When pulling a tile to check coverage, can you put it straight back on?

[essexsi]

Hi all,

Got some great advice on the 'back buttering' thread, thank you.

I am fixing 600x300 ceramic to a shower wall and will need to check I am getting as close to 100% coverage as possible.

When pulling a tile off to check coverage, can I just put it straight back on? Or do I have to remove the adhesive from the tile and wall and then fix on the wall again ?

Cheers Si

 

[Daveyboy]

Hi essexsi..this is something you will develop with experience and it all depends on how old the adhesive is when you laid that particular tile (i.e. is the mix fresh or nearing the end of its workable life), the room temperature (effects the drying times), how long the tile has been on the wall and how much coverage you had achieved..if the adhesive is fresh, room temperature cool and you put the tile on then took it off straight away and you achieved good coverage..you should be able to put it straight back again, provided it goes back the same way (i.e not upside down) because the adhesive will not pull off the wall equally..if the adhesive is nearing the end of its workable life or if the tile has been on for more than, say, 5 mins, I would scrape the adhesive off the tiles and wall and redo it as the adhesive will have started to dry out/set..if in doubt, always remove the adhesive and redo it...

 

[essexsi]

cheers daveyboy, very good info there mate.

Is it best then to check coverage almost straight away when you have placed the tile on the wall? And then you can reset it straight away if all is ok.

Have been so worried about the size of tiles and getting good coverage in a wet area, was tempted to check every single tile!!

Thanks for your help. Si

 

[Dan]

I can't add to that. 🙂

 

[Daveyboy]

...Is it best then to check coverage almost straight away when you have placed the tile on the wall? And then you can reset it straight away if all is ok....

Again, this is something that will develop with experience..before you start tiling a wall, you should first decide whether you intend to fix the tiles vertically level or follow the vertical line of the wall (which is unlikely to be level)...assuming the wall is vertically level and with no dips or bumps, you should be able to apply an even spread of adhesive onto the wall (back buttering the tiles as appropriate to the chosen type of tile), then place the tile onto the wall and with a gentle twist of the tile, fix it in place. Do this a few times, then take one tile off to check for coverage and if ok, carry on. Don't spread adhesive over a large area of the wall as it will start to dry out quickly and the tile will not bond sufficiently; only spread an area that you can comfortable tile in a few minutes..Alternatively, if you are uncomfortable spreading the adhesive directly onto the wall, back butter the tile then fix it to the wall..The key to both methods is to achieve an even spread of adhesive on the wall/each tile thus achieving consistently good coverage..Assuming the wall is not vertically level and has dips and bumps and it is essential the tiles are vertically level, then you first need to find the true vertical level of the wall..Using a long level, find the most vertical part of the wall that sticks out, move the level until the bubble is vertically level, then study the gap(s) between the wall and the level (you will have to repeat this process a number of times)..The gap(s) is the area that is going to need to be packed out with additional adhesive..You should then fix your first row of tiles, packing out as necessary, recheck your vertical level and if ok, fix the next row..This principle is also applicable to making sure the face of your tiles are also level, ensuring they do not bow in/out with the dips/bumps of the wall..hope this helps!

 

[grumpygrouter]

cheers daveyboy, very good info there mate.

Is it best then to check coverage almost straight away when you have placed the tile on the wall? And then you can reset it straight away if all is ok.

Have been so worried about the size of tiles and getting good coverage in a wet area, was tempted to check every single tile!!

Thanks for your help. Si

If I am wrong in my assumption Si I apologise but if I recall, you are tiling a tanked wall? If so, then the idea of getting 100% coverage in wet areas is to slow the migration of moisture through to your sensitive substrate. if you have tanked then that worry has disappeared and you will suffice with say 70% coverage. Don't go over the top with checking every tile.

 

[essexsi]

Cheers daveyboy, thanks alot for taking the time to reply with such detailed information. It is a shower room job I volunteered for (idiot!), for my sister. I certainly have no intention of pursuing a career in tiling, my search for info for the job really has opened my eyes as to the things tilers have to consider before even fixing a tile on the wall!!! I just want to make sure the job I do is a good one and I do things correctly.

Yes Grumpy you have assumed correctly! I will indeed be tanking with WP1 floor and walls. You have helped on all my posts and I really appreciate it.

I have been asking ALOT of questions and the info I have received on this forum will, I am sure, help me do a good job. Hopefully! I am lucky that I can take my time and have no real time constraints or demanding customers looking over my shoulder!!

All the best Si