Hello! Damsel in distress

[keene]

Hello, another new member here! recently found you very helpful website but am more confused than ever after going thro' the forums. Need some general advice really.

After many hours/days in a local Topps Tile Centre (the manager has probably banned me from ever darkening their doors again...i was definately NOT his favourite customer last time i saw him! ) i decided on some very nice looking Chinese (so they told me) Travertine tiles for my small bathroom. They were filled tiles but they are not highly polished, shiny ones, they are matt. They were for the floors and the walls and the bath has been removed and we now have a walk in shower.

Hubby (ex-builder) has tiled the shower area using the Bal adhesive and grout recommended by the shop and it looks fantastic. We were given Fina impregnator and sealer and 2 coats were put on prior to grouting and once after. He didnt do anything particular will the walls before tiling, is that something to worry about?

This is the first time he has used this type of tile and every thing seems to be ok so far. He has not done the floor yet but has been given Toppfix rapid set flexible adhesive for the floor with Bal Superflex grout.

My questions mainly are 1. have we done everything correctly so far and 2. with regards to care for the tiles in the shower area, how often should we clean them and with what? What are the problems to look out for with this type of tile and do we need to reseal in the future? Bearing in mind we have 2 messy, careless teenagers loose in the house...

Ive heard/read so many things about how to work with it/care for it/problems etc my head is spinning!!!! i darent question my husbands capabilities either so thought id better come to people who know what they are doing!

Any advice or help gratefully received (apologies for length of post too)

Elaine

 

[Fekin]

If the walls are plastered and you used a heavy tile, and cement based powdered adhesive then the walls really needed priming with acrylic primer.

Welcome to the forums

 

[DHTiling]

Hello, another new member here! recently found you very helpful website but am more confused than ever after going thro' the forums. Need some general advice really.

After many hours/days in a local Topps Tile Centre (the manager has probably banned me from ever darkening their doors again...i was definately NOT his favourite customer last time i saw him! ) i decided on some very nice looking Chinese (so they told me) Travertine tiles for my small bathroom. They were filled tiles but they are not highly polished, shiny ones, they are matt. They were for the floors and the walls and the bath has been removed and we now have a walk in shower.

Hubby (ex-builder) has tiled the shower area using the Bal adhesive and grout recommended by the shop and it looks fantastic. We were given Fina impregnate and sealer and 2 coats were put on prior to grouting and once after. He didnt do anything particular will the walls before tiling, is that something to worry about?

This is the first time he has used this type of tile and every thing seems to be ok so far. He has not done the floor yet but has been given Toppfix rapid set flexible adhesive for the floor with Bal Superflex grout.

My questions mainly are 1. have we done everything correctly so far and 2. with regards to care for the tiles in the shower area, how often should we clean them and with what? What are the problems to look out for with this type of tile and do we need to reseal in the future? Bearing in mind we have 2 messy, careless teenagers loose in the house...

Ive heard/read so many things about how to work with it/care for it/problems etc my head is spinning!!!! i darent question my husbands capabilities either so thought id better come to people who know what they are doing!

Any advice or help gratefully received (apologies for length of post too)

Elaine

hi elaine welcome to forums.....

firstly did he prime the walls to stop the cement based adhesive reacting with the plaster. and as mentioned did he use a single part flexi adhesive or similar..you are right by putting 2 coats of sealer on but you could put one extra one on once the grout has dried to seal the grout as well..wash down with warm soapy water and not anything acidic or containing bleach as this could harm the stone...depending on the sealer type some have to be renewed every couple of years or so, depending whether it was a impregnating sealer or a topical sealer but not a big job to do..was the stone ok as regards the weight ratio to the walls substrate..if it was skimmed then no more than 20kg to the sqr mtr and if it was plaster board then no more than 25kg to the sq mtr ......dave..

 

[keene]

Ah....im pretty sure he didnt use an acrylic primer before he tiled the walls...i shall try and ask discreetly...

Bit late now but will it make much difference?

Many thanks for your help.
----
Not sure about the single part flexi adhesive either! He used what he was told by the tile shop.

All walls are solid, no stud walls if that helps...area of walls and floor in total is 16sqm

Really appreciate all your help, but will my tiles start falling off???!!!!

 

[DHTiling]

as long as he's used a cement based adhesive then some have built in primers ( but still best to prime as well ) ..so fingers crossed you will be ok....post us some pics in the gallery be nice to see the finished results.........dave..

 

[Dan]

Wecome to the forums. Seems Dave has got this one

 

[jm2000]

Well thaanks for this info...i went to tops in Cleveleys for the samew advice and was to;d nowt about a primer...thanks topps

 

[faithhealer]

Do your teenagers actually use the shower, please tell how you have achieved this!

 

[Varley]

Hello mate, welcome to the forums