Why didn't the adhesive bond to the tile

[Andyhatcher82]

Tile fail!

• Andyhatcher82
• 23 Mar 2014
• 1

Adhesive not bonding

Help! I can't understand why non of the tile adhesive has bonded with the tile. It has bonded fully to the ditra matting but (after a battle removing the grout) all of the tiles come up with no force. Basically the grout was the only thing keeping them in place. I had expected to be chipping the adhesive off the tiles but as you can see from the photo the backs of the tiles are 'clean'.
I used flexible tile adhesive suitable for porcelain tiles and used the dot and dab method.

I am now concerned about relaying them with new adhesive in case the same thing happens.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[footprints]

Might have been dust on the back of the tiles, try wiping with a dark coloured damp cloth to see what comes off.

 

[tpt]

Dust, or the adhesive has been left too long before placing the tile on it and has skinned over.

However, the big problem is that they have been dot and dabbed, instead of laid properly with a notched trowel. You should be trying to achieve 90% coverage, especially on a floor. Laid as they are you'll get cracks and other failure.

I can't quite tell what the substrate is from that picture - can you tell me?

 

[foxhole]

If you dot and dab floor tiles they will snap when walked on or when anything heavy is dropped.
Floor should have unbroken combed on adhesive and most tiles require the backs buttering to get an air free secure fit.