Removing bonding

[bandejapaisa]

I'm trying to remove the current bonding from the walls.

Am I doing something wrong or does this really take such a long time?

I started chipping away at it, then realised if I wet it it comes off easier.... any other tips or tools I should be using?

This small section took me at least an hour:

Bonding removal

• bandejapaisa
• 2 Mar 2014
• 1

This took freakin ages... must be doing something wrong! Chisel and hammer I'm using are on the...

 

[Micilin]

Why are you removing it?

 

[bandejapaisa]

Well definitely not for fun.

Part of it starting coming off when I removed the tiles. Then when a builder came in doing a quote, he said it would have to come off because it's no good in a bathroom and absorbs moisture like a sponge.

Also, I want to remove it to install some kind of insulated plasterboard... or other type of insulation (need to learn what options there are).

 

[NickB_99]

Well definitely not for fun.

Part of it starting coming off when I removed the tiles. Then when a builder came in doing a quote, he said it would have to come off because it's no good in a bathroom and absorbs moisture like a sponge.

Also, I want to remove it to install some kind of insulated plasterboard... or other type of insulation (need to learn what options there are).

He has a point that gypsum plaster does absorb moisture - but there may have been options to tank where the wettest areas will be e.g. round bath/shower. Seems a shame and a lot of effort to get off a sound base.

Be careful if you use plasterboards - plasterboards are generally also gypsum plaster inside, so possess the same characteristics. The only exception here is tile backer boards e.g. aquapanel, which have a different makeup.
Keep reading around the subject and asking questions and you should get to a decent solution.

 

[bandejapaisa]

Yup, I read about boards especially for bathrooms.

So can you offer any advice for helping me to remove this stuff? Or is it just elbow grease. I'm reluctant to use power tools on it, as I don't want to damage the brickwork.

Maybe i need a bigger chisel?

 

[roy c]

Get a small breaker and a chisel and take the bonding off with that, as the bonding will be softer than the backing it should come off with a bit of care on how you handle the breaker....Any bits of bonding left just scrap it off with a sharp scraper and a good wire brush.. Nothing comes easy in this game , time and patience is the essence,,

 

[bandejapaisa]

I was splashing water on it too, and this was helping a lot. As soon as the water hit it, I could here it soak it up and then it was coming off a bit easier.

Is this how the pro's do it?

Can you show me exactly what you mean by a breaker and chisel. I really am pretty new. I know what a chisel is... is a breaker something electric?

 

[bandejapaisa]

Ok, i figured out what you mean after some searching. Those breakers are electric, and big... expensive too.

 

[roy c]

It looks like your walls are thermalite block so it might be worth floating them out with sand cement and lime which will give you a good base for tiling..

 

[bandejapaisa]

What are thermalite blocks? They sound like they have some insulation property. How did they get into a 1900 edwardian house?

Does your suggestion provide the maximum insulation I could achieve, or would i get better insulation from some sort of plasterboard suitable for a bathroom?

By the way, would something like this SDS Breaker drill do the job?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/hammer-dril...&qid=1393886220&sr=1-1&keywords=drill+breaker

 

[bandejapaisa]

Actually found a cheaper one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1500w-Heavy...8&qid=1393887547&sr=1-3&keywords=chisel+drill

 

[roy c]

You can get cheaper ones than you have found. Try B&Q and yes sds are the ones to use. Thermalites are insulation blocks but how they got into your house is up to you to find out. If you want to..lt is hard to tell from your photo but to me they look like thermalites , what do the "lads" think?

 

[NickB_99]

.lt is hard to tell from your photo but to me they look like thermalites , what do the "lads" think?

I'd agree - on the pic, the second one down from the top especially seems to have the deep visible scratches.

OP - if they are thermalites, be careful if you do get an SDS drill - they are very soft. Thermalites can even be cut with a handsaw.

 

[bandejapaisa]

Yup, they do have the marks in it the same as this thermalite block I just looked up.

 

[roy c]

Browning was usually used on thermalites but the problem was it was difficult to get a fixing in them, my old partner (joiner) would fix the skirtings on with "cut" nails and bend them as he was knocking them in. You can put a mortar mix on them (6 sand 1 cement 1 lime) that can be scratch coat and float coat and that would give you a good back ground for fixing things on the wall when it is tiled. You will have to give the blocks a good sealing before you plaster them as they suck like.....