Plywood Walls

[simonb43]

I have a situation with plywood walls. These have been tiled with 100 x 300 ceramic tiles, using BAL Greenstar. It has been grouted and finished for at least 4 months. The tiles are now coming off wall completely, full adhesive on back of tiles, none remaining on wall. Please bear in mind this is plywood walls. I had nothing to do with any of the preparation, but suspect that PVA may have been applied, as this has been mentioned on this job a fair bit. When i say the tiles are coming off, I mean literally the fully tiled wall is peeling away, the grout is not cracking. URGENT responses to this please. Many Thanks

 

[Concrete guy]

Here's a Data Sheet for BAL Greenstar:-

http://files.building-adhesives.com... & C Technical Data Sheets/BAL_Green_Star.pdf

If there's any moisture in this room or any sort of sealer has been applied to the surface of the ply then that's going to cause the problem with having used Green star on Ply.

 

[simonb43]

Is the problem with the Greenstar ? Would a powdered adhesive stuck better, even if a sealer had been used ?

 

[Concrete guy]

Is the problem with the Greenstar ? Would a powdered adhesive stuck better, even if a sealer had been used ?

There are far more appropriate adhesives for tiling onto ply.

Ultimately the best practice is not to tile onto ply and overboard it/replace but when that isn't an option I wouldn't choose a tubbed adhesive.

 

[simonb43]

Would there still be an issue with PVA, even if powered adhesive is used ?
Still concerned about the way the tiles are coming off

 

[Qwerty]

PVA should never have been used, and the ply should have been overboarded. Tubbed adhesive hasn't helped either. Couple these factors with if its in a bathroom and voilà, one fully removable tiled wall!!!

 

[simonb43]

I'm not sure PVA has been used, but surely the adhesive would form some sort of bond to the ply if there was no PVA ??

 

[Concrete guy]

Would there still be an issue with PVA, even if powered adhesive is used ?
Still concerned about the way the tiles are coming off

Yes PVA would still be an issue with a powdered adhesive.

 

[simonb43]

But if PVA has not been applied then powdered adhesive is fine ??

 

[Concrete guy]

But if PVA has not been applied then powdered adhesive is fine ??

It depends which powdered adhesive to be honest.

Ply is the bigger problem, remove that and you remove a whole host of issues.

 

[simonb43]

The ply has turned out to be a massive problem.

I still believe that the ply has been sealed, but have no proof.

its looking like I'm re-tiling for nothing, even though I'm not at fault

 

[White Room]

How long ago was this job done...

 

[Chalker]

The ply has turned out to be a massive problem.

I still believe that the ply has been sealed, but have no proof.

its looking like I'm re-tiling for nothing, even though I'm not at fault

Did you tile it?

if so it's your fault.

 

[Kia tiling]

I gotta agree, you used the wrong adhesive, sorry...

 

[John Benton]

Chalker is right, if it was you who tiled it, then you knew what substrate you were fixing to, therefore it should have been correctly prepared prior to fixing.

 

[simonb43]

Obviously I tiled it. My main concern is that neither the adhesive or grout has stuck to the ply, which may indicate the ply has been sealed, which I wouldnt have done anyway, but apparently many would do.

 

[simonb43]

Obviously I tiled it. My main concern is that neither the adhesive or grout has stuck to the ply, which may indicate the ply has been sealed, which I wouldnt have done anyway, but apparently many would do.

 

[aussie tiling]

The only way you are going to get over this is either removing ply/or over boarding with 6mm hardie backer if you have the room.

 

[simonb43]

Not sure if either of these are an option.
The general opinion seems to be the wrong adhesive has been used, even though BAL state it is suitable.

 

[aussie tiling]

Hey ho you will know for next time ply on walls in bathrooms unless used for strength and over boarded is not really a good substrate. I can't understand why people still do this when there so many readily available options and cheaper than ply good luck hope it works out for you.

 

[Andy Allen]

If it was sealed or not imo its just pot luck tiling on to ply......even worse using a non flexible dispersion adhesive. .

 

[simonb43]

But BAL state the adhesive is suitable, so why not use it ?? And seal or no seal ?? Getting conflicting advice on the sealing issue. Maybe it is just potluck

 

[John Benton]

Did you also tank out the shower like it tells you to do in wet areas?

 

[Brian the Tile]

No problem using the tubbed adhesive at all ,but i would never have used green star on ply

 

[simonb43]

John, no didn't tank as said previously, I had no input the prep. If I had I would have offered other options
Brian, Greenstar is suitable, so why not use.

but going back to the main issue regarding the adhesive and grout not sticking to the ply. Suggestions please