Any professional advice welcome

[steve2401]

Hi

This is my first post after reading numerous discussions and I am a novice at tiling.

I am preparing to tile my bathroom walls, I have removed the old tiles which has left some old adhesive in places, removed the old plaster in other places, so I have a real mixture of sub-base.

I had a recommended tiler visit recently and he advised on making the walls good first, now this is where my confusion begins. If I were to line the walls with a new plaster bonding coat, my understanding is that I need to seal the "old" wall with 1-4 PVA then bond over the top, which should give me my new flat surface to work to.

Would this be OK firstly, then do I need to seal the new bond coat ready to tile, if so what with?

Also I have Unibond adhesive and grout "tubbed" and again from reading the discussions this would not be recommended

Unfortunately I am working to a budget hence the possible need to DIY so are there any adhesives & grout recommended, BAL, Mapei etc.

To be honest I am tempted to push the boat out and have the guy do it for me, at least I wont have any regrets when sat in the bath looking at the tiling in years to come.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

[david campbell]

if you were to plaster skim the walls then it would reduce the amount of weight of tiles it could bear,plaster skim only holds 20kg per m2 so that includes 5/7kg per m2 for adhesive and grout! this would obviously limit the size of tiles you could use,if your bathroom is large enough i would consider re-sheeting it with plasterboard or hardiebacker boards giving you more options for tile weight,also if you are planning on using unibond tubbed adhesive your tiles can't be any larger than 300 x 300mm or you will need to purchase cement based adhesive.you should contact the tiler and see how much he will charge to supply the adhesive and grouts when tiling as it probably will work out the same as you paying for them but with better quality products!

 

[boxer1van]

By the sound of your post you don't really have a clue about tiling. Go for the recommended tiler, save any hassle and possibly doubling your cost if not more. Time and again pro tilers just shake their head when called out to a self inflicted mess. Sorry, but you dont learn how to make good walls, know what type of sealer/primer to use and when, what adhesive is best for a particular tile or backing etc etc overnight or by reading replies to queries such as yours. Everybody outside the trade seems to think that tiling is easy, but no, it is not!! We can be on a job for 2/3 days doing a fairly skilled job for much the same rate a plumber gets (for instance) installing a suite in a day using push fit fittings. Fairly simple compared to the decisions the tiler has to make regarding lay out, priming, adhesives, grouts, drying times etc etc.
Your recommended tiler didn't have any 'confusions' when he told you what needed done, so push your boat out and perhaps save some money get the job done right first time and quickly compared to doing it yourself.
Sorry but somebody had to tell you.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

hi steve personally speaking if i were you and i know that you are on a budget, i would get the room as perfect as poss in the prep work ie rip out the walls and replace with new plasterboard and have the tiler do the job most tilers include the materials for the job included in the price. As you say this is something that you will be looking at for a long long time. and a relaxing bath aint relaxing if you keep seeing mistakes you made will soaking. best advice is to delay the work until you have saved the money and have the tiler do the job if nothing else you will have peace of mind.
chris

 

[steve2401]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the replies much appreciated, basically this has confirmed what I was thinking, so I have already arranged for plaster work to be carried out by a plasterer, recommended by the tiler and of course arranged for the work to be completed by the tiler.

I think the wife will also be happier with that, and also means I get a few days off from the projects:8:

Cheers

 

[pete f]

thats the best way steve if youre not too sure get the pros in cheaper in the long run

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

enjoy your days off m8 and enjoy your new bathroom
and post some pics when finished