Adhesive between tiles?

[spoony]

I am in the middle of having my bathroom tiled so tiles are up but not yet grouted. Forgive the silly question, but should tile adhesive be visible between the tiles where there is no grout?

My floor tiles show what looks like a notched adhesive line, however with the wall tiles, in some places I can see the jackoboard - I think I know the answer...dot and dab, but just wanted to make sure.

 

[Flintstone]

Hello, Pictures would help here.

 

[spoony]

The lighting is out at the moment so a bit hard to show but with the floor (wood effect tile) I can see no orange ditra matting, however with the walls I can see the green plasterboard and the black jackoboard

 

[Flintstone]

Difficult to say, if you can see the background on almost every joint then they will be dot and dabbed, if it’s the odd row of joints here and there, it could be where the Tiler has strayed to a point then serated again after fixing the first amount of tiles, etc

 

[spoony]

I can see it on most. I can also get a wooden skewers a good few inches down the top tiles (trim not in place yet) and near the niche I can put a skewer completely behind (see pics) where blue shows the skewer.

 

[Flintstone]

I would say it’s most likely they are dot and dabbed. Try and pull one off with your hands see what happens.

 

[spoony]

I will ask the tiler outright (too scared to rip one off!)

Assuming it is, what are the implications of this? The floor tiles seem 'correct' which is my main concern given cracking etc. What risks are there with dot and dabbing ceramic wall tiles (especially in a shower?)

I've read about British Standards but what does that mean? Is this a regulation (ie law) or a quality standard?

I'm trying to understand where I stand with the tiler. He seems like a good chap, over 20 yrs experience abroad, so I'm wondering whether he is used to older methods or standards outside the UK?

 

[GoneGuy]

It looks like the walls are dot and dabbed, best way is to pull one off and have a look. If not get the tiler to do it! If they are dot and dabbed get him to re do the walls as there is a chance of a tile(s) falling off and seriously hurting someone

 

[Andy Allen]

Do they sound hollow when you tap them.

 

[spoony]

Do they sound hollow when you tap them.

The sound alters across them. I'm pretty confident it is dot and dab as I have run my skewer around all the edges and there is no adhesive for a good few inches of the edges and corners.

 

[spoony]

I'm about to go back to the tiler and request, at the very least, the tiles in the shower area are redone with correct coverage (the walls are half height ceramic so as a compromise I may accept these as is).

One final Question: I appreciate if a wall is not level you might need to bed out a bit, but what is an acceptable amount? The tiles seem to be up to 1cm away from the wall in some areas (this is where the trim will be and the trim is 10mm)

 

[Flintstone]

Those tiles are dot and dabbed, a lot on to paint. That is terrible work! They will pull off with your hands very easily, give it a go

 

[GoneGuy]

Pull one off, you will be surprised how easy it will come off, now imagine someone being hurt by one popping off! It needs to be re done

 

[spoony]

They are on quite firmly but no doubt I can pull them off and there are big voids.

Message sent to tiler and awaiting his response.

*Tiler says walls are not straight and 80-90% coverage is being achieved*. My skewer disagrees !

 

[GoneGuy]

No way is that 80-90 % coverage.
To prove it tell him to take a tile off

 

[spoony]

No way is that 80-90 % coverage.
To prove it tell him to take a tile off

Originally admitted it was spot fixed and when I shared TTA link,then said it was not.

I've said exactly that - let's take a couple of tiles off together and see whether we have blobs or trowel marks.

Many thanks for the advice here. If he is not willing to redo then I will be looking for a new tiler.

On a separate Q, what tile brands would the experts here recommend? I want whatever goes up to last and I see many of you won't work (understandably) with poor products.

 

[GoneGuy]

Bct ( British ceramic tile ) sold in most diy stores are of bad quality, I try and avoid fitting these.

 

[Flintstone]

Your best off finding a mid range porcelain tile from your local tile shop, rather than diy centre, in my opinion. I have refused a British ceramic tile job only last week, and told them to buy a better tile, plenty of choice out there without breaking the bank

 

[spoony]

Your best off finding a mid range porcelain tile from your local tile shop, rather than diy centre, in my opinion. I have refused a British ceramic tile job only last week, and told them to buy a better tile, plenty of choice out there without breaking the bank

Thanks. Any particular brands to keep an eye out for? Eg I've seen a lot of Troy in B&Q. Then I've seen Porcelanosa and Fired Earth. I don't mind paying for good quality , it's just tricky working out what is quality and what is just paying for the name

 

[Dumbo]

Avoid diy stores just go to a proper tile shop something like ctd

 

[spoony]

Avoid diy stores just go to a proper tile shop something like ctd

Thanks, will check out CTD

 

[Dumbo]

Thanks, will check out CTD

Don't know where you are in southeast but there is also hants tile warehouse in Aldershot,uckfield,London and brighton who are very good

 

[spoony]

Don't know where you are in southeast but there is also hants tile warehouse in Aldershot,uckfield,London and brighton who are very good

Cheers. I'm Kent

 

[spoony]

Tiler swears they are not dot and dabbed.....picture suggests otherwise!

I've now pulled the whole lot down and removed tiler after he refused to redo.

I just want to say a big thanks to @Chris_32 , @Del W and @Simon Dale , all of whom have taken the time to talk to me and even visit to inspect all the work.

 

[Del W]

Oh dear, sorry to see that. Thanks for the mention.

 

[spoony]

Now I am back to the plywood (which tiler says is not plumb) what is the best way to get a flat, straight wall? Would you ever use adhesive to stick cement board to the plywood (allowing you to make the wall plumb)?

...Or is that silly and is the answer to rip back to the studwork and correct from there?