Large format tiles

[Eddie]

When you are putting large format tiles on walls, do you use rapid set adhesives. or not? i find i have to mix very small amounts of rapid, or i get a lot of waste.

 

[DHTiling]

rapid or slow set . no probs............

 

[mwss77]

Agree with Dave, sometimes you have to have a play around with the tiles, especially when they are large format i.e porcelain.

 

[devonmark]

rapid or standard..depends on what the job is..Mark

 

[GazTech]

Larger format tiles for wall is steadily increasing,600 x 300mm or similar are now very common,even bigger 1200 x 600mm or 1200 x 900mm are available. Getting the fixing right for these tiles (usually porcelain) raises important issues. Making sure that the combined weight of tiles including adhesive is compatible with the background to be fixed to.First and foremost is to identify wether it is strong enough to carry the weight of the tile and adhesive combined.
TILING WEIGHT LIMITS
BACKGROUND MAX TILING WEIGHT THICKNESS
SURFACE/ WEIGHT INCL ADH/ THICKNESS OF TILE
plaster 20kg 8mm ceramic/7mm stone
plasterboard 32kg 12.5mm ceramic/10mm stone
wood-based / sheet boards 30kg (see TTA recommendations)
cement based backer board typically 40/50kg check with board manufacturer
adhesive will typically add between 2 to 4kg per sq.metre.
When you have assessed the weight.. the issue of the correct adhesive can be tackled. It is crucial that your cement based adhesive has good non slip properties ,a solid bed of adhesive in required,(spot fixing reduces the area supporting the tile).Porcelain tiles with low water absorption rate a polymer modified adhesive is recommended ie single part flexible.Priming the wall is also a huge factor,plaster and plasterboard contain calcium sulphate,this could react with the adhesive,so isolating the two with a modified synthetic polymer dispersion such as Bal prime APD is a must.Finally always grout with flexible grouts especially with porcelain for it to stick and expand /contract.
Hopefully with all these guidelines adhered to,the tiles will be on the wall and not on your head...............Gaz