Tile weight on various surfaces

[tjsmiler]

Hi all

I understand all the weight ratios regarding plasterboard and plaster etc but i was just wondering............... plasterboard can hold 32kg per sm but what if the plasterboard has been dry-lined and the plaster adhesive is rubbish and hasn't bonded very well to wall behind it, is there a possibility of the plasterboard coming off the wall or better still has anybody ever been in a situation where the plasterboard has come away from the wall due to the weight of the tiles on it??

Is there any ways of testing how strongly plasterboard is actuall bonded to the wall? am just curious

Cheers

 

[Leatherface]

Pull it off - if it comes off easily then it has not been stuck very well !!

Actually I don't think so - If the plaseerboard falls off with the tiles still stuck to it, then you are in the clear - don't worry about it

 

[trevortine]

I just done one last week mate, ripped out the whole bathroom back to studs and only one wall had to be dot dabbed. I use the gyproc adhesive for this and i tell you it is ace. Next day the wall was solid and had a really good solid feel to it. No way it was coming off!

 

[L & R CERAMICS]

now this is a good subject ,if this has been applied to areas that have had 10 million layers of paint it does not work ,from past experiences in this trade ive known the board adhesive to dry and not adhere to the second layer of paint so when you apply your extra wheight the board loses its rigid feel and can be moved also in damp areas

 

[tjsmiler]

Trev..... when you get a job where the old tiles need to be removed and they have been fixed to plasterboard would you remove plasterboard with old tiles still attached mate? or do you get the SDS out as per usuall?

Saw your phot's by the way mate............ Superb :wink_smile: left me completley jelous

TJ

 

[tjsmiler]

L & R,,, intesting point mate. Does that mean then that if you are dry lining a wall that has been painted a few times it is best to strip it first and charge the customer accordingly?

TJ

 

[Concept PHT]

Get the SDS out.

 

[L & R CERAMICS]

not really,youve got two options ,make the customer aware of your thoughts and suggest the correct method to rectify and see if they want to pay to do it properly and if they dont ,get something on paper to suggest you have made them aware of the problem and you can not guarantee this work as you know the possibility of it coming away from the wall is inevitable,at the end of the day kiddo you either want a reputation or you just want the money

 

[tjsmiler]

L & R............. was just checking some of my old threads and noticed that i never said thanks for your advise on this one mate.....sorry bud i thought i had thanked you. It turned out to be very usefull info and has held me in good stead on a few jobs since, not to mention how much time i save now i make the customer aware each time of potential pit falls.

So thanks a lot mate :wink_smile:

TJ

 

[brian c]

L&R,if you primed the walls properly and scored them would the gyproc adhesive not take to this mate?


JUST ASKING NOT MEANT OFFENSIVELY M8!

 

[DHTiling]

The maximum weight of tiling which can be supported by a dry, well-adhered plaster background is 20kg/m². This is equivalent to ceramic tiles with a maximum thickness of 8mm plus tile adhesive or natural stone tiles with a maximum thickness of 7mm plus tile adhesive
The weight of tiling to a plasterboard background direct (without plaster skim) should not exceed 32kg/m². This is equivalent to a ceramic tile and adhesive with a maximum thickness of 12.5mm and natural stone and adhesive with a maximum thickness of 10mm.
It is important to emphasise that the weights quoted includes both the tile and adhesive.
Further advice should be sought either from the manufacturer, regarding the suitability of the adhesives and grouts and also guidance must be sought from board manufacturer regarding additional information on recommended methods for the installation of boards.
The following table offers general guidance to some common types of building board and the maximum recommended weights for tiling.

Wall SubstratesMaximum Weight of Tiling per m²

1. Gypsum Plaster20Kg/m²
2. Gypsum Plasterboard Direct (without a plaster skim) 32Kg/m²
3. Plywood (WBP)Up to 30Kg/m²
4. Lightweight Tilebacking Boards Up to 40Kg/m². Dependant upon the type and thickness of the board.
5. Glass reinforced Cement SheetsUp to 50kg/m², Dependant upon the type and thickness of the board.
6. Gypsum Fibre boardsApproximately 35- 40Kg/m²

These are BS Guide lines only..if in doubt check with adhesive manufacturer....

 

[penno]

Im doing a bathroom in the next few weeks in Travertine 60 x 30, customer didn't have the tiles at the time they are going onto plaster. Is a Travertine of that size suitable for going direct onto plaster?

 

[DHTiling]

sorry mat No its not....try using a backerboard over lay plugged and screwed...

 

[penno]

****, the weight thing didnt even occur to me when i did the quote. Will they be WELL over? do able or just a TOTAL NO NO?

 

[DHTiling]

That format has five tiles to the mtr...best to weigh them...and allow for adhesive etc...its up to you as fixer if you want to go ahead...i can only give advise not guarantee's...good luck mat......:8:

 

[penno]

thanks Dave appreciate it mate

 

[DHTiling]

no probs......:grouphug:

 

[Varley]

I would listen to Dave's advice on this one mate, the weight ratio of the walls are one of, if not, the most important part of tiling as if you overload the weight then you could seriously hurt someone if the tiles come falling off the wall. I'm sure if you explain this to the customer they will understand and should be greatfull that you have their safety in mind and not just out to make a quick buck.

 

[Spud]

i am not going to ask any of you fellas if you think i need to go on a diet as i already know the answer to that i just want to start a debate about the weight ratings of substrates ,skim plaster over plaster board 20kgs per sq m skim and set plaster 28kgs per sq m please correct me if i am wrong doing this off of memory plaster board 32kgs sand and cemant render 40kgs and cement backer board 50-60kgs my arguement- if the walls are plumb then the load bearing doesnt apply as theload is being transfered through the centre of gravity to the floor . please discuss

 

[DHTiling]

Well my opinion is that seen as your tiles are not exactly sitting on the floor ( tightly ) .i.e. you leave a small expansion gap at the bottom , then your tiles are infact hanging..( Dead weight ) so the weight issue does count as the substrate is holding the load.......will be interesting to hear others opinions on this......

Good question Gary........

 

[White Room]

I contacted british gypsum about a 50mm wall stud partition ( metal) and said I was going to apply to garage walls because of the piers in a garage so the walls would be flush and straight, They nearly lost it when I said that walls the would only be plasterboarded one side and said no, I have secured the studs to the piers so very solid. Like you mentioned gary the centre of gravity is down not sideways

ps Not the first time I've done metal.

pps First time on the tiler forums arms I take it that these posts do not appear on the regular forum.

 

[wayne]

just seen a job another tiler near me did 600x400 travertine. nice job but tiles were onto skim coat over artex. when i told the bloke i wouldnt have tiled it i thought he was going to collapse. he also paid about £75 sqm including mats for fitting

 

[grumpygrouter]

just seen a job another tiler near me did 600x400 travertine. nice job but tiles were onto skim coat over artex. when i told the bloke i wouldnt have tiled it i thought he was going to collapse. he also paid about £75 sqm including mats for fitting

I wouldn't have tiled it either!

 

[Grace'sDad]

Has anyone any first hand experience of weight-related failures though?

Or are we a tad paranoid in this area?

I've not been in the game long enough to see (or create) any disasters but I'd sure like to see some!

 

[wayne]

i fitted 600x400 trav over skim about 3 years ago before i was clued up on safe weights. had no comeback so far but not willing to risk it again

 

[GazTech]

I know of a hairdressers salon having had failure, a large tile injured a customer and a hefty law suit ensued. The lady won the case and was rewarded huge damages.

 

[White Room]

There's been a lot of discussion recently about tile to weight ratio on walls, Is it now time for the manufactures to put the weight of tiles per sqm on their packaging to stop any confusion

 

[GazTech]

I agree, some already do this, but it should be plain for all to see on all large format tiles.....Gaz

 

[sWe]

Aye!

/Signed

 

[bj F]

I agree with you boys

 

[Andy S tile]

Hi Folks
Gotta tile an en-suite tomorrow with 400 x 300 marble and was a bit concerned about the wieght issue. 1 box of tiles containes 6 tiles and comes in at 22kg. 3 of the walls are studded, then plasterboard which has then been skimmed. As i,m right on the limit for a skimmed plasterboard thats been dot and dab,b, does this limit reduce even further on studded walls??