What preperation is needed on this?

[GazLC81]

What preparation is needed on this?

Hi guys!

I am starting my first job tomorrow (seems to have taken an age to come round!) and I need some advice.

The floor I am tiling onto is quite old and I am guessing it is concrete but has a black surface, as if it's been painted. It's the same as in many houses.

What do I need to do in terms of prep for this? Prime?

Cheers
Gaz

 

[DHTiling]

yo gaz mate. this only guess work as obviously cant see floor at face value, but it sounds like it's bitumen coated so then you will have to apply bal bond sbr neat and allow to dry before tiling, check floor for any deviations and level accordingly. good luck with your first job mate and post some pics.. dave...

 

[guy1976]

dh is it ok to just prime bitumen and tile on top? iv always been led to beleive that you had to remove it or board over it

 

[DHTiling]

its like any covering as long as its in sound condition i.e. not loose or flakey etc . will be ok otherwise mechanicly remove.. dave...

 

[guy1976]

cheers

 

[DHTiling]

also if floor is solid asphalt/bitumen floor use modified adhesives and grouts.. you will be able to check if its a solid aspahlt floor by doing a drill test, just drill small hole with a masonary bit and if all residue is black then bingo soild asphalt, small tip, drill test hole next to wall less chance of hitting pipes etc..

 

[GazLC81]

Sorry so long in replying.

Think it is asphalt Dave. The surface is sound and there are a few slight lumpy bits but I can sort with just adhesive I would think.

Do I need to appy bond to this then? SBR? How long to dry?

Cheers
Gaz

 

[DHTiling]

with the asphalt its not porous so it will have air dry as they say , so could take an hr or 2
when dry it has a sligtly takky feal anyway....

 

[GazLC81]

Bloody hell! I didn't get any primer!! Is there a B&Q alternative I can use?

 

[DHTiling]

not that i know of, they just sell unibond and pva. not suitable for asphalt substrate, does your local stockist not open early..

 

[GazLC81]

The closest I know of (topps)is about 20 minutes drive so probably an hour and a half in rush hour. I'll have to see if there is somewhere else. Don't know how I forgot this! I won't do it again mind!

Gaz
----
Well I got up VERY early this morning and was the first customer at Topps.

I asked for some primer for use on asphalt (BAL as told by DHCERAMICS) and they told me that I didn't need it and the adhesive I had bought from them had it built in. Is this right?

Gaz

 

[GazTech]

If it is bal rapid set you can go down without primer ,but wash all dust off the floor first

 

[GazLC81]

The adhesive I am using is not BAL it's the Topps own stuff. Toppfix??

The guys in topps persuaded me to use this instead of BAL so i just took their advice. It seems ok but I don't have much experience of different Adhesives.

Gaz

 

[DHTiling]

alrite gaz mate. my advice stands on asphalt substrates they should be" primed" trust me . toppfix is palace adhesive and only used it couple of times myself i prefer bal brands. thats just my preference..

p.s. you can get away with out priming if your adhesive has priming agents already in it bal flexible is one of those adhesives..

 

[GazTech]

The adhesive I am using is not BAL it's the Topps own stuff. Toppfix??

The guys in topps persuaded me to use this instead of BAL so i just took their advice. It seems ok but I don't have much experience of different Adhesives.

Gaz

If it is in a blue bag don't risk it.Why a Topps member of staff would reccommend this over Bal just astounds me???? not only is it not good enough for asphalt the profit margin isn't as good as Bal,like Dave says use neat balbond primer on the asphalt first to make sure of it and Bal rapid.