wall tiling paranoia

[carlbold]

Hi guys, I've just discovered this forum and the result is that I'm now paranoid.
Here's the story. I wanted to replace a bathroom suite newly built by Barratts so I did my research on the internet (missing this forum ), removed the old tiles, patched the walls with plaster, primed with PVA and retiled withs 20x20 ceramic tiles.
Now, I've read a few comments here that worried me such as:
1) Dont use ready-mixed crap wickes adhesive (I used it.....)
2) Always tank the shower...Didn't do it (but Barratts' people didnt do it either...). Instead I used water proof (ready-mixed) adhesive and made sure there was a thick layer to cover the plasterboard. Also used water proof grout.
3) Don't use PVA. I used it because recommended by wickes for that adhesive...
There seems to be so many different opinions...To be honest, right now the tiles are solid as rocks...To your experience, do you think the whole thing is going to fall apart? Can I do anything now?

Thanks
Carl

 

[alternativetiles]

Don't worry, it's too late anyway but seriously...... what people try to do on here is recommend the best/ideal way to do things. It's not always possible to do everything 110%

Bear in mind bucketed adhesive is fine for 20x20cm tiles, it's larger tiles where it is better to use cement based-powdered adhesives.

I sell tiles for a living and recommend tanking kits all the time but only sell about 5 kits a week. It doesn't make it right but most people don't tank round showers.

If I were you I would get some grout sealer - eg Sealguard and seal the grout. This will help. Other than that there is not much you can do now other than start again which I would not bother doing in your case. I am sure you will be fine.

 

[wanabechippie]

I did the same as you.

Tiled my bathroom walls using B&Q 'value' tile adhesive in a bucket and powdered, Unibond waterproof grout. Didn't tank either. Used 200x250mm tiles. Cheap adhesive grabbed the tiles like hell and hung on. Wound up breaking 2 just trying to get them straight back off the wall after a cock-up.

Never tried powdered, cement based stuff so I can't vouch for superiority.

Absolutely no sign of water damage or loosening tiles. Done a few jobs the same (friends and family) with no probs there either.

Having done my research through t'interweb and this site I would now definately tank a wet area before hand, but other wise; I'll stick with the cheap n cheerful goo.

 

[gcol]

I'll stick with the cheap n cheerful goo.

Pre-mixed is not cheaper, just more convenient to use.

 

[carlbold]

Thanks folks, this is really reassuring...
I would expect that professional builders like Barratts would do things properly but there was no trace of tanking when I removed the tiles.
But then most of the waste pipes were sloping the other way (i.e. towards the sink and the bath instead of towards the main waste pipe )