Concrete floor tile adhesive not sticking!

[TheWife]

Tiled kitchen floor, floor was concrete and used Unibonds concrete floor tile adhesive but it doesnt seem to stick them. Any suggestions?
I have at least 6 that need to come up again and it has only been down a week. Any recommendations on adhesives for concrete without having to take up the lot (PINK GRIPFILL?).

 

[Jasonb]

What joint is failing? adhesive to floor or adhesive to tile

If the latter then you either had dusty tiles or the adhesive had been spread for too long and formed a skin. If the first then either the adhesive wasn't spread well, should be spread with the smooth side then pull the notch across. What size notch trowel did you use? were the tiles touching the adhesive all over?

Jason

 

[p.pittstop]

what type of tile are they, ceramic,quarry,porcelain ect. because the adhesive may be the wrong type for the tiles.

 

[TheWife]

White Ceramic Tiles.
Floor was washed and dried tiles were brand new.
Didn't spread all over, made pads.

 

[p.pittstop]

that is a big mistake on floors. you need to get 100% coverage with your adhesive. dot and dab is not acceptable in tiling especially on floors. the british standard for coverage of adhesive on walls in minimum 50% in dry internal areas, in wet areas it is 100% , and 100% on floors.

 

[TheWife]

Wow....Thx for that. I didn't know.

Noted for future reference.

What's the theory behind this standard?

Also, just reseated them....The ones we redone the adhesive was still wet when lifted and these were put down a week ago.

 

[Jasonb]

Another reason to use powdered adhesive not the premixed ones, they always take much longer to set than it says on the tin.

Jason

 

[p.pittstop]

go to your local tile shop and ask for a rapid setting adhesive. this will set in 3 hours. as for the standard everything we do has a standard e.g. the british kite mark represents something has been approved by a govening body, to british standards, as for tiling we have the british standards BS 5980 to BS 5985.

 

[robthetiler]

I know this may sound obvious but get a professional! The sheds do well from selling ready mixed everything. If you are unsure go to your local tile outlet, they are usually happy to give advise and be even more pleased if you buy the stuff from them! Good luck.