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Tiling

Tiles lifting clean off the adhesive on underfloor heating - can we re-tile over it ?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.46 PM

The job was carried out by the tradesmen recommended by the architect - not a cheap job or cowboys . Correct procedures were followed & top quality branded products bought . Nothing cheap or corners cut ! Nearly 7 years later the tiles (huge porcelain floor tiles ) started to move and after removing nearly all we can see the floor was not sufficiently levelled and in parts the adhesive is inches deep. The tiles came clean off and the adhesive is cracked and the mesh ( yes it has been used) can be seen in parts (air pockets ) . We cant afford to start from scratch and re-level the floor - so can the old adhesive be left in situ and re-tiled over ? What prep can we do ourselves ( seasoned DIY ers ) before getting a professional tiler in ?

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5 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi, I would hire a floor scabbling machine to bring the floor as flat as possible then apply some self levelling compound to bring the floor to a reasonable flatness (it may not always be possible to get your floors level without great expense) then retile using a super flexible adhesive that is compatible with under floor heating. Good luck Chris

Answered1 July 2023

Worked in the field of tiles, bathrooms and kitchen floors

Rating: 5 out of 5

Crook

Hello, I hope to answer this question. The expansion that occurred to you is air from the tiles. Sometimes the tiles expand and contract due to heat and cold, but you are asking about the grid. I do not recommend removing adhesive from the top of the grid because it will be damaged. Level, you can do that. I hope everyone when laying a grid should know what kind of tiles you can use. Thank you.

Answered3 July 2023

B HUBURN

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Swanage

Take up existing tiles if they are coming up easily take up any lose adhesive with a vac, use Bal self-leveling adhesive which is like floor leveling compound but a lot better, Give about 48 hours drying time drys like concrete very good then tile with a fast setting floor adhesive as normal, And flexible grout. A scabbling could break the wiring system

Answered19 July 2023

Moore Tiling Solutions

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Coventry

from what you’ve said it appears that the tiles were not ‘back-buttered’ prior to laying- the correct procedure (assuming the tiles are 1200x600mm size) should have been to use a 12mm notch trowel on the floor and a 4 or 6mm notch trowel on the tile- this would have pretty much guaranteed 100% adhesive coverage with the tile/sub floor and not resulted in this fail. It also brings into question if the correct primer was used. I would recommend lifting the affected tiles where possible and self levelling extreme areas with a suitable levelling compound- ensure you prime the sun floor before levelling and the compound again before tiling. What ever you do, ensure that coverage is 100% with the tile and floor and back butter the tiles- if there is not enough room to use a 4-6mm trowel, use the back of the trowel to apply a slurry coat which will help with adhesion

Answered19 July 2023

Harrison Scott tiling

Rating: 5 out of 5

Torquay

Sorry to say but all needs to come up because adhesive should never be inches thick no matter what make I would contact your architect who if worth his salt should visit & help I f a floor is not flat enough don’t tile it especially with large format tiles kind regards Ritchie

Answered24 July 2023