Hello and question about marble tiles on skimmed solid walls

[999ase]

Hi all,

Been reading the forums for a while now and it is now my turn to request some advice.

We are putting marble in the bathroom of our renovation.

The room is 3.7m * 2.7m and all walls were stripped back to brick and then had a healthy coating of sand cement and skim (multifinish).

One of the walls will be covered by a partition behind which the plumbing for the wall hung toilet, bath tap and shower valve will be located.

My questions are:-

1. Is it safe to put marble on the solid skimmed walls - I have read somewhere that 12mm marble will weigh around 35 to 40 kg/m2 and skimmed walls can only support 20kg/m2.

2. For the partition wall - can I get away with unfinished 12mm plasterboard or should I use Ekoboad Thermopanel to ensure the surface can take the weight of the marble.

Apologise for the length of the post. I am sure I could have asked this question in fewer words.

Thanks in advance and hello again.

 

[White Room]

You will be pushing the weight for the skimmed plaster, the sand/cement would have been better..

On your stud wall you could use hardie backer board 12mm thick which would take the weight

Hi and welcome

 

[Bolter]

1. Is it safe to put marble on the solid skimmed walls - I have read somewhere that 12mm marble will weigh around 35 to 40 kg/m2 and skimmed walls can only support 20kg/m2.

No, correct (in that order)

2. For the partition wall - can I get away with unfinished 12mm plasterboard or should I use Ekoboad Thermopanel to ensure the surface can take the weight of the marble.

Apologise for the length of the post. I am sure I could have asked this question in fewer words.

Thanks in advance and hello again.

Tiles and Adhesive Weight Per Square Metre - THE TILE SOURCE

oh and welcome to the site

 

[peckers]

Welcome to the forum, you weight of tiles is too heavy for skim plaster and you are pushing the weight limit on the plasterboard too! you would be better off removing the skim back down to the render and the stud wall replacing with a tile backer board.

 

[Ceramico tiling]

after reading all the replies I am wondering if scoring the wall with a grinder to create a mechanical key will sort out the weight issue of the multifinish?

 

[White Room]

Could try a wallpaper steamer, that usualy blows the finish

 

[peckers]

after reading all the replies I am wondering if scoring the wall with a grinder to create a mechanical key will sort out the weight issue of the multifinish?

Scoring it isnt good enough. you need to remoce it. as whitebeam has said use a steamer wall paper stripper to blow it off with.

 

[999ase]

Wow - Thanks for all your replies. As ever, life is never simple.

How easy is it to blow off the plaster with a average DIY steamer - would it be easier to take it off with a SDS hammer drill with a chisel bit ?

How big a risk is it putting the marble onto the multifinshed walls ? A tiler I spoke to said it wouldn't be a problem, it depends on what adhesive you used, rather than the finish of the surface you are putting it on. This guy does fit outs for McDonalds, so not a complete cowboy.

Would it be ok to use the Ekoboards from UHeat instead of Hardiebacker - would work out a little cheaper.

Also, what kind of adhesive should the tiler use.

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome... if that tiler recommends marble on to skimmed walls then he is no good either.. no matter what else he tiles or how long he has tiled..

Adhesive is an issue but the substrate has to be able to support the weight..

 

[Bolter]

How big a risk is it putting the marble onto the multifinshed walls ?

Can your kids handle the weight of it all coming down in the bath? Or will you be issuing safety helmets for bath time?

Thats the thick of it right there.

 

[999ase]

Ok. That puts it into perspective.

1. How easy is it to blow off the plaster with a average DIY steamer - would it be easier to take it off with a SDS hammer drill with a chisel bit ?

2. Would it be ok to use the Ekoboards from UHeat instead of Hardiebacker - would work out a little cheaper.

3. We have Crema Pearl tiles so will need to use white adhesive - but was wondering which adhesive make is the best for marble.

 

[Scott]

You will need a rapid set adhesive as water from slower set adhesives can mark the stone, also the reason to use white so the pigments dont stain the stone.

Id be tempted to try the SDS route and see how it goes, otherwise steam it. I have put the steamer in the room before and let it steam openily into either the bath or a bucket and let f steam the whole room in one hit. Works ok for wallpaper and old tubbed tile adhesive so might work if you leave it longer. Once you get a bladed scraper behind it it should come off.
Not used the ekoboards so cant comment on that one.

I see you have advertised for a tiler, where abouts are you?

 

[999ase]

Hi Scottley, I am in Blackburn. Whereabouts are you ?

 

[Scott]

Hi Scottley, I am in Blackburn. Whereabouts are you ?

Miles away from you. Leighton buzzard near milton keynes!

 

[999ase]

Spoke to one of the guys from the forum who responded to my ad for a tiler. He said given that my walls are brick and they have a sand cement render and then a multifinish skim, it should be ok to put marble tiles directly onto it.

The 20kg/m2 is only for plasterboard walls that have a skim finish.

All confused now. Help. Can marble go onto solid walls that have had sand/cement render and Thistle multifinish skim ?