Large Chinese Tiles

[TREKKY]

Just been to look at a bathroom. Customer wants all walls floor to ceiling, about 25 meters in all in 600 x 300 ceramic tile, vertical brick pattern. The tiles are about 10 mm thick the biscuit is white and very powdery on the back. They look as if they are soft and will be easy to cut, and the makers name has lots of zeds and ys in it so I assume they're made in China. There'e 5.5 tiles to the square metre and after putting one on their bathroom scales I found they weigh 7 and a half pounds each!!, thats 3.4 kilos in euro speak, making 18.7 kilos per metre. Now my question of you guys is what would you stick them up with? The palster is in excellent shape, all solid walls no stud work but I would hate for one of these puppies to fall off especially as they have 2 small kids, doesn't bear thinking about. Is tub gear up to this or rapid set bag stuff. Any recommendations please.

 

[guy1976]

powder gear those tiles are to big for tubbed rapid set or normal set your choice,prime the plaster first with acrilic primer before fixing

 

[grumpygrouter]

Got to be bagged stuff at that size! Need to prime the plaster as well as Guy says.

Grumpy

 

[DHTiling]

seen as the tiles have a powdery residue on the back..then i would back-skim them to get good adhesion.......

 

[TREKKY]

Thanks Guy, that's about what I was thinking. BAL APD all over first. Orrible things they are very powdery backs and very square sharp edges on em i hope theyre all the same size when they come out of the boxes.
----
Good advice Dave thanks for that, I always wipe the backs down but back skimming can only help.

 

[guy1976]

Thanks Guy, that's about what I was thinking. BAL APD all over first. Orrible things they are very powdery backs and very square sharp edges on em i hope theyre all the same size when they come out of the boxes.

i wouldnt hold your breath on them all being the same size.:huh2:

 

[Burnsy]

Bagged definately, standard setting.

 

[DHTiling]

And that's back-skim not back butter......just a light coat of sticky on the back( cement based ) to aid in adhesion with those large tiles mate...large notch trowel as well.....

 

[Grace'sDad]

If the walls are a bit wonky, I've found using a floor trowel helps.

 

[MICK the Tiler]

I know these tiles, rectified edge pretty crumby glaze and have plastic tile edge protectors around them in the box. would use a 10mm notched trowell for the walls and use a white glue powder bag mix. I sponge down the back of every tile before fixing as the biscuit on these tiles sucks the moisture out real quick only glue up about 1m2 at a time and you might have to do some packing work to minimise lipping. Prime your walls also.

Another point to make the client aware of is we've had problems with these tiles down here especially in shower cubicles sucking up excess water and turning a greyish hue nothing can be done about it as sealing does'nt seem to work so maybe using the white powder bag adhesive will give the best chance of success.

 

[GazTech]

BAL Prime APD

A modified acrylic polymer dispersion for use as a primer for a variety of backgrounds/bases prior to fixing ceramic tiles, mosaics and natural stone and prior to the application of levelling compound and the BAL WP1 TANKING SYSTEM. BAL PRIME APD isolates products containing calcium sulphate such as gypsum plaster and anhydrite screeds from cement-based adhesives, thus minimising the risk of reaction between the two materials.

Also suitable for use on cement:sand rendering, blockwork, plasterboard, cement:sand screeds and timber. It also provides surface strength to friable surfaces and reduces the porosity of porous backgrounds/bases, thus preventing the formation of air bubbles and prolonging the flow time with levelling compounds and extending the open time of tile adhesives. The primer is blue in colour to help ensure that a complete and even coating is obtained.
BAL Single Part Flexible

A flexible, non-slip, water-resistant and frost-resistant wall and floor tile adhesive, especially suitable for fixing tiles, including fully vitirfied and porcelain tiles to low porosity backgrounds/bases. Suitable for use on concrete/brick/block walling, cement:sand rendering, plaster, plasterboard, cement sheets, tile backer boards, concrete bases, cement:sand screeds, plywood overlay, ceramic/quarry tile/terrazzo/hard natural stone, vinyl tiles/sheet bases, mastic asphalt. Conforms to BS EN 12004, Type C, Class 2T.

 

[Pawelzik]

Another point to make the client aware of is we've had problems with these tiles down here especially in shower cubicles sucking up excess water and turning a greyish hue nothing can be done about it as sealing does'nt seem to work so maybe using the white powder bag adhesive will give the best chance of success.

We had the same problem in Germany with these far east material and made several tests. White adhesive didn´t give any advantages, as it is - as you said - the water that runs through the tile material and is captured under the glaze and makes the tile look greyish. This effect repeats esp. in showers where the tiles are often wet. We also didn´t find a secure method to prevent this effect, neither by back buttering nor by any primers (after all, with these pre-works the tile comes more expensive than a quality tile). The water finds it´s way and therefore it is a matter of the tile material. Martin

 

[MICK the Tiler]

Interesting Martin, Well it's certainly not the fixers fault then more like inferior quality only ever happens in showers with excess water takes about 6-9months to show through, the chinese have even tried to change the packagging several times down here to try and throw us fixers off the i'm not laying that cr*p attitude when faced with the older style boxes. Underneath it all the poor quality remains. That quality must be acceptable in China though. I try and steer clients away from them now, but they still seem to go for the look. I'll lay them as long as they aren't in a shower recess.

 

[Pawelzik]

... I try and steer clients away from them now, but they still seem to go for the look. I'll lay them as long as they aren't in a shower recess.

You´re right, Mick, and my clients do so too.

 

[TREKKY]

The customer has bought 25 metres of these tiles, I've only seen one which they had in the bathroom I've got to go back today with a quote and will look at the others in their packaging so will write down the full name see if it rings any bells with anyone. Thay are also going into a shower cubicle which doesn't sound good.

 

[MICK the Tiler]

Hi Trekky,

The best approch here would be to point the clients to this very post, If I've had trouble all the way down here in OZ and Pawelzik has had prob up there in Germany this tells me that the problem could be in all countries that import these particular tiles. Get them to PM me if they have any concerns and I will gladly send them my email address and mobile number for them to ring me direct. For the sake of 100 quid more they ciuld purchase quality materials that are tried and tested and meet the standards that clients require to proform an adequate task. Then pain of these tiles will only become obvious some time down the line after they become water logged and you'll get the first call of complaint to have to rectify. Something that your reputaion would not need.

I only got caught out the once. Trying to save you the same fate.

Cheers Mick.

 

[TREKKY]

Thanks Mick I will see the customer later today and update on the exact make etc. of tile. Problem is people are attracted by the low cost of the tile without looking at the quality and durability issues later down the line.

 

[MICK the Tiler]

I've laid plenty of Chinese tiles without incident and in general they are good value for money,but if they are indeed the particular tiles in question you don't want to be caught with your gaurd down.

Post a pic if you can, of the box the tile, front and back and we will go from there. Your mobile phone cam would do the job.