Tiling directly above a radiator

[Crystalclear]

Hi people.

A local youth centre had some work done, and a week or so after this wall got tiled, they started dropping off.

The 'tilers' who I watched initially, were placing large blobs of tile adhesive onto each tile, and fixing each one, reminding me how pavers place concrete slabs on a Mortar bed. :/ big sigh*

Looking at the wall myself, I noticed it was dry but had a little shine to it? The gap, oh my! The gap I forget to mention between the tile and the wall! Almost an inch?! Is that even sensible?? Humm.

The workmanship showed all the signs of failure, and ended up so too.

I'm thinking about taking some time out and helping them out, but something is worrying me; tiling is easy, but directly over a radiator that will be on 7hrs a day during the colder months? how does one tile where the chances of the adhesive drying out are higher?

 

[mattylad]

Use better adhesive that's suitable for the situation, affix a rougher screed to the wall first so you have more to grip perhaps?

 

[longdogs]

Why did they leave an inch gap? The tiles look heavy and need to be on combed adhesive and closer to the wall. Tiles are fixed above radiators all the time but don't fall off.

if it was me, I would unibond the wall and use a fast setting Bal adhesive.

 

[conny]

Isolate the radiator for 24 hours prior to tiling and until 24 hours after tiling.
This will ensure an even temperature over the whole area to be tiled.

 

[Crystalclear]

Use better adhesive that's suitable for the situation, affix a rougher screed to the wall first so you have more to grip perhaps?

1 coat rough adhesive + 2 coat normal adhesive + tile as normal in stages? Thank you.

 

[Crystalclear]

Why did they leave an inch gap? The tiles look heavy and need to be on combed adhesive and closer to the wall. Tiles are fixed above radiators all the time but don't fall off.

if it was me, I would unibond the wall and use a fast setting Bal adhesive.

This stuff?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/unibond-u...=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area2&_requestid=310452

 

[flameport]

This stuff?
http://www.screwfix.com/p/unibond-u...=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area2&_requestid=310452

No.
Unibomb products are not generally regarded as the best.
Ready mixed products are not usually suitable for large tiles, as they set by drying out - which with large tiles will take for ever.

The other issues are that the tiles appear to be very large and heavy, and the wall is plastered which will significantly reduce the amount of weight it can take.

The radiator is not an issue, provided it is left off while the tiles and grout are applied.

 

[Paul C.]

First, if the tiles weigh more than 20kg per m2, they can't go onto plaster. Re bord it with hardiebacker, or chip the plaster away to the bare substrate. (Depending on what that is may need more prep)
Second, if the tiles are the correct weight, the size is too big for ready mixed adhesive. You therefore need to use a cement-based adhesive and prime the plaster with an acryllic primer.
Thirdly, DON'T LET THEM DOT AND DAB! EVER! THERE IS NO NEED! 8mm square notch trowel, if the wall is out of true, back spread the tiles aswell. If the adhesive depth rises to more than 8mm to level it, your wall needs fixing first.

 

[eveares]

Unibomb products are not generally regarded as the best.

I say I have not heard of Unibomb , is that some sort of bomb related self destructing adhesive that removes it self after a set period of time? However I have heard of UniBond.