Laying porcelain wall tiles in shower area.

[VOLKS]

Hi to all,

We would like to lay white polished porcelain wall tiles in our shower area and need to know what adhesive and grout to use for these. 700 x 1200 offset quad.

The tiles are 300x600 white porcelain tiles from Topps tiles. £4.49 each. Laid strecher bond style.

The walls are studded and have been recently plasterboarded and skimmed 5 weeks ago and a coat of emulsion applied.

I am asuming these tiles will have to be sealed before and after laying, but its the adhesive and grout i need advice with. and what make etc to go for. Also do the walls have to have any other prep work.

Thank you for your replies.

 

[Andy Allen]

how heavy are the tiles, the weight limit for skimmed plaster is 20kg per m2 inc adhesive and grout..

 

[White Room]

Get the paint off where your going to tile as well....

 

[Del W]

Welcome to TF. The paint should be removed. How thick are the tiles ?

 

[VOLKS]

Each tile is 3.5 kg

 

[VOLKS]

tiles are 10mm thick

 

[Andy Allen]

19.25 kg per m2 so your right on the limit, will have to remove the paint..

 

[VOLKS]

ok cheers thank you

 

[Mike Mike]

I would over-board with backer boards and tank it. Your tiles are at the max weight skimmed plasterboard can take, excluding adhesive and grout, and it has been painted = hopeless.

 

[Del W]

10mm thick porcelain plus addy plus grout is too much weight for a skim.

 

[VOLKS]

Cheers all, back to ceramics.

 

[Del W]

Make sure you use a flexible powdered addy & grout,you may also want to consider waterprofing.Topps stock Bal range which are good but Mapei from Tile Giant are better value for money in my opinion.