Mapei p9 problems

[JLM Tiling]

Hi guys, hope everybody is doing good, just wanted to run this past you to see if anyone else has had any similar problems.
Basically I've started subbing for the local top supplier Channel Islands Ceramics, great number this, get to do lovely jobs and they pay well, plus there is a bit of status attached to working for the best in the island! Not that 'civvies' would understand!! Anyway they insist on supplying the adhesive for the jobs they give you. You buy it from them basically. They only supply Mapei gear which i was wanting to try out anyway as everyone on here seems to rate it. Previously I'd been using Ardex. Anyways the job is 300x300 vitrifies porcelain fixing onto wedi. When I first started I found that it just wasn't grabbing quick enough so had to quickly fix battens up. This kept being a problem so last night when I finished I left all the spacers in. Just got back in here today and was taking a spacer out and the tile came with it!! Let's face it, that's not ideal!! Got my scraper out and the gear just rubbed away, was still soft. Now this is at least 24 hours later. What do you guys think? Is this a big problem like a batch fault or is it just the way Mapei p9 is? Should I worry or should I just get on with it and be more careful with the spacers? As for bedding in the tile I give it some force so it's definitely got good contact and you could see the muck had been squashed down nicely. No gear at all was stuck on the back of the tile, came off clean

 

[Tabby Cranks]

It claims to be a C2TE, so you should be fine. Check the date and batch number with Mapei.

 

[jay]

any dust on the back of the tile and it might pay to back butter in future . what size notch trowel was used

 

[DHTiling]

I use loads and loads of it, no probs.. like above did you not back blade the tiles for full contact and if the temp was low in the room then it can still be soft the next day as it is a 16hr set at 20dgs..

 

[JLM Tiling]

8mm square. Didn't back butter though, didn't see the point as the tiles are clean and the backs are pretty flat

 

[Gazzer]

As above always back butter a thin layer of adhesive with these porcelain tiles. I think it makes a big difference but if you say the adhesive was still soft then maybe something else is amiss ?

 

[grumpygrouter]

I've just used P9 for the first time on a job, albeit ceramic on plasterboard, and I found the stuff sticks like the proverbial to a blanket..... Removing tiles to check coverage and adjust was a major task in itself, and even though they were 300x300 on a wall, any tile that was cut even slightly didn't really need spacers the initial grab was so good. Was Impressed!!!

 

[Tabby Cranks]

JLM, has any of the scrapped adhesive set now? If it has then the adhesive would be fine, if not, then I'd say you have a moody batch.

 

[DHTiling]

8mm trowel on 300x300 and no back skim?

Fixer error IMO , we all learn from mistakes


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[Tabby Cranks]

8mm trowel on 300x300 and no back skim?

Fixer error IMO , we all learn from mistakes


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How would not back skimming stop the addy setting?

 

[DHTiling]

How would not back skimming stop the addy setting?

Read the thread , no adhesive stuck to the tiles, setting is down to p9 being a slow set and that is 16 hrs to grout and take longer to fully harden, for full contact you have to back skim
All pros know that


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[Stewart]

How would not back skimming stop the addy setting?

It doesn't, but it does affect how the addy grips the tile and using standard set with porcelain tiles in cool conditions and on top of backer board can result in much longer setting times.....

 

[Tabby Cranks]

So you back skim all your tiles? I'd personally only do it on large format floors (if not using a PTB), or if the ridges were particularly deep on the back of the tile.
I can think of a number of adhesives that I could use on a 300X300 tile to a wall, and not need to back skim.
I've used Mapei Keraflex, Ardex X77, BAL Singlepart Flex. All of them would hang a 300 X 300 with out slipping.

I think it's a bit strong to just say fixer error without considering the other facts. He could have been sold on out of date batch.

 

[Stewart]

So you back skim all your tiles? I'd personally only do it on large format floors (if not using a PTB), or if the ridges were particularly deep on the back of the tile.
I can think of a number of adhesives that I could use on a 300X300 tile to a wall, and not need to back skim.
I've used Mapei Keraflex, Ardex X77, BAL Singlepart Flex. All of them would hang a 300 X 300 with out slipping.

I think it's a bit strong to just say fixer error without considering the other facts. He could have been sold on out of date batch.

If you had been sold out of date addy, then if you didn't check the date while taking the batch numbers for future reference, then it would still be fixer error......

 

[DHTiling]

So you back skim all your tiles? I'd personally only do it on large format floors (if not using a PTB), or if the ridges were particularly deep on the back of the tile.
I can think of a number of adhesives that I could use on a 300X300 tile to a wall, and not need to back skim.
I've used Mapei Keraflex, Ardex X77, BAL Singlepart Flex. All of them would hang a 300 X 300 with out slipping.

I think it's a bit strong to just say fixer error without considering the other facts. He could have been sold on out of date batch.

Just goes to show , it isn't about slippage it is about coverage for full tensile strength, in the OP owns words he used 8mm trowel on a largish tile with no back skim, tile came away with no coverage on the back, what is there to defend tabby.

And you say you only back skim floors, ok I rest my case on that .

We all have our own fixing methods and personally I will always backskim
To get a better coverage and suction


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