To back-skim or not to back-skim?

[Ian]

Why Dan?

I think Dan was referring to back skimming mosaics only, not the other tile types

 

[bugs183]

in theory you'd back butter all tiles, ceramics can absorb any moisture quickly and therefore could debond, and porcelain doesn't absorb anything and could debond too because you are totally relying on the polymers in the adhesive to stick to the tile, bit of a weird one when you think look at it.
I tend to back butter all porcelain, big, small, walls and floors, just to be on the safe side. As for ceramics, i don't back butter walls as a rule, but it is a good idea to back butter floors and wet areas, as there is a mechanical key to the tile when buttering, and it means you have fresh adhesive touching adhesive when the tile is fixed to the floor.
It doesn't take to long to do, and a belt and braces approach is better than going back to sort problems

 

[Brad]

Thanks Bugs. Good thread. I would imagine tho that if the PORCELAIN tile is small or the the wall/tile is straight and not bowed, that back-skimming would suffice as opposed to back-buttering?

 

[swanman]

Back butter every thing

ALWAYS

 

[Brad]

don't think it's always necessary to back BUTTER everything. back SKIM.....yes.