porcelain tiles

[larold]

Have just bought a stack of 600 x 300 porcelain tiles as we intend to fully retile our bathroom including floor, walls and shower.
After carrying them to the car, I realised how heavy they are and wondered if they would be suitable for our walls. After searching on max tile weights I see that max 20k/m is recommended for skimmed pasterboard, or 32k/m for unskimmed plasterboard. These tiles weighed 20kg per box (0.9m) so they are about 22kg/m. Most of my walls are skimmed plasterboard on stud partition, with the shower area being skimmed plasterboard on block wall, so I guess I'm a bit stuffed, am I? What would you recommend? Do I remove all the skimmed plasterboard walls and replace with new plasterboard? Or can I get away with scraping the skimming off? I have half a mind just to take all the tiles back to the shop and rethink.

 

[gcol]

Chances are it'll probably be alright. But, why do you think the recommended weight limit is 20kg/m²? Depends..... do you feel lucky punk?

 

[warehouseman]

As you have correctly found out, the official Uk Building Standard for fixing tiles to Gypsum skimmed plaster (as veriified by Bal technical ) is "20kg per square Metre , and that includes adhesive and grout weight which per sq metre would be approx 3/4 kg.
Bare plasterboard 32 kg. Aquapanel and similar - up to 50kg.
I've known loads of people exceed the 20kg figure by a few Kgs without a problem - but you would not have any recourse to anyone if you proceeded and things went wrong. The risk is yours ---- I would suggest powdered flexible if you decide to go ahead.