messed up a kitchen wall (metro tiles)

[johnhenstock83]

right...

 

the missus kept nagging about the wall behind the worktop, she wanted tiles. so I went and bought metro tiles (200x100), tile adhesive, tile cutter, spacers, trowel, the lot. everything prepared nicely, wall scratched in a zig zag pattern for better grip, tiles cut to the milimeter, what could go wrong, right?

 

I don't know what made me buy the £10 grey powder adhesive from screwfix, I thought it's good enough for a basic job such as this one. I guess not. despite mixing it properly and in the EXACT quantity recommended, I ended up with a paste that couldn't hold anything in place, definitely not a tile. each and every tile kept "flowing" downwards, so I scraped the walls, threw everything away and now I'm frustrated.

 

the adhesive looked very much like cement, not the typical adhesive I've been using for years (white, fairly thick, easy to spread). what was that??? and who uses it?

[twice round the block]

Powder mix is for floor tiles.

Ready mix tubs for wall tiles

 

[LA3222]

Pretty sure that powder is for walls and floors. I used powder for all my walls - the difference between the two is how they cure. The powder is by chemical reaction, the paste by drying out.

 

If the tiles are slipping it sounds like the mix is sloppy. I've tiled the ceiling of my steamroom using a powdered adhesive with no issues. 

[bassanclan]

Powder adhesive is for wall and floor tiles. Ready mix adhesive is for DIY.

 

This sounds like 100% user error, but without seeing what has happened I can't tell you what you did wrong!

 

[ProDave]

Or you could have just waited a bit until it started to go off and then it would have been fine.

 

And the tile spacers would stop them sliding anyway?

 

Or forget tiles and use multipanel.

 

 

[saveasteading]

A good professional tiler uses a quick setting adhesive, from powder, and holds the tile for 20 seconds...and it stays put.

Amateurs use slow setting adhesive to allow for adjustment, and spacers hold it in place.

 

I suggest you go to a tile merchant and get some stickier stuff, and spacers. Tell them and they will be helpful.

[Russell griffiths]

17 hours ago, twice round the block said:

Powder mix is for floor tiles.

Ready mix tubs for wall tiles

 

Nope. 

[Russell griffiths]

Tiles don’t stay in place with the adhesive until it sets, you need a support under the tile while the adhesive goes off. 
 

either a batten screwed to the wall or work from the workshop upwards 

 

a picture would help us understand what you missed out.