B & Q Readymixed Floor Tile Adhesive

[daveshades]

B&Q tile products are definately for DIY'ers not for pros. I have seen it a few times in the showroom where customers buy a nice tile but not the adhesive, then go to one of the big DIY stores to by the materials to stick them down with. Then they end up coming back to us a few weeks later wondering why their tiles are lifting! The big DIY chains can't offer the right advice either, they are not specialists in any paticular area. Unfortuniately they do more harm than good to the industry.

 

[devonmark]

I know of a tiler local to me who tiled a whole bathroom in a day with b&q gunge, got a phone call the following day saying that all but 8 tiles had fell down, he hadn't grouted...got the manager or someone from b&q to have a look and they decided that it was a bad batch, they have agreed to pay for the tiling to be redone and a new and installed shower tray. This was 2 wks ago..

 

[sjorlo]

I've just had a response from B & Q after they've had one of the tiles tested. They said (amongst other things) the adhesive was laid too thickly and should be laid to a max of 4mm (is this correct? Doesn't sound very thick to me). Best bit is the trowel used was a B & Q own brand trowel with 9mm notches and on their website it states - "Notch size ideal for floors"!!!!! They are now coming back to me - again!

 

[IGTiling]

Personally I would never use tubbed adhesive for floors and especially DIY stores own. The adhesive is absolute rubbish and I would, and have refused to do a job where the customer has supplied sub-standard materials such as these.
If B&Q are willing to entertain your complaint then I would pursue them and I certainly would not allow your original "tiler" back into the property.

 

[Olz]

They said (amongst other things) the adhesive was laid too thickly and should be laid to a max of 4mm (is this correct? Doesn't sound very thick to me). Best bit is the trowel used was a B & Q own brand trowel with 9mm notches and on their website it states - "Notch size ideal for floors"!!!!! They are now coming back to me - again!

What does it say on the side of the tub?

 

[sjorlo]

It says not to lay the adhesive any thicker than 3mm.

 

[Olz]

IMO you need to get the tiler back, point out to him that he should have known better than to use the adhesive at the thickness, and that he hasnt allowed anywhere near enough time for it to set prior to grouting.

I dont know what the conversation was between you and him in respect of the adhesive but to be honest the majority myself included would have pointed out to you that the adhesive was rubbish and explained why, got you to take it back and supplied you with a suitable adhesive most likley at less cost.

 

[sjorlo]

Best bit is, they told me what to buy! Had I tiled the floor myself (I really wish I had) I would have done the research and bought the most suitable product for the job, which is why the wall tiles are still up and look spot on (I decided to do them myself after I saw the job they did on the floor) but when someone who professes to be a tiler tells you what adhesive to get, then (rightly or wrongly) you go with that.

 

[Olz]

Get the tiler back, get him to rip them up (that hasnt come up already) and put them right mate.

 

[Colour Republic]

Best bit is, they told me what to buy! Had I tiled the floor myself (I really wish I had) I would have done the research and bought the most suitable product for the job, which is why the wall tiles are still up and look spot on (I decided to do them myself after I saw the job they did on the floor) but when someone who professes to be a tiler tells you what adhesive to get, then (rightly or wrongly) you go with that.

So the tiler suggested the choice of adhesive?

 

[sjorlo]

Yep! "Get tubs of readymixed adhesive and grout".

 

[Colour Republic]

Yep! "Get tubs of readymixed adhesive and grout".

Blimey! So not only did he spec B&Q but also went so far as suggesting ready mixed addy and grout!!! As has already been mentioned on here a thousand times, NO pro tiler would spec premixed addy and grout.

Sometimes you will get customers that have supplied their own materials and even if you point out that the product is flawed, sometimes the customer will insist you use it. Now in this case what the customer wants, the customer gets. But I’m sure I speak for the majority on here that if the job is done with such materials, that we wouldn't offer any sort of guarantee

The majority of floors would require more than 3mm of adhesive, you would only get away with 3mm on the flattest of sub-floors, that said if it does state maximum thickness on the tub, I’m afraid that the ball is firmly back in the tilers (I use that term loosely) court. I have a feeling that the guy is not a tiler and you already know this as alarm bells should have rung when a) he asked you to get the materials yourself and b) he asked you to buy a trowel as well! A tiler without a trowel is a bit like a painter without paint! By the way even though the trowel was 9mm (if used correctly) once the tiles had been laid it would leave an adhesive bed of between 4-5mm.

Was this guy just doing some odd jobs around your house and said he could tile the floor for you? or is he advertising as a tiler?

 

[RodgerQ]

interesting read. any updates on the situation sjorlo.

i would also now have to agree that it is the the guy who did the tiling who is at fault here for firstly suggesting a ready mix for a floor and secondly applying it incorrectly and outwith the manufacturers instructions.

rodgerq

 

[nybor62]

the blame is firmly with your tiler, stupid for recomending the adhesive in the first place ,&even more stupid he dont have the sense to follow the instructions
which b&q will no doubt use against you , hope you resolve this

 

[mikethetile]

this thread is from march 09

so it will have been resoved one way or another

 

[StevenBarn]

Hi Folks, I hear you loud and clear that the tubs are a complete mistake for floors but is the readymix addy ok for walls.?

I was told "tubs for walls", "bag of self mix for floors". Do you agree with that and if so, is the 'unibond readymix tub for showers and wetrooms etc' any good? Also, is there a bag self mix for walls, or is it only made for floors? And can you use the floor bag mix for walls? Thanks for your help, Steven

 

[kilty55]

hi steven personally i would stay away from the tubbed adhesives completely,thay are limited in what you can use them for

find a good quality flexible powdered adhesive something like mapei keraquik or keraflex maxi available in grey or white will cover you for a lot of your jobs

the maxi has the added benefit of a deeper bed and is slower setting

 

[StevenBarn]

Hi Kilty, Thanks for such a quick response! When you say it has the benefit of a deeper bed, do you mean that you can apply it thicker? Also, what is the benefit of a slower setting; is that in case of slip etc. so you can make adjustments? Thanks again, this forum is a real help.

 

[kilty55]

hi steve,yes say for example your wall was bowed and not straight...you will need to straighten the wall tiling bay packing out your tiles with a deeper bed of adhesive to solve this....
benefits of a slow setting yes you have time to adjust etc,and doesnt go off in the bucket as quick catching you out etc

 

[Nick DeCianti]

I just wouldnt go near this stuff on a wall or floor its CR*P quite frankly and B&Q should put all the work right using a cement based adhesive. PVA is not really the right product to use but a good adhesive from Mapei or Ardex would have stuck solid to a floor well prepared. Get them back mate sharpish!!

 

[StevenBarn]

Thanks Guys, will take on board your advice. All the best, S.

 

[Brinkley]

hi i find slow setting adhesives a bit slow but my current addy is mapei kerraquick it willlastfor half an hour mixed where as a slow set will last for up to 5 hours be aware that with a slow setting adhesive grouting is not advised within 24 hours

 

[Dan]

Just bumping some of the older popular (sometimes not so popular) threads. Probably wont be current discussion these days but I just need to do it. So just ignore the thread if it's not current for you.