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Tiling direct to bricks. Is it OK?
Slowmotion - 8/2/09 at 01:52 PM

I have been asked if I could complete a shower installation which was started by the homeowner.

One of the shower walls is bare brick which he sealed with PVA and has then started to tile direct on the bricks.

I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this but do you think it will be OK. I don't want to carry on with this method and then be blamed if there is a problem in the future.

John.

Hellfire - 8/2/09 at 01:56 PM

I reckon it would be ok but the amount of adhesive you would use would be increased and the result flatness would be much more difficult to achieve.

Personally I'd at least skim with plaster to flat it out a bit...

Steve

Pdlewis - 8/2/09 at 03:17 PM

Itll be ok but i would put a layer of base coat plaster (browning) on to provide a good surface to tile onto

bigfoot4616 - 8/2/09 at 06:56 PM

i do a lot of tiling and i would insist on covering the brickwork up first or not do the job.

best way is to stick plasterboard on with driwall adhesive, easier to get flat and can be tiled onto straight away. should leave 4 weeks for new plaster.

any backing plaster(browning, bonding etc.) needs skimming before tiling and plaster can carry a lot less weight of tiles than plasterboard


as its a shower it should really be tanked before tiling but customers will never pay the extra for that

[Edited on 8/2/09 by bigfoot4616]

MikeR - 8/2/09 at 08:25 PM

Whats 'tanked' ?

Jon Ison - 8/2/09 at 09:00 PM

MikeRJ - 9/2/09 at 02:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
Whats 'tanked' ?


I'm interested to know too, never heard of it.

EDIT: Bit of research shows it's a waterproofing system for tiled walls used in wet areas. Seems it's now considered an essential thing to have for tiled shower walls, despite the rather large number of showers installed without it that don't have damp problems. Seems to me that if the grouting is done properly you shouldn't get moisture leaking past in the first place...


[Edited on 9/2/09 by MikeRJ]