For a fixer or contractor, tiling is all about efficiency – efficiency in preparation, product selection and fixing techniques.
Improving efficiency leads to savings in time and money, and increased project frequency – and ultimately this what all fixers and contractors want.
Efficiency in preparation
We all know that preparation of your backgrounds is absolutely crucial to the overall success of your tiling project.
Backgrounds should be dry, flat and free from dirt, debris, or residues. Some people may be tempted to cut corners, but this may lead to an increased risk of failure.
However, there are trusted solutions out there that can get you fixing tiles on that job quicker, without compromising performance.
For example when tiling onto a screed, British Standards specify that a sand:cement screed should be left for a least 3 weeks to dry prior to tiling.
Anhydrite screeds need to dry to no more than 75% relative humidity or 0.5 CM (Water by Weight) before tiling commence.
However you may be able to go onto this quicker – for example with the use of a floating uncoupling system – such as BAL Flexbone 2Easy – which can be used over sand:cement screeds when walkable, or on Anhydrite screeds at 1.5% Carbide Method (usually 0.5% CM).
Another option for anhydrite screeds (not containing underfloor heating) is the use of a moisture control system – such as ARDEX DPM 1C – which can be applied on some surfaces with the highest measurable levels of moisture content (up to 90% RH).
If a floor is already dry and needs to be levelled to SR1 (3mm over a 2m straight edge) – as per British Standards – then there are a number of fast-track levelling compounds available from the ARDEX Group. Ultra-rapid drying levellers such as BAL Level Fast or ARDEX K 55 Fast can have you tiling from 45 minutes to 1 hour after application.
Other levellers – such as BAL Level Max – can be tiled in 4 hours even at depths of 80mm.
If uncoupling is needed then efficiency can be improved with the use of thin, lightweight systems such as BAL Rapid-Mat which can be tiled instantly and is quick to install. Rapid-Mat uses 20% less adhesive when compared to using a cavity-mat systems and is easy to install producing significant cost and time savings.
Even our fleece-backed cavity mat systems, such as Flexbone, need less adhesive on the face of the mat – with 30% faster application.
Faster waterproofing
Tanking can be a laborious task – but is required under British Standards in wet areas.
Efficiency in waterproofing can be achieved with the correct product selection.
The ARDEX Group have fast-track systems that allow fixers and contractors to be tiling the same day.
For example BAL Waterproof 1C – a ready-mixed product – can be applied in one coat on walls (ensuring minimum 0.8mm thickness) and in two-coats on the floor (minimum 1.6mm) and can be tiled in only 2 hours.
ARDEX WPC is a two-part system, but is rapid drying, and can be tiled in only 90 minutes.
Efficiency in tiling and grouting
As with any aspects of tiling, it is crucial to weigh up cost of product v cost of time, when selecting your tile adhesive.
Selecting a traditional standard-set product may reduce the cost of the material, but you maybe stretching out the job an extra day or two.
In fact, even some perceived “premium” standard-set products have extended drying times of anything between 24 and 48 hours – extending the overall project time.
It is crucial to ensure you properly inspect the data sheets to fully understand the drying times of your selected adhesive.
Improved efficiency may be achieved by choosing a rapid-setting tile adhesive with longer open and working times – such as BAL Rapid-Flex One or ARDEX X 7 R S1 which has a pot life of 60 minutes and open time of 30 minutes, and you can still grout in 3 hours.
Alternatively choosing a semi-rapid adhesive such as BAL Flex One or ARDEX X 11 W can improve your efficiency. These semi-rapid products can have you grouting the next morning with setting times of 6-8 hours. They also have super smooth formulations with gel rheology, reducing fixer fatigue and installation times.
If tiling with large format floor tiles, the use of pourable products such as BAL XL Floor One or ARDEX X 325 PTB can reduce the need to back-butter on flat floors – improving efficiency when solid-bed fixing – meaning you fix once, not twice and reducing your labour time.
Efficiency when grouting
The selection of grout can also influence the efficiency of your tiling work. Choosing a rapid-hardening grout, such as BAL Micromax3 ECO or ARDEX FLEX-FL can mean finishing a job sooner.
BAL Micromax3 ECO for example sets in 2 to 3 hours, however initial wash-off can be left up to 30 minutes after application, even on the most textured tiles. So no panic on initial wash-up, but still finish the grouting process in a morning or afternoon. Saving you time and ensuring you get paid sooner.
If you or your client is looking for reduced maintenance and after-care, it may be suitable to select an epoxy grout such as BAL Absolute Grout or ARDEX EG 18 Plus.
Recommended for spas and steam rooms, as well as swimming pools, these systems are also perfect for wet rooms and other areas where total hygienic protection is required – such as commercial kitchens.
These epoxy products also offer efficiency of application, with clean-off from 15 minutes up to 60 minutes after application.
Peace of mind when fixing
At the end of the day, you want products and systems you can trust to perform and ensure that you get no call-backs.
ARDEX Group products – as well as offering efficiency and time savings – come with a 10-year product warranty and applies to installations of brands including: ARDEX, BAL, wedi, Gutjahr, Knopp, Loba, and Wakol.
This gives you peace of mind that our products will perform to a high standard.
For support and guidance on your tiling projects, contact our Technical Support team on 03330 030160 or email info@ardex.co.uk.
To book on an ARDEX Group training course, visit ardexacademy.uk