Tubbed ..... again..

[dboden]

You will see me on here more and more.. learning more each week, and keeping at it.
I have quite a few kitchensplash / bathrooms to do in student accommodation (shower only in bathrooms)
I normally just use powder gear, but was thinking of using tubbed.. as CTD has Bal Greenstar on offer.. And it seems quite appealing, (as its tidier)
How many of you would use this, for this?
A simple vote, and any horror stories welcome. I know a lot of people are against using tubbed, and I know it has its place! but will be keen to hear you back it up.

ps, white brick sized ceramics throughout, onto plasterboard, and new plaster.

Cheers.

 

[cam_low]

Its expensive compared to tubbed. I never use it.

 

[Diggy]

Greenstar is good as a hop up , wouldnt tile with it tho myself , skins over , trowels badly.
As tubbed stuff goes 2 of the contractors I sub to supply me with Biscem showerproof. Don't know what it's long term durability is like, but as a working material I find it one of the best out there.
Use CTF4 on my work tho.

Diggy :+)

 

[The D]

its ok for kitchens and domestic showers

 

[AliGage]

Greenstar is unsuitable for wetareas.

 

[dboden]

Even tho it says.. "n For domestic areas including showers/kitchens/bathrooms" on technical data sheet.

 

[AliGage]

It certainly wasn't advised (on the tub) for wet areas last time I used it. Was a while ago mind.

 

[AliGage]

Fair play. Depends how you interpret "intermittently wet". Personally, any shower running from a pressurised supply of hot and cold makes the shower area a heavy use area. Put a family in there using it and its not so intermittently wet really.
If I had to use tubbed gear I'd at least opt for White star. But would more likely go with Grip.

 

[The D]

Intermittently wet areas (e.g. domestic showers/kitchens/bathrooms) apposed to total immersion areas (e.g. swimming pools)

 

[AliGage]

Family of Four, each have a shower, it's a huge amount of water. Use what you like, just saying I wouldn't.

 

[The D]

Family of Four, each have a shower, it's a huge amount of water. Use what you like, just saying I wouldn't.

it is still Intermittently wet not total immersion and the tiles are 100 by 200 so no problem. what exactly is your issue with it??

 

[widler]

With being on here a few years and watching,a few posters bitched about tubbed and the sheep followed,giving it a bad name .
When I was doing council reverbs it was tubbed in kitchens and bathrooms, all with showers,I'd say I did about 2000 ,no problems in any to my or the contractors knowledge .
I still use it in kitchens and showers if I'm not supplying

 

[Stef]

I wouldn't have a problem using tubbed adhesive with that size of tile.
I wouldn't use green star in the shower though, switch to white star.
Green star is a D1 adhesive that will break down with water, white star is a D2 that won't.
I've used hundreds of tubs of Bal tubbed addy over the years without problem.
We even used to fit 500x250mm tiles with it, it's not the done thing but we were subbied to a company & that's what they used for years.
I don't use a lot of tubbed now purely down to cost.
You will get 2 tubs out of a bag of adhesive & the price CTD are doing green star just now will cost you more money.

 

[stusgsx]

I use tubbed where I can. Not cheap stuff though always Bal white star or grip which are both suitable in wet areas. Never had an issue. Shouldn't be used with porcelain but have used it on 10x10's in kitchens and it sticks rock hard. Only time I will use powder on small tiles is if I need to grout same day. Obviously I'm talking about walls only!

 

[Rookery]

Loads of new build bathrooms and social housing re-furbs use tubbed. I'm not a fan of green star so on the odd occasion I choose to use use tubbed, ie splashbacks, I use white star as its better to work with and only a fiver dearer.

 

[peterwhayward]

I use tubbed where I can. Not cheap stuff though always Bal white star or grip which are both suitable in wet areas. Never had an issue. Shouldn't be used with porcelain but have used it on 10x10's in kitchens and it sticks rock hard. Only time I will use powder on small tiles is if I need to grout same day. Obviously I'm talking about walls only!

Whats the "grip" you are talking about?.

 

[stusgsx]

It's just Bals word for anti slip. Used to be horrible stuff really stiff but now lovely and creamy nice to work with.

 

[AliGage]

it is still Intermittently wet not total immersion and the tiles are 100 by 200 so no problem. what exactly is your issue with it??

See Stefs reply.
As far as i have always been aware both green and blue star tubbed was NOT recommended for wetareas containing a power shower. A mixer valve running off a pressurised cylinder or a combi boiler, technically makes it a power shower.
Now no, you're right its not submerged in water, but taking regular useage into consideration and the sheer volume of water used per shower i wouldn't be using it.
Most common brands do a waterproof, ready mixed adhesive suitable for modern day shower rooms. BAL's Green Star is not it.

 

[dboden]

Thanks all, this post has helped me make my decision..
It seems if I was to use tubbed on this job, only use the top end stuff, fair point.
Its then doesn't make financial sense, so powder wins again.
Thanks

 

[AliGage]

Powder always wins. Cheaper by far mate.

 

[Stef]

Here's what it states on the tubs,

These have been lying in my outhouse for a while.
When I do use tubbed I only use White star in a shower as I've stated it's the only D2 addy out of the 3 that won't break down when in contact with water.

 

[prceramics]

think it might say if used in a shower you need waterproof grout

 

[AliGage]

Yep. Tanking wouldn't prevent the breakdown of the adhesive when wet though.
Could tank the wall and use epoxy grout. But if you were willing to fork out for all that why would you be using a ready mixed adhesive anyway!?

 

[prceramics]

To me tubbed is only good for a splashback or if you have no means to mix up

 

[Qwerty]

Yep. Tanking wouldn't prevent the breakdown of the adhesive when wet though.
Could tank the wall and use epoxy grout. But if you were willing to fork out for all that why would you be using a ready mixed adhesive anyway!?

Most manufacturers state only cement adhesive to be used on tanking. I tank all wet areas so never use tubbed, and don't like the "feel" when troweling so steer clear

 

[Andy Allen]

I've gone back to revamp bathrooms I tiled 25years ago all we used then was tubbed gear the old bal wall stuff in a blue tub.....and there a bloody nightmare to get off even after all these years..

 

[Brian the Tile]

So for all you saying dont use tubbed, I use it on most of my jobs ( am I wrong in doing so)? !been using tubbed adhesive since bal tad came on the scene with no problems, If you do the job right in the first place how does the water get to the adhesive? , just asking, and I suppose you alluse full waterproof grout ie epoxy resin as normal grout is only water resistant, come on chaps get real, if you dont like tubbed fair enough

 

[prceramics]

What about if the tile size is not suitable for tubbed

 

[m3fitter]

doesn't green star reactivate with water, sure it does, as the last time I used it, we cleaned the dried buckets up with hot water... to use for grout.. ! that tells me that, water + green star is a no no, as I've reactivated the adhesive after its dry with water.. its not rocket science

tub mix is for small format either waterproof or non waterproof

as a rule use powder mix, most of our jobs these days are not suitable for tub mix

 

[Qwerty]

So for all you saying dont use tubbed, I use it on most of my jobs ( am I wrong in doing so)? !been using tubbed adhesive since bal tad came on the scene with no problems, If you do the job right in the first place how does the water get to the adhesive? , just asking, and I suppose you alluse full waterproof grout ie epoxy resin as normal grout is only water resistant, come on chaps get real, if you dont like tubbed fair enough

My simple reply to this Brian is.....I tank every bath & shower area

 

[The D]

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