Which way should the adhesive be spread?

[Chris Alderton]

When tiling a shower wall, should the adhesive be spread horizontal or vertical (or does it not matter)?
I remember reading somewhere once that you should spread it horizontal, so in the event that water gets under the tile, it cannot go any further down the back.

I have asked a few tilers about this and the majority have never come across this.
Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions?

 

[Brinkley]

i was taught to screed horizontally in wet areas also taught that it helps keep the tile from slipping

 

[doug boardley]

personally I don't think it matters too much, the idea being that once you place your tiles on the combed adhesive and twist them, the combs will collapse in on themselves and give you a near 100 percent solid bed.

 

[Del W]

Wet or dry walls,horizontal.

 

[Ian]

So long as it's all combed in the same direction to allow any air to pass out, I don't think it makes a difference. I never trowel walls anyway, always trowel the tile (except mosaics, that wouldn't work very well!!!)

 

[suave]

exactly how a was taught at college for the reason uve stated.

 

[Stewart]

Makes no difference to me and can't see the difference to be honest and I always comb the walls, as it's so much quicker imo....


Created on iPhone.....

 

[tommyzooom]

I was taught to comb addy vertically, and it was explained to me that if combed vertically, the addy will support itself somewhat, (like a pillar) but if combed horizontally, it will sag and slip (like a rope). This way you can put slightly more addy on the walls, and/or slightly wetter before it slips.
Either way just comb it all in the same direction (not like an artex ceiling), so the air can escape

 

[Rich]

It really doesnt matter IMO. When you are tiling a floor or wet area, you are trying to achieve 100% coverage of adhesive behind the tile. It is a good idea to back butter the tiles as well as this will help get a good coverage. As has been said above, the tiles should be twisted when they are pushed into the adhesive to flatten the ridges.

 

[Peter]

Didn't realise spreading in quarter circles etc trapped air?

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

i dont think it matter's ,imo you are trying to get full contact between tile back and addy, deffo back butter tile's as well just a very thin coat, but well worked on to tile and substrate