Can You Plaster Over Tile Adhesive? The Answer is Explained In-Detail!

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Wall tiling is a durable solution to provide a stunning look to the house. Plastering is another method of increasing durability while making the wall smooth.

Most people plaster the walls before priming or painting. Some try to plaster over the tiled walls. It is possible to plaster the tiled walls, but you must ensure that the tiles can hold the additional weight of plaster coatings.

Imagine you plan to remove the tiles before plastering walls and notice some adhesive residues on the wall. If you are wondering whether it is okay to plaster over tile adhesive, you found the right blog!

Yes, you can plaster over the tile adhesive, but there are some preparations you need to make beforehand so that the plaster adheres to the surface. A tight-layer hard wall over the tile adhesive will help the plaster stick to the wall. However, removing as much tile adhesive from the substrate before you plaster is better to avoid risks.

Plaster

Plaster
Plaster

Plaster is made using gypsum, water, and sand. You can use it to coat the partition, walls, and ceiling. The plaster will harden once it cures. A freshly plastered surface will take one to two weeks to cure completely.

The curing time may vary according to the surface type, the coating thickness, and the climate. Following are some pros and cons of plastering the walls:

Pros

  • Plastered walls are a long-lasting solution due to the sturdiness offered by the plaster.
  • Plastered surfaces are moss-resistant and could be painted over to enhance the look. The thickness of the plaster coating might contribute to soundproofing.
  • You can easily clean the plastered walls without causing any damage to the surface.
  • It also provides an elegant look to the house by creating a smooth and even surface.

Cons

  • Painting over the plastered surface might be hard. Therefore, it is necessary to coat the surface with the right plaster thickness to paint it perfectly.
  • If the plastered wall gets damaged, you might have to spend a lot of money hiring an expert plasterer to fix the issue.
  • When compared to drywall coating, plaster coating is more expensive.

Tile Adhesive

Tile Adhesive 3
Tile Adhesive 3

Tile adhesive is an essential product for tiling projects. It is used to adhere tiles to the substrate. There are different varieties of tile adhesives available on the market. Hence, it is essential to select the right adhesive for your project. 

The main types of tile adhesives are ready-mixed and powder-based adhesives. It would be best if you prepared the subfloor before spreading the adhesive.

Then, apply the adhesive using a notched trowel and start laying the tiles. It may take around 24 hours for the tile adhesive to cure well and for a firm grip between the substrate and the tiles.

Is It Possible to Plaster Over Old Tile Adhesive

Is It Possible to Plaster Over Old Tile Adhesive
Is It Possible to Plaster Over Old Tile Adhesive

After a prolonged period, the tile walls will get old and lose their shine. The old tiled walls will not provide an appealing look to the house.

Hence, you can remove the tiles and upgrade the look by plastering, painting, or tiling the wall. After removing the old tiles, this blog will focus on plastering the surface over the tile adhesive.

Many people often ask whether it is possible to plaster over tile adhesive.

Fortunately, you can plaster over tile adhesive. However, removing the old tile and as much glue as possible from the surface is essential. Then it is also important to prepare the surface and apply a thick coating of the hard wall, or bonding. This coating will ensure the plaster adheres well to the surface.

Although you can plaster over tile adhesive, professionals do not recommend doing so. Instead, they suggest removing the tile adhesive entirely from the surface before plastering the walls.

Removing all the tile adhesive might be time-consuming, but it’s worth it for a long-lasting and premium finish.

How to Plaster Over Tile Adhesive

How to Plaster Over Tile Adhesive
How to Plaster Over Tile Adhesive

The struggle is true when removing old tile adhesive from the surface. Due to the difficulty of removing the glue, some people try plastering over the old adhesive residues.

Follow the instructions below if you also plan to plaster over tile adhesive.

Step 1: Remove As Much Adhesive As Possible

After removing the tiles, remove the tile adhesive from the surface.

Scrape off the maximum amount of adhesive possible from the surface. Since the thickness of the plaster coating will be approximately 2 to 3 mm, removing all the high spots of tile adhesive is necessary. This will prevent forming an uneven surface.

Step 2: Applying the Bonding Agent

Once you have removed as much tile adhesive as possible from the surface, you can clean the surface well to remove any dust and dirt.

Then apply a coat of bonding agent (hard wall) over the wall and the adhesive residues. 

This bonding agent will help form a strong adhesion with the surface and the plaster coating.

Note: You may also add PVA glue before applying the coat of bonding agent. This step is optional but will help obtain a better surface.

Step 3: Apply Plaster

You can start plastering over the wall and tile adhesive when the bonding agent dries well.

How to Remove Tile Adhesive

How to Remove Tile Adhesive
How to Remove Tile Adhesive

Although you can plaster over tile adhesive, it is better to remove the glue completely. Following are a few DIY hacks to remove tile adhesive from the wall.

Method 1: Using Warm Water

Dip a cloth in the bowl of warm water and allow it to soak for some time. Then dampen the adhesive using a wet cloth. Once the tile adhesive loosens, scrape it off with a 4-inch scraper.

Repeat the same steps to remove all the adhesives.

Method 2: Using a Wallpaper Steamer

Steam the surface using the wallpaper steamer. Move around and ensure that you don’t concrete to steam in the same spot for too long; the heat from the steamer will soften the tile adhesive. You can remove the dampened glue using a scraper. 

Repeat until you obtain an adhesive-free surface.

Note: When removing tile adhesive from the wall, use a newspaper or old cloth to cover the floor.

Bottom Line

You can plaster over the tile adhesive. This will minimize your effort to remove adhesive residue and save time.

When plastering over tile adhesive, it is essential to use a bonding agent to ensure that the plaster sticks well to the surface. The bonding agent will also help to level the surface.

Although you can plaster over tile adhesive, many experts recommend removing the adhesive completely before plastering.

This ensures durability and a smooth finish. Therefore, it is worth removing all the adhesive, even though the task is messy.

FAQs

Is It a Must to Remove the Old Adhesive Before Plastering the Wall?

Yes, removing as much adhesive as possible from the surface is essential.

A few adhesive residues stuck on the wall are okay, as you can plaster over them after applying a bonding agent.

Can you Plaster over the Tiles?

Yes, you can plaster over tiles. Before plastering, create a flat surface by filling the gaps between the tiles.

Can I Plaster Over a Larger Tile Adhesive?

 No, you must remove all the large tile adhesives.

The height of the adhesive residue must be lower than the thickness of the bonding agent coating.

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About Charlie D Paige

Charlie is a massive DIY fan, with dozens of DIY projects under his belt - ranging from tiling to electrics, and concrete pads to walls. Charlie loves tinkering, seeing how things works, the outdoors and playing with power tools... so is it any wonder that he's completed so many DIY jobs over the years?

Charlie loves spreading his hard-won DIY experience with the world via this blog.