Filling Tiles: Simply Over Them

Filling tiles instead of knocking them off: Jointless bathrooms are currently on everyone's lips. But not everyone is lucky enough to be able to design a bathroom in a new building. The majority of the orders are carried out in the renovation of old buildings. But older, tiled bathrooms can also be turned into modern seamless bathrooms. Special materials make it possible.

Author: Susanne Sachsenmaier-Wahl | Photos: Jaeger

Hardly any other room in residential buildings has received as much attention in recent years as the bathroom. What was once a simple, functional wet room is now increasingly a small but fine wellness temple that not only features a whirlpool and rain shower, but also places the highest demands on the wall and floor design. Jointless bathrooms in particular, in which the walls and floor as well as the lining of the shower are made of one piece, are currently very popular with clients.

While the implementation of such a "tile-free zone" is relatively straightforward in new buildings, owners of old buildings often have nightmares when it comes to bathroom renovation. Knocking off the old tiles not only causes noise and dirt, but quickly makes the bathroom unusable for a long time. Old tiles can also be simply filled over instead of being removed.

Filling of tiles

With the help of an innovative coating system, however, tiled bathroom walls and floors can be reworked relatively easily and thus transformed into modern, seamless bathrooms. Michael Jägersküpper, head of application technology at the coating material manufacturer Jaeger, who offers such a system, summarizes the advantages for the end customer: “When renovating with our seamless wall and floor filler, there is no construction noise and just as little dirt and dust, in contrast to the removal of the old one Tiles.”In addition, the coating structure is only two to three millimeters thick and is pleasantly low. The loss of space is therefore almost imperceptible. And of course the painter or plasterer also benefits: the tile-less bathroom renovation offers him new fields of activity, opens up areas for him,that were previously reserved for tilers.

Filling tiles: With three filler layers to the goal

But before the old tiles are allowed to disappear under fillers, some preliminary work has to be done. Michael Jägersküpper explains which: “In the first step, all fittings etc. have to be dismantled. The silicone joints are then removed without leaving any residue and it must also be checked whether the existing structure is sealed in accordance with DIN 18534. The tiles have to be cleaned and descaled thoroughly.”

Wall tiles are smoothed with a dispersion cement filler that Jaeger offers to match the system. A cementitious leveling compound (eg "Schönox HS 10" or "Ardex K 40") is applied to rework floor tiles. The first layer of mineral floor and wall filler is applied to the grain thickness on the dry leveling compound. Ideally, a relatively smooth surface should be created in the first layer. Slight spatula burrs or bumps can be sanded off after drying. After applying the second layer of the two-component floor and wall filler, the surface, which is still fresh, is smoothed. If this does not yet meet the requirements for flatness and smoothness, the second layer can also be sanded again.

Dirt and water repellent

After all the filler surfaces have been thoroughly dedusted, the surfaces are sealed to make them resistant to dirt and water. All surfaces, whether on the wall or on the floor, in the direct splash water area or in zones that are not exposed to water, are first primed with a colorless, water-dilutable 2-component PU sealing wax. Only in the next step must the subsequent use be considered. In the living area or in areas of the bathroom that are not exposed to direct splash water, two more layers of sealing wax are applied. It is different in the shower area and on bathroom floors, Michael Jägersküpper lets us know: "In the direct splash water area such as the shower area and also on the floor in the bathroom - so everywhere there,where the product comes into contact with water or standing water is expected - our 2K Aqua wet room seal 677 is used.”It is also recommended for worktops and other heavy-duty surfaces. Because, according to the technical data sheet, the wet room seal not only has very good water resistance, but also scores with high durability and is resistant to household chemicals and heat. Jägersküpper adds that it is also possible to rework concrete furniture or vanity tops with the spatula system. There is only one restriction: "Floors in the shower area must not be filled," says Michael Jägersküpper. For these areas, the installation of a shower tray is still recommended, or you can fall back on the good old tile.

Many older bathrooms are to be modernized. The builders often want a modern, seamless bathroom, but want to avoid knocking off the old tiles.

An innovative system enables safe installation on the old tiles. After leveling, the filler layer is applied and finally sealed according to the requirements.

The aged "wet room", which has been tiled to the ceiling, has become a modern, seamless bathroom - without much dirt, dust and long periods of inactivity.

PraxisPlus

The "Deco Wall & Floor" system from Jaeger is available in 28 colors. In addition to seamless bathrooms, it is also suitable for walls and floors in living rooms and kitchens. The system can also be used on concrete furniture, vanity tops and worktops.

Jaeger offers a two-day practical seminar for processing the system. This particularly deals with the topics of substrate preparation, product properties and correct processing.

Further information:

www.jaegerlacke.de