Help! Need advice for fitting pebble decor strips?

[STEVEROG]

I have tiled an alcove shower area with plain white tiles and left a 75mm wide horizontal strip free from tiles to fit Laura Ashley pebble decor strips into. I tried to fit one of these pebble decor strips today and it was a disaster.....

This is how I am trying to fit them:-

Used same adhesive that I have been using to fit the white ceramic tiles
(Mapei Keraquick mixed with water). I troweled this on with a notched trowel then tried to fit the pebble decor strip. The big problem is that the adhesive seeped very easily through the plastic webbing that's on the back of the strips (pebbles are glued to the webbing). I had to rip the strip off and wash it and try again. On the second attempt I tried continuous adhesive bed but just got the same result. It's also very difficult to get the strips running flat (they are very bendy on the webbing). The Keraquick is supposed to be white but it is more like a light grey so I don't think I can get away with any of this showing.

Is there a better way to go about fitting these strips? Maybe a clear adhesive that is much thicker? Mix up the Keraquick much thicker?

Steve.

 

[david campbell]

personally i would use bal mosaic fix for this with a mosaic trowel (3/4mm notch) once in place i pat evenly with a grout float
hope this helps

 

[STEVEROG]

First, thanks for the advice.

Where can I get the Bal Adhesive you are referring to. I have been using Mapei adhesives as these are available at my local screwfix. Not sure if they have any Bal Stuff.

Steve

 

[White Room]

Check any trade outlet, screwfix sell smaller containers so works out a bit more expensive. Don't do topps tiles that will cost you a fortune

 

[Colour Republic]

how thick are the white tiles and how thick are the pebbles?

 

[peckers]

I have tiled an alcove shower area with plain white tiles and left a 75mm wide horizontal strip free from tiles to fit Laura Ashley pebble decor strips into. I tried to fit one of these pebble decor strips today and it was a disaster.....

This is how I am trying to fit them:-

Used same adhesive that I have been using to fit the white ceramic tiles
(Mapei Keraquick mixed with water). I troweled this on with a notched trowel then tried to fit the pebble decor strip. The big problem is that the adhesive seeped very easily through the plastic webbing that's on the back of the strips (pebbles are glued to the webbing). I had to rip the strip off and wash it and try again. On the second attempt I tried continuous adhesive bed but just got the same result. It's also very difficult to get the strips running flat (they are very bendy on the webbing). The Keraquick is supposed to be white but it is more like a light grey so I don't think I can get away with any of this showing.

Is there a better way to go about fitting these strips? Maybe a clear adhesive that is much thicker? Mix up the Keraquick much thicker?

Steve.

Hi there, i agree with what dave has said, i fitt mine the same way, I would mix bal mosaic fix a bit thicker then normal if the pebbles are the heavy ones being used, and then pressing on top of the pebbles with your grout float to ensure they are pushed in firmly, you can then wait till the adhesive has started to cure and the pebble strips are not moving around and take out any excess tile adhesive using either a small pointing tool or the point of a stanley blade, If you are finding that the pebble strips are moving around due to the weight of them then you can cut thin strips of masking tape and use it to help hold the tiles in place until the adhesive has set. hope this helps

 

[Olz]

You should be able to use the adhesive you've got if you get a mosic trowel, like this one......

from trade tiler

http://www.tradetiler.com

The teeth are so small that you shouldnt get any addy seeping through to any significant depth, certainly not enough to effect grouting.

Use a grout float to push the pebbles into the bed it helps get then nice and flat.

Bals mosic fix is very white but expensive aswell

 

[STEVEROG]

Thanks for all your input.

The pebbles are approximately 4mm thick, the white tiles are 8mm thick, I suppose this means that I will have to build the adhesive up a bit thicker to take out the difference in thickness?

I will have a look at screwfix to see if I can find the Bal mosaic fix as the fact that this stuff is actually white means that I can probably get away with a bit of adhesive in the gaps between the pebbles.

I will also be getting a mosaic trowel.

 

[STEVEROG]

Just had a look at the screwfix site. The only Bal stuff I can find is a ready mixed bucket of Bal Adhesive and Grout. Here is a link to the product:-

BAL Tile & Grout 7.5kg - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

I don't think this is the right stuff?

Steve

 

[peckers]

Just had a look at the screwfix site. The only Bal stuff I can find is a ready mixed bucket of Bal Adhesive and Grout. Here is a link to the product:-

BAL Tile & Grout 7.5kg - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

I don't think this is the right stuff?

Steve

Your right this is not the right stuff.. use the adhesive you have already got mix it a bit thicker then you would normally and apply in the gap where the pebbles are going to go, then take a piece of timber long enough to reach past the two rows of tiles and cut it at each end removing 4mm(as this is the thickness of your pebbles) so that the timber is recessed into the gap by 4mm and each end sits on the tiles, then pull it along which will remove any excess leaving you about a 4mm bed, leave this to dry then apply your adhesive in the normal way and fitt the pebble strips. Hope this makes sense and helps. steve...

 

[Olz]

Use an off cut peice of wood to make this type of thing, which you can use like a trowel to give you a 4mm bed to tile ontop off.

 

[STEVEROG]

This sounds ok but is it ok to put adhesive onto a base of dried adhesive? Do I need to score the first layer of adhesive (like a render scratch coat).

Steve

 

[White Room]

No just put wet addy on top of dry addy, no problem

 

[doug boardley]

as Oli and Whitebeam from me mate