London Tile part of sloping ceiling of bathroom with 600x600x10 stone - Tile Advice

[Aitor]

Hi I need a tiler for a specialist job, I’ve seen a few posts here from people with experience doing this kind of thing. My builder can’t find someone to subcontract this to, rather late in the day.

Job is to tile approximately 2.5m2 area of sloping ceiling above bath. The tiles are white Vietnamese crystal marble - “opulent” from Topps Tiles. The substrate as it stands is probably not suitable; he’s put a plaster skim onto aquapanel, then there’s plywood 12mm, screwed into ceiling joists.

There are plenty of adhesives that are both water resistant and really strong - stronger than the tile, so I don’t see the problem other than his tilers have never done it before.

Anyway if you have experience with this kind of job and would like to quote please let me know. Job is in N2 East Finchley / Muswell Hill, London

 

[One Day]

Your main problem is that plaster skim will not take the weight, especially on a ceiling!
As a minimum, you'll need to get fresh suitable board such as wedi / kerdi etc securely fixed to stud or block, then 100% solid bed the stone with quality adhesive AND mechanically fix this using something like the raifix system, which might not even be effective depending on the slope of the ceiling...
Not an easy job by any means and not at all possible with the prep your builder has done.
No matter what you do, no adhesive or board manufacturer will recommend fixing to ceilings so you will be totally reliant on your fixer's experience.

As an alternative you could always just ditch the stone and use a thin porcelain, so you've no weight issues...

 

[Aitor]

Your main problem is that plaster skim will not take the weight, especially on a ceiling!
As a minimum, you'll need to get fresh suitable board such as wedi / kerdi etc securely fixed to stud or block, then 100% solid bed the stone with quality adhesive AND mechanically fix this using something like the raifix system, which might not even be effective depending on the slope of the ceiling...
Not an easy job by any means and not at all possible with the prep your builder has done.
No matter what you do, no adhesive or board manufacturer will recommend fixing to ceilings so you will be totally reliant on your fixer's experience.

As an alternative you could always just ditch the stone and use a thin porcelain, so you've no weight issues...

Thanks for the speedy reply! I’m pretty sure the substrate will have to be redone as taking off the plaster will probably damage the aquapanel and as it is i doubt aquapanel is strong enough, not much stronger than regular plasterboard. I saw some BAL made board (forget name) in Topps Tiles which looked very strong. I’d have thought that that screwed to the joists would do the trick in terms of strength, might need ply or something between it and the joists. I don’t see the need for screws through the tile though.

Fundamentally want someone who has done this before and will follow their advice on the substrate adhesive etc. Which should be their job too.

 

[Sk tiles]

Best bet is to board with hardie backer board then tile full bed using Bal elastometric adhesive from topps tiles or Mapei keraquick 2 part bag and bottle sticks like rubbish to a blanket. All depends on the weight of tiles but should be fine as long as hardie board is serrated properly then tile back buttered then serrated to achieve full coverage and take time to hold tile tile up until it starts to set. Good luck best bet is to contact bal adhesives technical support

 

[Aitor]

Best bet is to board with hardie backer board then tile full bed using Bal elastometric adhesive from topps tiles or Mapei keraquick 2 part bag and bottle sticks like rubbish to a blanket. All depends on the weight of tiles but should be fine as long as hardie board is serrated properly then tile back buttered then serrated to achieve full coverage and take time to hold tile tile up until it starts to set. Good luck best bet is to contact bal adhesives technical support

I got some BAL easy poxy AG but I will go with what the tiler recommends. Not something I can learn to do myself in time!

 

[Sk tiles]

hi mate do not use any ready mix adhesive in tub especially for marble it’s only suitable for small to medium size ceramics on a plumb surface use this very expensive but worth it if you want I can give you my trade account details to use in topps tiles it will save you a lot of money

 

[Aitor]

Isn’t that for floors? This is for bathroom ceiling and so prime need is for strength and water resistance. Thanks for offer of discounts, but there’s no way I can do it myself so am looking for someone to do the job! The BAL easypoxy AG is £50 for 4kg so I will definitely be returning if not suitable!! Anyway, won’t be skimping on materials or labour, just want someone who can do the job properly!

 

[Sk tiles]

Isn’t that for floors? This is for bathroom ceiling and so prime need is for strength and water resistance. Thanks for offer of discounts, but there’s no way I can do it myself so am looking for someone to do the job! The BAL easypoxy AG is £50 for 4kg so I will definitely be returning if not suitable!! Anyway, won’t be skimping on materials or labour, just want someone who can do the job properly!

Yes mate it’s for walls and floors used it on metal grid floors and ceilings sticks like s**t. Best adhesive out there

 

[Sk tiles]

Yes mate it’s for walls and floors used it on metal grid floors and ceilings sticks like s**t. Best adhesive out there

Best bet is to use Mapei keraquick with latex plus as it’s a rapid set

 

[LM]

Thanks for the speedy reply! I’m pretty sure the substrate will have to be redone as taking off the plaster will probably damage the aquapanel and as it is i doubt aquapanel is strong enough, not much stronger than regular plasterboard. I saw some BAL made board (forget name) in Topps Tiles which looked very strong. I’d have thought that that screwed to the joists would do the trick in terms of strength, might need ply or something between it and the joists. I don’t see the need for screws through the tile though.

Fundamentally want someone who has done this before and will follow their advice on the substrate adhesive etc. Which should be their job too.

With this you have dismissed the best advice given to you without researching it, why not take this advice onboard?

 

[One Day]

They may not "see" the need for mechanical fixings, but they may "feel" the need for them! . (BUMP!)

Besides, nobody mentioned screws through tiles. Mechanical fixings are hidden.

 

[LM]

They may not "see" the need for mechanical fixings, but they may "feel" the need for them!

Besides, nobody mentioned screws through tiles. Mechanical fixings are hidden.

Agree completely and hence why I questioned researching your advice. Some people have to learn the hard way!

 

[One Day]

Agree completely and hence why I questioned researching your advice. Some people have to learn the hard way!

Experience can be a painful tutor!

 

[Unused Account 1]

Why do they keep plastering areas to be tiled ,on new substrates