lord_seagrave Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Hi chaps, Ive got a plywood counter top in the bathroom that I want to tile. Do I have to seal the plywood first, or put some sort of plastic/membrane down, or do I just crack on and tile it? Any tips on adhesive? Just regular stuff, or is there a better way? LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Tile doesn’t like to stick to wood as wood swells and contracts. You should put a cement board down first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 My kitchen tops are tiled straight onto the chipboard and have been there now 28yrs and have not moved, as good as new. My bathroom is tiled wall to ceiling and that was lined with stockboard before tiling and again 10yrs so far and not a movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 you will need timber flex adhesive and flexible grout you can seal the ply with pva thinned down or go straight on with adhesive if natural stone tiles they will need sealing before laying and possibly use a white adhesive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millrace Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Use acrylic primer not pva.....then flexi adhesive and grout.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 8 minutes ago, Saltings said: you will need timber flex adhesive and flexible grout you can seal the ply with pva thinned down or go straight on with adhesive if natural stone tiles they will need sealing before laying and possibly use a white adhesive this.......and ask for a "low modulus grout" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 I'd take the plywood top off or use cement board as one poster has put. New tiles just don't seem as good as the older ceramic tiles were. Bonding some of them can be a pain onto plywood. You can get fine mesh may to go between the adhesive. I.have in the past used silicon sealant to bond tiles that kept coming loose. Worked a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 2 hours ago, millrace said: Use acrylic primer not pva.....then flexi adhesive and grout.... acrylic is water based as pva is water based once dry they work the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 43 minutes ago, figgy said: I'd take the plywood top off or use cement board as one poster has put. New tiles just don't seem as good as the older ceramic tiles were. Bonding some of them can be a pain onto plywood. You can get fine mesh may to go between the adhesive. I.have in the past used silicon sealant to bond tiles that kept coming loose. Worked a treat. timber flex works and god help you if you have to remove in the very distant future 20yrs + requires a breaker or a load of patience with a hammer and bolster smells of burnt rubber used in walk in shower wet rooms etc for the last 40 yrs so a counter top will not propose a problem again timber flex and flexible grout just thrown a fair bit of both away as out of date otherwise you could have it sorry four weeks too late if you need a small amount somebody on here may have enough to help you out but not overly expensive from contract tile suppliers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 Must be rubber based product saltings. These days ten years is a long time for a bathroom, most will change it after that if not before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 How thick is the ply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 43 minutes ago, figgy said: Must be rubber based product saltings. These days ten years is a long time for a bathroom, most will change it after that if not before. Mines 13 and I keep thinking NEXT YEAR 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanto Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 I would use SBR/water to seal the ply. As long as the ply is thick enough to resist deflection, then you will be fine with a flexible cement-based adhesive and grout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted March 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 Thanks chaps. Ply is 18mm. Will look for the timber flex products. Appreciate the replies - always do when I’m slightly out of my area of experience LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 18 mm is plenty thick enough; still worth sealing it as others have suggested. Do it right and it’s just to do once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted March 22, 2019 Report Share Posted March 22, 2019 SBR as PVA will reactivate when wet/damp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.