Any ideas in what adhesive to use

[Gary freeman]

Hi there im new on here and just starting as a tiler I have a job on to tile a kitchen floor. I need advice on what adhesive to use and what make

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome.....what substrate is the floor and what tiles are being fixed.

 

[cam_low]

Hi Gary what is your background and why dont you know this ?

 

[Gary freeman]

Hi there it is a concrete floor in a new build house. I recently done my tiling course but would just like to see and hear from other tilers. I would use flexi rapid set. The tile is quarts granite

 

[cam_low]

big expensive stone to be using on your first, (or not) outing ! How long has the house been built?

 

[suave]

welcome!

 

[Gary freeman]

The house has been built aroubd 2 month ago. Not yet lived in. The customer has chosen them tiles, yea I know they are expensive tiles to be starting out with. Any reccomendations or tips

 

[Rookery]

If they are the resin based tiles with sparkly bits (like Gulfstone) you'll probably need a 2 part adhesive such as Keraquick mixed with Latex Plus.

 

[cam_low]

Well to start I would be questioning the depth of the concrete. 60 days would say me that it has only just set if the concrete is 60mm deep as it takes 1 day to set 1mm (some people say dry out).
This information should be obtainable from the builder. (my bad I misread the fact the house has been ready for two month so concrete should be ready to tile)

After finding that information out, tiling straight onto it would be out of the question in my opinion. Does the house need time to 'settle' ?

I would be belt and braces approach all the way with flexible adhesives and grouts (BAL, Weber, Mapei) also using a decoupling membrane such a Ditra Matting or Durabase to take the strain of any lateral movement.

Has there been any talk of undertile heating ? If so you will have to research your tile to check its suitability for UTH.



(ps, always back butter (skim) these tiles, as they need a good bond and Rookery is correct, a 2 part is best for quartz/resin tiles.)

 

[Dougs Third Go]

assuming everything is hunky dory and ready to tile I would use a 2 part adhesive too, keraquick with latex plus, as already mentioned would be a good choice. Is there any underfloor heating? as these tiles can sometimes curl up with ufh.

 

[lukio2011]

I would be belt and braces approach all the way with flexible adhesives and grouts (BAL, Weber, Mapei) also using a decoupling membrane such a Ditra Matting or Durabase to take the strain of any lateral movement.

Hi cam_low that bit you wrote interested me and since I am new as well I wanted to ask you whether you would use 2 part flexible cos the tiles are resin based or why else?
And second thing what determines that you would use ditra on concrete? I thought subfloor like that would be stable? Id appreciate it if you could help me on that, thanks.

I

 

[cam_low]

SOrry matey I fell asleep, back up for work now !

Yes, the tiles are a quartz/resin composite. With the cheaper ones, not Gulfstone, their resin content is higher. These tiles expand and contract much more than ceramic tiles and natural stones therefore requiring the two part sticky for belt and braces approach.

The concrete subfloor may well be stable but as mentioned before with it being a new build I would go belt and braces on it and install the ditra/dura to give me the piece of mind I would like to guarantee my my work to the customer. If you can't guarantee your work then you shouldnt be undertaking any job in the first place.

 

[DHTiling]

Resin quartz are man made cam. ?

Can you explain your theory on tile expansion some more and with written info. ?


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[cam_low]

Sorry Dave its early. Yes they are man made. I shall edit that in the purpose of giving right info.

Tile expansion on composite galaxys/stardust is greater due to the resin. Its thermal expansion levels are higher. Hence why underfloor heating on the cheaper ones is a bad idea...curling corners etc.

This is what I was led to believe...am I wrong ?

 

[DHTiling]

Nope, just good to clarify got the OP.


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[lukio2011]

I had a job where big part of the quartz tiles was already curled when we got them from the shop. I guess that when that was a new product only places like topps tiles had them back then maybe that was some kind of a guarantee but now you can buy them in those stone tiles wholesalers warehouses and they are much lower quality. So I have pretty bad experience with them. Tiles curl and although they stays in place grout is cracking or one corner of a tile is lifting and flexes when you walk on them.

 

[cam_low]

Topps only stock gulf stone now, much higher quartz content 😉

 

[AliGage]

Nothing more to add really except don't skimp on the qualitry of products. I'd also look to use a de-coupling membrane. You've got a good 10 to 15 years at least where that house witll be finding it's feet so to speak.