Right surface to tile onto?

[benb12]

Hi, I need to tile the bathroom wall above the bath where a shower (riser, thermostatic valve & taps) will be fitted. The builder that chased the pipe work into the wall covered the wall with plaster or render, I am not sure which. He said a layer of PVA and I am good to go, but would someone mind looking at my pictures and telling me:

1) Is this surface bonding plaster? I have read that tiling straight onto this is a big no so am hoping it's sand & cement render.
2) If the surface is good to tile onto, is it smooth enough (one of the pics below is a close up of the roughest part)?
3) If the surface is NOT good to tile onto, what's my best option? getting it skimmed over?

I am using 15cm sq ceramic tiles like those on the adjacent wall to the right and plan to use BAL Grip adhesive.

Many thanks



Ben

 

[Ajax123]

It does look like bonding but it is not really possible to be definitive from a picture. It might be a weak render. Either way it doesn't look suitable to tile directly to...

 

[Brian the Tile]

looks to me like bonding or browning i woud make sure you have the wall skimed before any tiles go onto it and also make sure you do NOT use pva ,if you are doing the job yourself ask for a suitable primer from your local tile store

 

[White Room]

Thats bonding and needs to be skimmed....

 

[Stef]

Typical builder, "PVA it & it will be fine"

 

[White Room]

Looks like it could do with a good scrape to get the high spots off as well....

 

[benb12]

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[AMtek]

It's bonding, and its a pants job. if he was just chasing pipes in why did he bond most of the wall out? Put a level on it and see how flat it is, might need bonded out again to level it before its skimmed. Alternatively batten the wall and use cement board, the copper pipes can easily be extended if needed but looks like plenty on there to play with.

 

[benb12]

Thanks. That whole section of wall was tiled and had an electric shower fitted so I guess that's why it was all plastered. This was done along with some other plastering on other rooms that was good. I wasn't charged for the bathroom plastering. No idea why they did such a poor job here. Anyway apart from a couple of small ridges which I can chisel off its actually pretty flat. I already checked it with a level. So I will get it skimmed. Many thanks again.

 

[White Room]

Thanks for the update...

 

[CJ]

High spots can be scrapped of with a finger nail if bonding/browning plaster.

It does look like a Bodge waiting to happen.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

Builders think because its being tiled the plastering doesnt have to be great thats why hes done such a naff job.