Tiling onto ply and Aquapanel

[Toffer62]

Hi, complete newbie to tiling here and not actually planning on DIY.

I've had a bathroom rebuilt and the guy who did it is going to tile it as well. He has asked to me to get the tiles I want and the adhesive but preferably not from any of the DIY stores (why?). I've been into a few tile places and seen some nice porcelain tiles but I keep getting conflicting advice on what adhesive to use. I can't ask the builder as he's now in Lanzarote for two weeks (am I paying him too much??) and there seems to be a hundred different products! My tiles are about 400x250 I think and I have two walls where the bath/shower and sink are going, lined with Aquapanel. The other two are 18mm WPB ply. Will I need to buy two different adhesives and will anything need doing to the ply before he tiles it. I would like him to get started as soon as he gets back so I really need to have the right stuff.

Thanks.

 

[wetdec]

We talking walls only ye ?

A powdered flexi will do you for porcelain, ply is not the best substrate to work over. Have you got a wet area / shower

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[Toffer62]

Blimey that was quick.

Thanks for the reply Yes there is a shower over the bath and the walls there are Aquapanel. The two ply walls will have a towel radiator and some cupboards and shelves on but no wet areas. The floor will not be tiled.

 

[wetdec]

Then flexi powdered should do you, Dave will pass through shortly I would think no doubt he can tell you better about the ply area we never go near it.............

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[grumpygrouter]

I agree with Wetdecs here. Ply is not the best substrate for a bathroom, wet area or not. Moisture in the atmosphere and changes in temp can make the ply move quite a lot.

If you do go ahead then make sure it is fixed very well and that you have plenty of ventilation. A normal single part flexy adhesive would be ok but better in my opinion with a two part adhesive that has a latex additive with it.

 

[Toffer62]

OK, thanks for the info. I'm a bit worried about the ply now. Could I ask the builder to cover it with some plasterboard and get him to tile onto that? Also, is there a particular brand of flexi adhesive that you would recommend? I've seen the names BAL and Mapei mentioned quite a lot on the forums and one of the tile places I visited said to use Ardex something or other.

 

[Perry]

do bear in mind if you tile on ply (i hate it on walls i always overboard it if possible) it should be a rapid cement based adhesive ete

 

[Toffer62]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Having read through the forums for a bit it seems that ply is not such a good idea. However it is firmly fixed to the walls now and I cant do much about it. Could I get the builder to overboard it with either plasterboard or something called no more ply? What would be the best?

 

[Perry]

plasterboard or tile backer not no more ply ete

 

[Toffer62]

OK, thanks for all the help and info.