Lime free tile adhesive - Tile Advice

[Jim Jeff]

Hello, I am seeking advice please.
I have a small tiled balcony on the roof of the conservatory at the back of my house.

Hello, I am seeking advice please.
I have a small tiled balcony on the roof of the conservatory at the back of my house.
The balcony floor is timber covered with fibre glass matting, then tiled on top.
The tiles are not grouted (they were layed too close to each other) neither is it a weatherproof seal between the tiles and the roof of the house.
So the rain passes easily under the tiles (no leaks due to the fibre glass matt) and runs out over the glass roof panels. This is where the problem arises. I believe that the rain water picks up lime from the adhesive which then runs out and dries on to the glass leaving a limescale residue that can only be shifted with wire wool, carefully.
I want ot remove the existing tiles and adhesive and re-tile using a lime free adhesive n order to solve this problem.
Can you suggest an adhesive that would fit the bill please?
Many thanks,
Jim

 

[Ajax123]

Firstly, sadly no such thing exists. The "lime" is probably not lime from the adhesive. It's more likely to be calcium hydroxide which is one of many reaction products of cement and could be from the adhesive or any cement in the balcony base. These also include various other calcium compounds as well. I'm not aware of any "lime" free adhesives that would be suitable outside. I would think a better option would be to seal the wall to balcony junction and use a waterproof grout eg epoxy grout and perhaps a sealer.

 

[Ajax123]

Looking at the image it could also be from the lead flashing...

 

[Jim Jeff]

Firstly, sadly no such thing exists. The "lime" is probably not lime from the adhesive. It's more likely to be calcium hydroxide which is one of many reaction products of cement and could be from the adhesive or any cement in the balcony base. These also include various other calcium compounds as well. I'm not aware of any "lime" free adhesives that would be suitable outside. I would think a better option would be to seal the wall to balcony junction and use a waterproof grout eg epoxy grout and perhaps a sealer.

Thanks for your reply. The calcium hydroxide must be coming from the adhesive as there is no concrete in the balcony base, it is glass fibre matting over tarmac, over timber.
Just checking, is there an adhesive that doesn't contain calcium hydroxide?
Last thought. would the sealer withstand scuffing from chairs on the balcony please?
Many thanks for your time,
Jim

 

[Jim Jeff]

Looking at the image it could also be from the lead flashing...

It isn't from the flashing, it runs out under the tiles from above the flashing.

 

[Ajax123]

Trouble is non cement based adhesives wont be suitable for external

 

[Jim Jeff]

Trouble is non cement based adhesives wont be suitable for external

O.K. Thanks.

 

[Kevbos]

Please contribute to this thread if you have any new information or can even just reiterate what has been said already.

Hello, I am seeking advice please.
I have a small tiled balcony on the roof of the conservatory at the back of my house. View attachment 124299
Hello, I am seeking advice please.
I have a small tiled balcony on the roof of the conservatory at the back of my house.
The balcony floor is timber covered with fibre glass matting, then tiled on top.
The tiles are not grouted (they were layed too close to each other) neither is it a weatherproof seal between the tiles and the roof of the house.
So the rain passes easily under the tiles (no leaks due to the fibre glass matt) and runs out over the glass roof panels. This is where the problem arises. I believe that the rain water picks up lime from the adhesive which then runs out and dries on to the glass leaving a limescale residue that can only be shifted with wire wool, carefully.
I want ot remove the existing tiles and adhesive and re-tile using a lime free adhesive n order to solve this problem.
Can you suggest an adhesive that would fit the bill please?
Many thanks,
Jim

It looks like your lead needed patent oil !as this will happen to any lead that gets weathered that has not been patented ! Also grout the tiles !!

 

[Jim Jeff]

Please contribute to this thread if you have any new information or can even just reiterate what has been said already.

Please contribute to this thread if you have any new information or can even just reiterate what has been said already.

It looks like your lead needed patent oil !as this will happen to any lead that gets weathered that has not been patented ! Also grout the tiles !!

All good advice thanks. I intend to re tile and these will be grouted. Thanks again.