Adhesive and grout types

[davidmarsh]

I have two tiling jobs.

1. Floor tiling over a porch floor which is a smooth level concrete surface.

2. Floor tiling over a kitchen floor composed of wood floor boards covered by hardboard. The existing lino will be removed.

Which adhesive and grout should I use for ceramic or stone tiles ? I've heard of latex milk but don't know whether it's suitable. I don't want to raise the height of the kitchen floor more than is necessary.

 

[Terry Cottar]

worry less about the adhesive at the mo and concentrate more on what you are fixing the tiles to. hardboard is a non starter in tiling m8 unless you mean hardiebackerboard or similar

tel

 

[wivers]

Tel's right mate.

Harboard is a no go.

If the floor boards are in a good condition and screwed to the joists well then just overboard with backer board or ply. I'd opt for backer board myself.

Then just use a nice flexi cement addy. ( remember to prime if u use ply)

The porch you can use a non flex unless its Anhydrate. Some makes of non flex addy don't recommend you use on it Anhydarte.

 

[davidmarsh]

Thanks for the replies. The concrete floor in the porch shows signs of damp after rain, though only in small areas. Is there a special adhesive for this situation ?

 

[davy_G]

Thanks for the replies. The concrete floor in the porch shows signs of damp after rain, though only in small areas. Is there a special adhesive for this situation ?

Id sort the leak out before tiling. Best solution all round!!

 

[davidmarsh]

The damp rises through hairline cracks in the concrete which cannot be seen when dry. I'm advised that sealants won't provide a complete barrier to damp. There is a possibility of effluorescence or that sulphates in the evaporate could debond the tiles. PVA sealants are not recommended for BAL products because there is a risk of emulsification. I'm trying to find a reliable DPM available in my area - Coventry. RIW do sell a product but they only have retailers in Birmingham and I don't have transport. The product costs over £50 and needs a primer. The area of floor is less than 2 m sq. and I don't want to spend that much to protect £30 worth of tiles.

Is there a retailer in Coventry selling a reliable DPM ?

 

[grumpygrouter]

You have little choice but to spend money to sort your damp problem if you want your tiles to stay down. maybe another solution would be a decoupling membrane...these allow the substrate to "breath" while isolating the tiled surface from lateral movement of the substrate. Not a cheap option but easy to use and should do the job.