As the goto place to get guidance on just about any topic, I'd appreiate any help you fine folks can give
Our front step is covered in red quarry tiles. Of late, they've become loose, so I'd like toget them stuck back down. I'm not a builder by trade but I don't mind easy DIY jobs. Is this a task I can try myself? What materials and tools would I need and user? I'm guessing it's not as simple as covering the back of the tile with half a tube of superglue? 🙂
I'd add a photo but "my media" doesn't see to want to let me upload anything I can use...
well, that's worked it seems, so: what do I need to do to fix the loose tiles? There's more than one tile loose, there's a whole row along the edge there
If you head to your local garden centre/DIY shop they should sell small bags of premix mortar specifically for this job, just add water.
You'll need a bucket, a small trowel and something like a brick hammer.
Scrape/knock clear anything that was under the tiles before, using the hammer if needed, then dry fit to make sure all is good and there are no snotters left that would leave it wobbly. Then mix the mortar as per the instructions, put down a good blob and lay the tiles on top. Get it all level and then fill any gaps with spare mortar.
Much appreciated thanks! Will see if I can do that
Yep, premixed mortar in a bag from B&Q or some such. It looks to me like a wire brush or similar will be useful to break up and clear away the rotten bed of mortar under those tiles, once you've got the loose ones lifted. And to clean up the backs of the tiles before relaying them.
Topps Tiles or similar will sell you a bag of a purpose-made compound, possibly with a separate slurry mix
How many are loose?
It's quite a simple job and your analogy of super glue is reasonably accurate (just with mortar), however...
When you're cleaning out the old mortar, so the tile when reseated lays flush, there's a distinct possibility you'll disturb and loosen other tiles.
If your bag of premix is just a sand and cement mortar you may want to add some PVA to it when mixing up for some extra grab onto the tiles and a touch of flexibility.
Thanks for the tips everyone. I shall be nbt's assistant and directing proceedings.
We may have to try and get a couple of spare quarry tiles from somewhere, just in case one or two need replacing.
The whole front row and maybe a couple standing upright.How many are loose?
You can use a standard mortar but I find a specific tile glue/mortar easier to use because it's finer grained and squidgier.
Do you have a video doorbell? If not, first get one.
If so, then what you need under those tiles is something hard and very slippery, so they shoot away when you walk up the step.
Post results here please.
I would just clean up the loose bits and get some ready made tile adhesive.
If it works on shower trays I'm sure it will work on them tiles and be a lot easier to do.
Or use stixall adhesive as it's brilliant and works under water.
Hello,
this how I would resolve your issue.
remove all lose tiles and clean the backs thoroughly.
where you have removed the tiles clean any lose old adhesive/ mortar and reduce the level by scraping back the old surface only a bit say 10mm so the new adhesive has some where to go and it will give you a bit play allowing you to get the height right
use a good quality flexible frost proof tile adhesive such as Kerakoll H40
spread the adhesive on the back of the tiles and place back in position and level across with a level or piece of timber.
make sure you grout up afterwards.
couple of tips
don’t knock up too much adhesive as it will go off
if you push to tile in place and it’s too low, use a suction pad to lift up a bit or an old spoke bent at 90 degrees slip it in the grout joint turn it a wiggle it up a bit
hope that helps 👍
I agree with edthecarpenter, excellent advice, mortar will not give a long lasting solution in that application.
Assuming it’s only a few rows of tiles, if it were me, I’d remove the lot, knock of all the old mortar and re-lay the lot. Much easier to get the levels right if they’re all going down in one go. The challenge with getting new tiles to match the level of old ones is if you set to the old level accurately, when the adhesive dries it’ll pull the tile in a bit and will end up too low.
