Tile adhesive not setting

Leif

I tiled the centre are of a porch today, using Unibond Rapid Set tile adhesive, mixed exactly as per the instructions i.e. 4 parts cement, 1 part water. The tiles are on a screed floor, which was given one coat of watered down BAL APD primer to reduce suction. 5 hours later when pulling out some spacers, I leant on one tile, and it moved slightly. Checking an edge tile (near the garage door) where I applied adhesive more thickly, the adhesive is still soft. And between the tiles it is soft. What is going on? The bag says it sets in 3 hours. Where there are some gobs of adhesive that has set, it easily crumbles when rubbed between thumb and finger. When I had my kitchen tiled with rapid set adhesive, it was ready to walk on by the same evening. The temperature in the porch is not that low, maybe 15 Celcius.

keystone

Unibond tile adhesive is IMHO utter carp and not fit for purpose. Rapidset should have gone off in around 30 minutes. Temperature is fine its 5 degress or less that you start thinking.

You need a proper adhesive from BAL, Ardex or Mapei (to name but three quality manufacturers) and if you go for the latter do not buy the stuff carrying the same name they peddle in BnQ as its carp too (in my opinion).

Sounds like they will be coming up and you'll be redoing it - sorry.

Cheers

Leif

Thanks Keystone, that was my suspicion. Looks like a trip to the local Topps is in order. The current temperature at the floor is 19 Celcius, more than enough.

Ruski

Porcelain or ceramic tiles.... Makes a difference...

Leif

Ruski wrote: »

Porcelain or ceramic tiles.... Makes a difference...

Porcelain, glazed. The adhesive is for ceramic and porcelain tiles., I checked the packet this evening.

keystone

Ruski wrote: »

Porcelain or ceramic tiles.... Makes a difference...

Sorry but it doesn't. Not with a cementatious adhesive. Premixed tubbed gear yes. Bagged no. Anyway tubbed stuff isn't suitable for floors.

Cheers

Leif

It is now setting, but really this is not acceptable for something that is described as 'rapid set'. I should have noticed that Unibond recommend sealing the screed with PVA. As far as I can see the concensus is that PVA is unsuitable, as the adhesive is not water proof. My hope is that the only fault in this product is the setting time, and that it will provide a strong bond.

What annoys me is that a bag of BAL adhesive costs £40 from a well known store. I know for a fact they sell it to trades for £20, and it costs them £10 a bag.

Are Unibond products carp? The silicone remover is not much use, and their silicone sealants are a pain (one absorbs dirt, t'other is horribly glossy).

Leif

Just in case others read this in future, it did set, by 10am the next morning. So rapid set in Unibond-land means almost 24 hours, not 3 hours as stated on the packet.

tpt

its really not great stuff. bal is very good but worthwhile alternatives are granfix, webber, palace, ardex to name but a few - you dont have to get screwed over for £40 :-)...and it costs them less than 10

Leif

tpt wrote: »

its really not great stuff. bal is very good but worthwhile alternatives are granfix, webber, palace, ardex to name but a few - you dont have to get screwed over for £40 :-)...and it costs them less than 10

Thank you. I'm hoping that it will at least do the job now that it is dry.

cyclonebri1

I was about to say that Unibond is utterly carp, but as usual KS beat me to it.

I always use Webber products, their fast set does exactly what it says on the bag and is reliable.

The only failure I have ever had was on a floor where I used Unibond simply because my SIL had picked it up. We had to lift the tiles, (not difficult), and clean them up, (even easier), then relay.

Years ago I used a professional grade product called Ardurit is I call, if you want rapid thats your baby, 20 mins from mix to "Oh !!!!".

Used for exterior work were pedestrian traffic is an issue, shop doorways/fronts etc. Don't know if it's still available but to be honest I'd go Webber.;);)