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CHALLENGES OF APPLICATION ON TILING

APPLICATION OF MORTEX ON OLD TILES

The application of Mortex on old tiles can be an excellent renovation solution: It avoids demolition, dust and inevitable production of waste which need to be evacuated. It also avoids the possible weakening of the support, especially with lightweight plasterboard partitions.
Nevertheless, vigilance is particularly needed in the preparation of the work site.

ARTALIS will be particularly attentive to a series of technical and aesthetic preparation points:

Technical issues:

  • Verification and possible correction of the support’s and the tiles’s flatness,
  • Stability of each tile,
  • Porosity of the joints,
  • Waterproofing, residual moisture under tiling, presence and identification of cracks and possible leaks,
  • Identification and treatment of any molds, anchored in the joints,
  • Complete removal and cleaning of old silicone seals,
  • Degreasing and deep cleaning of tiles and joints,
  • Scalping and scarification of the enameled surface in order to guarantee a sufficient mechanical attachment,
  • Use of suitable adhesion and sealing primers,
  • Correction of internal and external corners and edges, with possible installation of corner profiles

 

AESTHETIC ISSUE

The second issue is an aesthetic one. Its purpose is to avoid the appearance in the short or medium term of ‘ghostly’ joints, including the possible discoloration of the coating on the old joints.

This phenomenon can be caused by the difference in porosity between the joint and the enamel of the tiling and cause a difference in absorption and drying of the coating.

This can have an impact on the shades and influence the final rendering of the treatment and finishing products, especially in the upper layer of the coating in the hollow of the joints.

At ARTALIS, a careful preparation of the tiles is preliminary to any work with Mortex coatings.

Pay particular attention to

  • Support’s stability
  • Mechanical anchoring
  • ‘Gosthly joints’ issue