How-To & DIY
151 sources in the library on how-to & diy. Each one says what the document covers and what it is good for. Name a source to see which document it is and where to read it. One at a time. Page 4 of 4.
- supplier figure RN-GILWR7
BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)
Manufacturer technical data for an adhesive recommended for large format tiles of uneven thickness. Bed thickness is 3 to 25mm, typical application 2 to 6mm, minimum 3mm on floors. Open time is 45 to 60 minutes with 90 minutes adjustment and a 6 hour set, grouting after 6 hours at 20C. Coverage is 0.5 m2 per kg at 1.5mm bed depth, 0.25 m2 per kg at 3mm and 0.125 m2 per kg at 6mm, so doubling the bed depth halves the coverage exactly. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C2E adhesive. Service temperature range is -30C to 70C. The background must be no more than 75 per cent relative humidity and the top surface mechanically abraded where required. A shower must not be used for at least 2 weeks after completion, and swimming pool work follows BS 5385 Part 4.
- supplier figure RN-FL9VK5
C-Tec (CT1)
Manufacturer datasheet for an all in one filler and caulk. Application temperature range is +5C to +40C, and the manufacturer states explicitly that it should not be applied below 5C, which is the constraint that stops exterior decorating work in a cold snap. Service temperature range once cured is -20C to +70C. Storage is in dry conditions between +5C and +25C. The +5C floor applies to both the environment and the substrate, not just the air.
- supplier figure RN-9EA2FC
C-Tec (CT1)
Manufacturer technical data for CT1 hybrid polymer sealant and construction adhesive. Cure rate is 3 to 6 mm in 12 to 48 hours. Hardness to DIN 53505 is 55 degrees Shore A, with a 42 degrees Shore A variant listed. Substrate bonding tensile force is 3.07 N/mm2, equal to 31.3 kg/cm2. Fully cured tensile strength is quoted at 22 kg/cm2 and shear strength at 11 kg/cm2. The manufacturer claims three times stronger bonding and 250 per cent more elongation than traditional alternatives. It carries EC1 Plus certification and A+ Indoor Air Comfort GOLD for low emissions. As a universal adhesive CT1 bonds to all metals.
- supplier figure RN-FIBV4P
Dunlop (ARDEX)
Manufacturer technical data for a deformable S1 tile adhesive. Coverage from a 20 kg bag is approximately 2 kg/m2 on dry walls and approximately 4 kg/m2 on floors, exterior and wet areas, so one bag covers roughly 10 m2 of wall or 5 m2 of floor. Open time is 30 to 45 minutes and bed thickness 2 to 6mm. Mix ratio is about 3 parts powder to 1 part water by volume, with 5.4 litres of clean water per 20 kg bag, stood for 1 to 2 minutes then remixed for 30 seconds, and used within 3 hours at room temperature. Application temperature is around 20C and it must not be used below 5C. Storage is 5C to 30C off the ground. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C2TES1 adhesive. The critical loading limits: maximum weight of tiling including adhesive is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, and the manufacturer's remedy where those are exceeded is to overlay with a tile backer board.
- supplier figure RN-HVB1D6
Dunlop (ARDEX)
Manufacturer technical data for a standard water resistant floor and wall tile adhesive, useful as the baseline against a flexible adhesive. At 3mm thickness a 20 kg bag covers approximately 2 kg/m2 on dry wall areas and 3.5 kg/m2 on floors, exterior and wet areas. Open time is 15 to 20 minutes, noticeably shorter than the 30 to 45 minutes of the S1 grade. Bed thickness is 3 to 6mm. Mix ratio is about 2.5 parts powder to 1 part water by volume, roughly 5.6 litres of cold water per 20 kg bag. Application is at about 20C and never below 5C. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C1T adhesive, and the manufacturer states it is not suitable for porcelain tiles or exterior areas unless a flexible additive is used. Maximum weight of tiling including adhesive is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, with plasterboard requiring fixing at 300mm centres or as the board manufacturer directs.
- supplier figure RN-TWBLVQ
Dunlop (ARDEX)
Manufacturer coverage table for a standard cementitious floor and wall grout, showing how strongly tile size and joint width drive quantity. Coverage is 0.21 kg/m2 for a 200 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 2mm joint, 0.25 kg/m2 for a 300 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 3mm joint and 0.45 kg/m2 for a 300 x 600 x 10mm tile with a 5mm joint, so a large format tile with a wide joint needs more than twice the grout of a small tile with a narrow one. Joint width range is 2 to 12mm. It is not recommended for soft glazed decorative tiles or tiles with a metal decor, and unglazed floor tiles should be test grouted first because the pigment can stain the face, in which case a protective sealer is applied. Tiles must be fixed with a water resistant adhesive. The method is to work in small areas, fill joints with a rubber squeegee or float and compact well, then wait about 15 minutes for the grout to firm up before cleaning off diagonally with a damp sponge. Dunlop products carry a 10 year guarantee subject to conditions.
- supplier figure RN-3BGBQE
Dunlop (ARDEX)
Manufacturer technical data for a water and frost resistant flexible powder grout. Coverage is approximately 0.38 kg/m2 based on a 300 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 3mm joint, with separate figures tabulated for other tile sizes and joint widths such as 200 x 300 x 7mm at 2mm. Application temperature is around 20C and never below 5C. The method sequence: the adhesive must be fully set and dried before grouting; work in small areas filling joints with a rubber squeegee or grout float and compacting well; allow about 15 minutes for the grout to firm up before cleaning off excess with a damp sponge. Tiles can be subject to normal conditions after a minimum of 24 hours, and external work must be protected from weather and frost during application and for at least 24 hours after. The critical instruction for a heated floor: after grouting over underfloor heating the heating must not be turned back on for a minimum of 14 days. Highly polished tiles, soft decorative glazes and metal lustres need a test area first, and a protective sealer where staining occurs.
- supplier figure RN-AA158V
Dunlop (ARDEX)
Manufacturer technical data for a ready mixed waterproof wall tile adhesive, and the source for why a tub adhesive is limited. Coverage is approximately 2 kg/m2 in dry areas and 3 kg/m2 in wet areas. Open time is 30 minutes and maximum bed thickness is 3mm. Application is at about 20C and never below 5C. The limitation that matters: tile size must not exceed 300mm x 300mm for glazed or unglazed ceramic, because a ready mixed adhesive dries by evaporation through the tile joints and a larger tile traps it. Drying time increases to a minimum of 3 days on backgrounds such as certain boards. Maximum weight of tiling is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, with plasterboard fixed at 300mm centres and of suitable thickness. New plaster needs a minimum 2 weeks drying and bonding or browning plaster must not be used.
- supplier figure RN-AMWIK2
Everbuild (Sika)
Manufacturer data sheet for a bath and kitchen silicone sealant. Curing time is 3 to 5 days depending on bead thickness, ambient temperature and humidity, and Everbuild specifies protecting the joint from water for a minimum of 24 hours after application, which is the answer to how soon a newly sealed bath can be used. Shore A hardness after cure is approximately 30. The bead should be smoothed down within 20 minutes of application and the nozzle held at an angle to the surface. Storage is 5 to 30C in dry conditions, protected from frost. Test data is quoted on a 20 mm by 10 mm joint profile.
- supplier figure RN-CNWBPI
Junckers
Manufacturer installation data for a load bearing solid hardwood batten floor. Only 22 mm 2-strip and 20.5 mm plank floorboards can be nailed to battens and joists. Battens must be plain at a minimum 38 x 56 mm or laminated at a minimum 39 x 40 mm. Joists must be whole, half or laminated timbers of at least 100 x 100 mm where used over ventilation spaces or cellars. The expansion allowance is 1.5 mm per metre of width on each side and 1 mm per metre of length at each end, and all perimeter gaps must be a minimum of 12 mm, or a minimum of 15 mm in the UK, which is the number a fitter must leave under the skirting. A Sylvathene 0.2 mm PE-foil moisture barrier is specified. The system can be combined with underfloor heating subject to the manufacturer's separate datasheet.
- supplier figure RN-6C5V36
Ronseal
Manufacturer coverage and method data for an exterior wood paint. Coverage is up to 12 m2 per litre, double the 6 m2 per litre of the same maker's fence treatment because the substrate is planed rather than sawn. It is touch dry in one hour with four hours between coats. No primer is required. Ronseal's stated preparation rule is 240 grit for a light sand where the old paint is sound, and 120 grit where the paint is cracked or flaking. The protection claim is 10 years.
- supplier figure RN-SB0GF7
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a mould resistant interior paint. Coverage is up to 12 m2 per litre and two coats are specified, with more if covering a dark colour. It is touch dry in 1 to 2 hours and recoatable in 4 hours. The claim is that surfaces stay mould free for up to 6 years. The 12 m2 per litre figure is double the same maker's anti condensation paint, so the two products are not interchangeable when estimating quantities.
- supplier figure RN-UKMMP3
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for an anti condensation paint. Coverage is only up to 6 m2 per litre, a little over a third of a standard emulsion, which is the practical consequence of the insulating additive and the number a reader needs before buying. It must be applied in temperatures above 10C with doors and windows open for ventilation. This is the source for the point that anti condensation paint is a surface temperature measure, not a substitute for ventilation or insulation.
- supplier figure RN-X0WC7B
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a hard wearing floor paint. Coverage is up to 12 m2 per litre. It can be recoated and walked over in 4 hours and is fully hard in 72 hours, so a painted floor should not take furniture back for three days. The room must be above 10C with doors and windows open. On concrete the manufacturer's instruction is to seal first with a stabilising solution to prevent cracking or blistering, or alternatively to apply a thin first coat diluted with 10 per cent water and let it dry before painting undiluted. On wood the surface should be sanded with a floor sander and 120 grit paper.
- supplier figure RN-UPUWRM
Ronseal
Manufacturer application data for a water based floor varnish. Coverage is up to 18 m2 per litre and it dries in 30 minutes, so a 20 m2 room takes about a litre per coat. The room must be warmer than 10C. Ronseal's stated method is to sand along the length of the floorboards with 120 grit paper (a floor sander for bare or flaking floors), then before the third coat to sand lightly along the boards with 240 grit by hand. Application is with a 4 inch brush working along two floorboards at a time, starting in the corner furthest from the door. The 18 m2 per litre and 30 minute figures are what make a three coat floor a one day job.
- supplier figure RN-95ALY4
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a gun-free trigger expanding foam filler. It more than doubles in size to fill the hole and dries in one hour. Once cured it can be cut, sanded, plastered and painted and is stated not to shrink or crack. It is suitable in wood, metal, glass and masonry, inside or outside, and insulates against heat, sound and moisture. Colour is white with a matt finish, supplied in 300ml and 500ml cans, sprayed from the can. VOC content is declared as very high, the reason for ventilating and masking before use.
- supplier figure RN-5LUS12
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a wet rot wood hardener used to consolidate rotten timber before filling. Dry time is two hours and only one coat is applied. It is clear, brush applied, and supplied in 250ml and 500ml sizes. Ronseal states it soaks deep into rotten wood to strengthen it and sets rock hard, providing a base for filling cracks and holes in doors, windows and frames, inside or outside. VOC content is declared as very high, which is the reason for ventilation and why it is not an interior job to do casually.
- supplier figure RN-3QFGGN
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a two part exterior grade wood filler. It dries in 30 minutes and can be filled to any depth, and the formula is stated not to shrink or crack even in harsh weather. The working window is roughly 20 minutes to carve or shape the filler before it hardens, and it should be smoothed over with a knife before it sets. The 20 minute working time against a 30 minute dry is why this filler is mixed in small batches rather than a whole tub at once.
- supplier figure RN-TLX3O4
Ronseal
Manufacturer coverage and application data for an interior multi surface paint. Coverage is 10 m2 per litre, so a 2.5 litre tin covers up to 25 m2 and a 5 litre tin up to 50 m2, the arithmetic a reader needs to size a tin against a room. It is touch dry in 1 hour and a second coat can go on after 2 to 4 hours, and the paint must not be thinned. The room must be above 10C. Ronseal states the paint is 100 per cent washable and resistant to staining and most types of mould, with a 6 year anti mould claim, but the film must be allowed at least 1 week to harden before it is washed down. Preparation on woodwork is a light sand with 120 grit, wiping dust with a damp cloth, filling holes and treating knots with a knot blocking primer.
- supplier figure RN-OZF7XJ
Ronseal
Manufacturer data for a water based decking oil. Coverage is 6.4 m2 per litre. It is rainproof in 90 minutes and touch dry in 90 minutes, with four hours before a second coat. Ronseal states it stops the deck turning grey or splitting. The application instruction is to start in the furthest corner and brush along the length of the boards, working 3 to 4 boards at a time to avoid overlap marks, which is the technique that prevents visible lap lines on a deck.
- supplier figure RN-B93N4C
Schluter Systems
Manufacturer data for the DITRA family of polyethylene uncoupling membranes used under ceramic and stone tiling. DITRA is 3.5 mm thick (1/8 inch), which keeps the tile assembly thin and reduces the step down to adjoining floor finishes, while DITRA-XL is 7 mm (5/16 inch). The membrane is a grid of square cavities each cut back in a dovetail, with an anchoring fleece laminated to the underside that is embedded in thin-set mortar for a mechanical bond to the substrate. Mortar coverage requirements are more than 80 per cent for dry applications and more than 95 per cent for exterior or shower installations, which is the workmanship figure that decides whether a tiled shower floor will hold up. Besides uncoupling, the membrane provides waterproofing and vapour management.
- supplier figure RN-VRW3A5
Sika
Manufacturer data sheet for a one part moisture curing polyurethane construction joint sealant, with the joint design rules a movement joint depends on. Joint width must be a minimum of 6 mm and a maximum of 50 mm, and a width to depth ratio of 2:1 must be maintained; widths under 10 mm are generally for interior connection joints or crack control only. Curing rate is approximately 3 mm per 24 hours at 23C and 50 per cent relative humidity to CQP 049-2, so a deep joint takes days, not hours. Density is about 1.45 kg/l to ISO 1183-1, Shore A hardness about 28 after 28 days to ISO 868, and tear propagation resistance about 7.0 N/mm to ISO 34. Sag flow is 0 mm on a 20 mm profile at 50C to ISO 7390. It is ASTM C 920 class 35 and carries GEV-Emicode EC1PLUS R for low VOC emission. Shelf life is 15 months from production. Primed substrates need Sika Aktivator-205 with a flash-off of more than 15 minutes and less than 6 hours, or Sika Primer-3 N or Primer-215 with more than 30 minutes flash-off. Cured sealant can only be removed mechanically.
- supplier figure RN-4Z7RE8
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a scrubbable interior matt paint. Coverage is 10 to 12 m2 per litre. Scrub resistance is Class 1 wet scrub to ISO 11998, the top classification and the figure worth quoting against a standard vinyl matt at Class 2. Reaction to fire is Class B-s1, d0 tested to BS EN 13501-1:2018 on a bare non-combustible substrate, which is the qualification that matters because the classification does not carry over onto a combustible lining. It suits new or previously painted wallboard and plaster ceilings and walls, and is available in Brilliant White plus tint bases matched to NCS, RAL or BS 4800 colours.
- supplier figure RN-C4UZFY
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a water based all surface exterior paint. Coverage is 12 m2 per litre and it is recoatable in 1 hour. It is designed for long term decoration of timber, metal, masonry, plastic, concrete and cladding, forming a vapour permeable water shedding coating, which is the property that matters on a solid wall that needs to breathe. The matt finish will bridge gaps in the painted surface up to 0.5mm wide. Coloured finishes are stated not to darken when wet, unlike many other matt exterior paints. The dried film is a treated article containing the biocides 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one at 0.06 per cent, Diuron at 0.15 per cent and Zinc Pyrithione at 0.06 per cent by weight.
- supplier figure RN-2CGB9O
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for the water based version of Zinsser's stain blocking primer. Coverage is 9 m2 per litre, lower than the 12.5 m2 per litre of the original shellac based B-I-N, which is the quantity difference to allow for when substituting the low odour water based version on an interior job.
- supplier figure RN-PXOAO7
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for B-I-N shellac based primer, the standard answer to a water stain or nicotine bleeding through emulsion. Coverage is 12.5 m2 per litre. It is touch dry in 15 minutes and recoatable in 45 minutes, with a full cure of 1 to 3 days, which is why it is used when a room has to be finished the same day. Shelf life is 3 years unopened. Because it is shellac and alcohol based, clean-up is with denatured alcohol or ammoniated detergent, and tools are washed in 1 part ammonia to 3 parts water immediately after use; dried primer needs an overnight soak and a stiff brush. It applies by brush, roller, pad, airless or conventional spray.
- supplier figure RN-9ZRQEY
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a water based bond coat primer sealer. It dries in 30 minutes with a 1 hour recoat time. It primes and seals a wide range of interior and exterior surfaces and gives adhesion to hard to stick surfaces without sanding. It is rust inhibitive over clean ferrous metal such as iron and steel, resists flash rusting in the wet state and gives rust resistance for the life of the coating, so it suits iron railings, steel doors, metal panels, ductwork and galvanised gutters. It contains a biocide protecting the dried coating against fungal degradation on both the underside and the surface of the primer film, which is why it is specified in bathrooms and laundry rooms. The white finish can be tinted towards the topcoat colour.
- supplier figure RN-0R8VOP
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a solvent based stain blocking primer sealer. Coverage is 9.8 m2 per litre. It is touch dry in 30 minutes and recoatable in 2 hours, with a full cure of 4 to 7 days. Compared with the same maker's shellac based B-I-N at 12.5 m2 per litre and a 45 minute recoat, Cover Stain covers less ground per litre and takes longer to recoat, which is the practical difference between the two stain blockers when planning a day's work.
- supplier figure RN-FM955D
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a penetrating sealer used on porous and damaged surfaces such as torn plasterboard paper and residual wallpaper paste. Coverage is 5 to 10 m2 per litre, the wide range reflecting how much the substrate drinks. It is touch dry in 30 minutes with a recoat time of 3 hours and a full cure in 3 days. The 3 hour recoat is the practical constraint on stripping wallpaper and painting the same day.
- supplier figure RN-6M3MIA
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a flexible binding primer used over cracking, chalking and peeling paint. Coverage is 7.4 to 9.8 m2 per litre and recoat time is 2 hours. It glues down cracks and gaps under the edges of old paint, is flexible and breathable, works interior and exterior and cleans up with soap and water. The stated method is to remove loose paint, sand the edges, apply Peel Stop, let it dry, fill as usual, prime the filler and then allow the 2 hour recoat before the topcoat, which is the sequence that stops a repair showing through.
- supplier figure RN-DHSYWT
Zinsser UK
Manufacturer data for a mould resistant interior matt paint. Coverage is 10 m2 per litre. Zinsser states the durable mould resistant film is designed to resist cracking, peeling and blistering for up to 7 years before first maintenance. It is self priming and will adhere to gloss or semi-gloss paints, existing wallcoverings, ceramic tile and similar glossy surfaces without prior sanding, but bare plaster must first be sealed with a primer such as Bulls Eye 1-2-3. Once dried the film is classed as a treated article containing the surface biocide 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one at 0.12 per cent by weight, which is the specific chemistry behind an anti-mould claim. It is water based, low odour and tintable to BS, RAL or NCS colours through the appropriate tint base.