Wall tiles out of level / not flat surface

[MortarThePoint]

8 minutes ago, nod said:

NO

I would lay flags like that 

Whilst voids behind wall tiles to really matter He’s making work for himself 

A nice even 10 mil notch on the wall and a 5 mill lick on the back of the tile 

 

 

What would you do nod, relax or pull them off?

 

[twice round the block]

Grout staying in place after a few months with dot and dab should be fun especially near a shower head.

 

The tiller is obviously trying to work round the situation, just because he's been in the trade for 40 year's doesn't mean he's any good.

 

Best way to remove tiles and adhesive is with a wall paper steamer.

[MortarThePoint]

Taking tiles off

[nod]

1 hour ago, nod said:

NO

I would lay flags like that 

Whilst voids behind wall tiles to really matter He’s making work for himself 

A nice even 10 mil notch on the wall and a 5 mill lick on the back of the tile 

 

Sorry 

should say Wouldn’t 

[MortarThePoint]

Took from about 7pm to 3am to take the tiles off and clean them and the walls. Back up at 6am for the kids school run. On fumes and a tricky conversation in about an hour.

 

The weekend is almost here!

[Russell griffiths]

Send him on his way. 

[Nickfromwales]

On 07/11/2024 at 18:52, MortarThePoint said:

Taking tiles off

Yikes. 
I’ve dot & dabbed tiles more times than I can remember, but always with cementitious adhesive and never without having completely buttered both the reverse of the tile and the wall. 
I’ve tiled for over 3 decades, never a callback / other issue, not with grout and not in wet rooms or wet / splash areas, so the principal is fine I assure you, just this guy is too comfortable riding the luck train. 
 

Is that ready mixed adhesive from a tub?  If you’ve heard sounds then that sounds like excess adhesive having the moisture sucked out of it from the porosity of the tile and the bone dry plasterboard. That usually results in the adhesive shrinking back and tiles drying in place differently than where they were ‘laid’, often resulting in kickers and uneven finish.
 

Here the walls simply don’t look bad enough to have any reason not to have done bed & butter, plus there’s no sign of him ‘squishing’ the adhesive into the tile and board by moving them around as they’re set into place.

[MortarThePoint]

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

never without having completely buttered both the reverse of the tile and the wall.

He just did dabs onto the tiles and then stuck them, so far from what I'd expected.

 

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

Is that ready mixed adhesive from a tub?

No it was bagged (Nicobond Standard Set Flex Pro S1)

 

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

Here the walls simply don’t look bad enough to have any reason not to have done bed & butter,

After removing the tiles I rechecked the walls with a 2m straight edge and they are perfect. Lots of effort was gone to by the plasterer to get them like that.

[MortarThePoint]

Conversation with tiler went OK so that's now closed. I'll need to find another one though.

 

Thank you for everyone's support!

[Temp]

I use a notched trowel and a straight block of wood to level tiles with neighbours in two directions. Reckon I could do better than your photo and I'm not a professional.

[Temp]

On 07/11/2024 at 18:52, MortarThePoint said:

Taking tiles off

 

Yeah that's just wrong. Should apply the adhesive to the wall and remove excess with a notched trowel held at near 90 degrees to the wall. This maximises the height of the adhesive ridges. When the tile is pressed on the ridges of adhesive spread out filling the valleys so you end up with fairly high % coverage. Not 100% though as that would use up all the depth adjustment available. 

 

Some tiles or stone need to be back buttered (as well) with a thin flat layer of adhesive.