coats of Bal primer diluted as recommended by the manufacturer, always let it cure over night, the very next day in some areas where the self leveling compound was more like gypsym dusty kind of looking, the darn primer piled off. So, I would say, never follow the manufacturer advice, do whatever you think is necessary for that particular job. I ended up recleaning the area, damp it with water, mixed the adhesive with SBR and applied the subfloor on top. Achieved a very good bonding. I do believe in the new technology, it just does not always work out as it supposed to. You always have to be a step above and use your common sense.
Some areas of the floor had to be grinded off, the primer would not pill off in those areas. See last picture where the primer penetrated the compound and would not pill off.

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Tiler87 said:

I had an issue recently that I've never seen before and any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I used a Larsen acrylic primer on gyspum walls as instructed on product (walls had been skimmed 8+ weeks previous and moisture tested prior to sealing and tiling). 18 months later and it seems the sealer has not bonded to the wall adhesive. Wall was coated with a 12mm trowel and a standard set flexible adhesive used, the tiles are 900mm by 150mm thin porcelain and within weight limit of plaster. Tiles have now come away from the wall with 100% of adhesive on the tiles and 0% left on the wall with sealer still appearing tacky on the walls. Walls are tiled 1.2m high around the room and the issue is only where sealer was applied to gypsum walls,other walls are scratch coated and solid as should be expected. Usually removal of tiles like these should take plaster and all with it, is this is a sealer failure or am I missing something? Apologies for the long post but I'm in the trade a long time and never encountered this.
Thanks

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Trigger said:

Is it a ground floor external wall? Cavity wall or solid wall?

Just wondering if the wall could be damp for the primer to remain tacky. Gypsum plasters shouldn't really be used on solid walls as they act like a sponge and absorb moisture.

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Lou said:

Sorry for the late welcome.
Any joy fixing your issues?

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Lou said:

Sorry for the late welcome.
Any joy fixing your issues?

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Tiler87 said:

No Joy, Larsen rep sent through a report blaming everything but their product and claimed that the tile had taken a "weak" layer of gypsum off the wall, I asked how this was possible when trowel marks and sealer can still be seen on the wall and pointed out what he was actually seeing was collapsed adhesive ridges but he didnt want to hear it and said his report was final. Several jobs within my area have failed recently all different tilers all Larsen products and they have not taken responsibility for any of them, I think one of the tile shops have stopped supplying their products because of it. How are their products viewed by tilers in your area Lou?

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Tiler87 said:

No Joy, Larsen rep sent through a report blaming everything but their product and claimed that the tile had taken a "weak" layer of gypsum off the wall, I asked how this was possible when trowel marks and sealer can still be seen on the wall and pointed out what he was actually seeing was collapsed adhesive ridges but he didnt want to hear it and said his report was final. Several jobs within my area have failed recently all different tilers all Larsen products and they have not taken responsibility for any of them, I think one of the tile shops have stopped supplying their products because of it. How are their products viewed by tilers in your area Lou?

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