What adhesive for ceramic tile underlay?

[clover-grove]

I have a back room / mud room type of set up. The flooring is structaflor yellow tongue. I had planned to lay Hardie ceramic tile underlay and tile over the top. The James Hardie website just says "appropriate adhesive". I'm a bit stuck. My understanding is that thinset would be appropriate, however, I'm still stuck on what thinset to use. I unfortunately haven't had any luck speaking to people in store.

I was also hoping to use screws rather than nails. Is this okay to do? There's only recommendations for nails in the installation guides.

Thanks in advance for any help

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @clover-grove. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing ceramic tile underlay.

The installation instructions call for an acrylic stud adhesive to glue the underlay to the timber.

Unfortunately, I've enquired extensively about the copious amount of nails required for the installation and have been told that it's the only option.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[ChadT]

Bringing this thread back up. Unless you've a nail gun, these aren't going to sit flush against the panel (and it suggests the nails be flush, but you aren't doing that with a hammer).

Screws would seem like a much better option. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @ChadT,

Unfortunately, the system has been designed and tested for nails, so you'll have to use nails.

If you are unable to use a nailgun, then you can always drive the nails in with a hammer, then flush them up with a nail punch.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[ChadT]

In testing on some offcuts, It's only really possible if I add a countersink to the cement board - nail punch or not, I don't think you're going to compress the fiber cement enough by hand. 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @ChadT,

Any of the nails I can see above would be acceptable, even the two on the left that are slightly proud. Keep in mind that the tiles being installed over the top will have tile adhesive beneath them, which will be between 3 and 10mm thick.

Ideally, the nail heads would be as flush as possible, but the tile adhesive allows for a little bit of wiggle room.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[ChadT]

Thanks Jacob,

I ended up finding a local bloke hiring out a coil nailer - and good thing I did. Went through 200 nails, that would have been a punish by hand.