tiling on no more ply

[SJPurdy]

Adhesive is Bal grip + fibre enchanced ready mix
the adhesive stays mostly on the backing when they fall off. BTW a couple of the tiles have remained in place!!

That indicates that the backing isn't the problem (as you also say it is rigid). It could be as suggested dust on the back of the tiles, or the surface of the adhesive air drying before the tile is positioned (ie taking to long between spreading and positioning the tile) - so wipe back of tiles, only spread the adhesive (notched trowel when ready) and back butter the tiles with adhesive as well before fixing.
Also check you adhesive, it should be a nice workable paste. If it is very stiff it may not be wetting/grabbing the tiles when you position them suggesting to me it may be old or faulty.

 

[SJPurdy]

I thought this was the purpose of 'no more ply' that it didn't have to be primed?
we are now about to try using plasterboard for the backing
should we use this ready mix adhesive or we have some floor tile powder that we could mix up

It is recommended to prime with SBR to improve adhesion (I always do because I don't want to take any risks that may affect my professional reputation!) but as above it is not this bond failing.
If it is grey cement based adhesive then it may stain through a light coloured ceramic wall tile so then you have another risk.

Its only 300 x 150mm. How many tiles are there? what is there size? (you implied a couple stayed in place but most fell off) What type of tiles (ceramic, porcelain, glass, stone, resin backed?). We want to help, this should be easy, but I'm just missing something!😕

 

[Dan]

How much adhesive are you putting on? What notched style trowel are you using?

 

[marionmckay]

Hi all
Wey hey!! we have adhesion and even in an upright position
Went back to basics and cut plasterboard made sure we cleaned the back of the tile. Still used the Bal - success !
I have no idea what all that was about but its worked this time 🙂
It is a L shaped upstand and ceramic tiles
The tiles at the side stuck in was the larger ones at the front that didn’t. We used the same tools that we used for the shower room and the same amount of Bal
There has been some great suggestions here for the future especially the staining of tiles with grey cement
Can I ask what is cement based addy ?
many thanks for all your help
PS...... Ha Ha!! i'm always boasting to folks when I get my birthday wishes email from the tilers forums - they think i'm sad

regards to all

 

[Dan]

Cement-based addy, or adhesive, is a bag of adhesive that's largely cement with additives and colourings in it.

The other type, dispersion adhesive, is a bucket, which cures or sets by the water evaporating out of it.

You tend to find with the latter, that if you don't stick a tile to it quickly, it'll skin over like custard does, and then your tiles stick to the skin and not the actual adhesive. So they'll fall off.

Cement-based adhesives cure by way of a chemical reaction. So it can still cure when wet. And will bond while curing. And then the water evaporating out of it is just a process that happens but doesn't have much of an effect to the actual bonding.

 

[marionmckay]

Hi all
Wey hey!! we have adhesion and even in an upright position
Went back to basics and cut plasterboard made sure we cleaned the back of the tile. Still used the Bal - success !
I have no idea what all that was about but its worked this time 🙂
It is a L shaped upstand and ceramic tiles
The tiles at the side stuck in was the larger ones at the front that didn’t. We used the same tools that we used for the shower room and the same amount of Bal
There has been some great suggestions here for the future especially the staining of tiles with grey cement
Can I ask what is cement based addy ?
many thanks for all your help
PS...... Ha Ha!! i'm always boasting to folks when I get my birthday wishes email from the tilers forums - they think i'm sad

regards to all

 

[marionmckay]

so when should you use one type as opposed to the other? or is it really just preference?

 

[Dougs Third Go]

so when should you use one type as opposed to the other? or is it really just preference?

dispersion's ok(ish) for the likes of a kitchen splashback with ceramic tiles that are not large format.Personally I try and steer away from the stuff although the buckets can come in handy.

 

[Dan]

dispersion's ok(ish) for the likes of a kitchen splashback with ceramic tiles that are not large format.Personally I try and steer away from the stuff although the buckets can come in handy.

I used to love the buckets! Had 20 or so at times.

 

[Spare Tool]

I used to love the buckets! Had 20 or so at times.

Used to do a lot of commercial work fixing 6x6 whites in gyms, sometimes would clean and take home 50 buckets off 1 job, ain't done that work for a couple of years, bet I'm down to my last 10 buckets in the shed, where do they all go..