Bathroom floor laid by back buttering tiles.

[Sean Kelly]

I went to see a floor yesterday. It was laid about 10 years ago in a bathroom over ply. The toilet recently had a leak and was changed, along with the basin/pedestal. Whilst the toilet was being changed the floor tiles started popping up and now 9 of them have come away from the ply. It looks like the tiles were laid by back buttering, and no primer used. All the other tiles in the room have a hollow sound when tapped. The customer only wants the 9 tiles replaced (they have 9 spares!). There are some awful cuts around the toilet and pedestal (slithers).

Of course I have advised on a complete replacement of the tiled floor, but customer is not having any of it.

Basically, there is no adhesive under any tile. It looks like they have been back buttered and just laid on the floor. The only thing holding them together is the grout.

I will be giving the customer 2 quotes, one for a non guaranteed patchup and another for a proper retile. However, If I were to use the correct trowel and tiling methods on the patchup job then all 9 tiles will be standing proud of the others by about 3mm.

Are there any glues on the market that are really sticky? The tiles are porcelain. I was thinking of going down the no more nails route.

Remember, the customer have been advised that sticking the 9 tiles down by this method is totally unacceptable.

Any thoughts/suggestions please.

 

[DHTiling]

Why would you even contemplate patching it in ? .

 

[charlie1]

Put in a price for retiling the whole lot then give her a higher price for repair as it will cause you more stress, take more time and there will be next to no job satisfaction at the end of it... Choice is theirs

 

[thompsonbrown]

If the floor has got wet you might find it a bigger job trying to repair than replace.
this was a toilet I had wich had a small leak and a few tiles had poped.

 

[Andy Allen]

wouldn't even price for patching, re-do the whole thing or find someone else's to do it.....some things just ain't worth the hassle..

 

[beanz]

I'd have to agree with above.. Walk. What are your repair options? Gripfill, or silicone? :-/

 

[Sean Kelly]

I'd have to agree with above.. Walk. What are your repair options? Gripfill, or silicone? :-/

Thanks Beanz I'll go for gripfill.

I guess I always knew the answer to my own question. Will have to tell the customer again in my quote. I was probably just wishing that a spray on tile adhesive had been invented in the last few days - I guess not.

 

[thompsonbrown]

Thanks Beanz I'll go for gripfill.

I guess I always knew the answer to my own question. Will have to tell the customer again in my quote. I was probably just wishing that a spray on tile adhesive had been invented in the last few days - I guess not.

it has..
but only for carpet tiles.

 

[Ajax123]

Walk away or you could well inherit the problem...

 

[beanz]

Thanks Beanz I'll go for gripfill.

I guess I always knew the answer to my own question. Will have to tell the customer again in my quote. I was probably just wishing that a spray on tile adhesive had been invented in the last few days - I guess not.

That wasn't a suggestion! My only suggestion here is total rip-out, or let someone else have it... ANSI don't often give work away lol

 

[andyb1]

Walk away, i was asked a couple of weeks ago to finish some kitchen walls that had been started by the home owner and realised he couldn't do the awkward bits, they wanted it done for £50.00 and started the next day, told them all had to come down, never heard from the again.

 

[Sean Kelly]

That wasn't a suggestion!

Yea Beanz I know!

I just did a quote for the rip out. Have not heard from them, and probably never will.
I do not know what came over me, even asking the question to you guys/girls. I think customer was looking for a £50 solution to a £400 problem.

 

[beanz]

We all want £50 solutions to our problems, but unfortunately life doesn't work that way hehe!

 

[Martino]

its jobs like these that take the mic..especially when you get customers that call them a quick ten minute job.....those customers really get on my balls lol...do it right or dont do it at all thats what i say.

 

[Richard Edwards]

Walk and say thank you but no thanks. Just not worth it.