Adhesive bulging problem

[Spare Tool]

I'm gobsmacked at those pics...never seen anything like it, is it travertine?

 

[hmtiling]

I'm gobsmacked at those pics...never seen anything like it, is it travertine?

Gotta be ceramic to behave like that I think. Never seen it myself though

 

[Spare Tool]

..and we thought BCT were bent

 

[Flintstone]

I've never seen that happen to a tile either. My first impressions on this thread was that the skim had come off but it's obviously something odd happening

 

[One Day]

What are we actually seeing in the photos? Is it tile and adhesive? Plasterboard and adhesive? It's still not clear.
I see two layers but what are they??

 

[Waluigi]

Tile and Adhesive....

 

[One Day]

so where's the evidence that it's bulged?
Surely to bulge, it has to increase mass somewhere. Either through absorption of water or moisture.
I am imagining this though:
Not suggesting the same process of course, but it looks the same effect to me?

 

[Waluigi]

It’s not bulging as such, it’s bending.

 

[Bond]

Did your man apply the adhesive with a trowel or a shovel, in any case , that’s quite a spectacular failure

 

[Bruce Watt]

Hello All,
Yes, you have to see it to believe it.
The ceramic tiles have been bent or bulged by the adhesive to a point the tile has fractured.

The plaster wall is not affected.

The adhesive was applied with a 6mm notched trowel to the wall and the back of the tile. I agree there is a lot of adhesive. I am not saying this was the cause but it is like the application to the wall has shrunk more than the application to the back of the tile. However, the adhesive to the wall was applied at the same time as to the back of the tile and fitted in place on a tile but tile basis, so it is difficult to see this could be the issue unless it is just the amount of adhesive applied.

The analogy with a bi-metallic strip is correct and one that I use to explain the effect.

I would just reiterate the tiled showers were never used and have never had any water on them. The effect, bent or bulging, happened over a long time, weeks. The tiling was fine for the first week or so and then for weeks afterwards I would hear cracking not knowing what was happening or where it was coming from.

The photos show the tile and adhesive only.

I have added some more photos below for your interest.

 

[Dumbo]

What adhesive did he use . Was it a readmix or a bagged/powder adhesive. Also what make are those tiles / where did you get them from .

 

[One Day]

Yes, really keen to know what adhesive it was...?

 

[Bruce Watt]

What adhesive did he use . Was it a readmix or a bagged/powder adhesive. Also what make are those tiles / where did you get them from .

It was a quick set powder adhesive
Uniflex White Wall & Floor Tile Adhesive 20kg

I got the tiles and adhesive from wallsandfloors. I understand many, many tiles of this make and type has been sold without any issue. I have tested the tiles for expansion and contraction and wetting them so see if I can detect any movement, but I can not detect anything. I would say the tiles are ok as far as I know. Well! I hope so because I have bought some more to redo the showers with a slow set adhesive and a different tiler so I can cut out all the elements I can change in the hope the issue will not be repeated. I am not blaming the supplier here or the tiler for that matter as it remains somewhat inconclusive.
I do feel that if the adhesive is so susceptible to whatever this issue is, then I question its use and purpose or at least there should be some highlighted warning on the bag directing the tiler to specific use instructions. I understand Norcros make the adhesive.

 

[Old Mod]

Do you have any unused tiles?
Could you upload a couple of images of them if you have them, face to face too, similar to the images you previously posted.
Thanks.

 

[Old Mod]

Does that mean you’ve consulted with
Walls & Floors, what was their take on the situation?