Adhesives for Fixing Tile Backer Boards & Subsequent Tiling
By now, everyone should be aware that British Standards now stipulates the use of tile backer boards instead of plywood for tiling onto walls. Tilemaster Adhesives are the UK distributor for the market leading, UK produced PCS Deltaboard, and would recommend these as a reliable, waterproof tile backer board. However equally critical is the method of fixing the boards and the tiles onto them, and here the Tilemaster Adhesives' range comes into its own, whether fixing to a solid substrate or onto a rigid framework. If using a rigid framework, ensure that the boards are firmly screwed in place. A solid substrate should be primed with Tilemaster Primeplus before fixing the backer boards in place with a thin bed of either Tilemaster Rapid Setaflex or Tilemaster Magix-R, both of which are rapid setting, flexible adhesives with excellent adhesion properties. Best practise is then to tape the joints with jointing tape, and prime the backer boards with Tilemaster Primeplus diluted with 3 parts water to 1 part primer or Tilemaster Prime + Grip, and allow to dry.
Next use a flexible adhesive to fix the tiles to the boards. This can be either standard set or rapid set depending on the time available. The Tilemaster Setaflex range is excellent for use in areas exposed to prolonged wet conditions such as wet rooms. Tilemaster Setaflex Semi-Rapid offers a great compromise between extended workability, with a pot life of 90 - 120 minutes, and a fast setting time, as it will accept light foot traffic and grouting after 6 hours. The Tilemaster Magix range, available in both standard (Magix-S) and rapid set (Magix-R) versions, is perfect for use with large tiles or natural stone, as these light-weight adhesives put less strain onto the substrate and have exceptional wetting out properties ensuring full coverage. Tilemaster Extrabond, in either the Standard Set or Rapid versions is also a good choice as it is formulated to give increased adhesion and is suitable for use in wet areas such as wet rooms and showers.
Once the adhesive is dry, the tiles should be grouted with Tilemaster Grout 3000.
The same principals apply when using tile backer boards for floors. Here the substrate is likely to be either a timber floor or a solid concrete or sand and cement screed. Both should first be primed with Tilemaster Primeplus, before applying a thin coat of adhesive to fix the backer boards in place. Here again Tilemaster Magix-R and Tilemaster Rapid Setaflex make excellent choices, along with Tilemaster Ultimate, are all flexible with good water resistant qualities and high adhesion properties. Once the adhesive used to fix the boards is dry and the joints have been taped, the boards should be primed with diluted Tilemaster Primeplus, as for the walls. Then the same adhesives can be used to fix the tiles and finally the tiles can be grouted with Tilemaster Grout 3000.
Contact Tilemaster Adhesives for more information about their range of professional adhesives and advice on the best products for your particular project.