Thread: How to glue a tile to plywood

Originally Posted by JMB

I am wanting to glue a tile to some plywood. I have some Araldite 5 minute everyday and am wondering if this will be suitable. I have checked the selleys website but it wasnt clear to me if this was the right product to use.

Will it be under any load to speak of? One tile with no load, even hot melt will hold it steady (horizontally, that is). Any pre-mix tile adhesive should work. I wouldn't bother to mix up a batch from dry for one tile.

I am making a cupboard and there will be 2 tiles glued into the plywood panels of 2 doors. The tiles are about 400 x 100mm.

I use Selleys Durabond for my trivets, it is reasonably waterproof too.
Wolffie

I'd use the araldite, seeing how it's on a door and subject to some movement, doors slamming etc.

Mick

Thanks for the replies. Since I have the araldite already I'll use that. Just wanted to be sure the tiles weren't going to fall off!

Liquid nails would also work, and may be better because of slight flex of wood against rigidity of tile. Might be better to set it in the door rather than on the door. Easier to clean. Won't get knocked off or corner chipped. Won't look like after thought, even if it wasn't. (Sorry to make more work for you.) If it can't be set in, a little bead around it like a frame will make it look more intigrated, and protect corners and help it not fall off.

Originally Posted by tea lady

Liquid nails would also work, and may be better because of slight flex of wood against rigidity of tile.

Yes, it might in these circumstances, but as he already has the other type. . . .

Might be better to set it in the door rather than on the door. Easier to clean. Won't get knocked off or corner chipped. Won't look like after thought, even if it wasn't. (Sorry to make more work for you.)

This is a lovely idea and I have done it on a table top. But it can cause problems with the wood and must be set in on some separate underlayment or the door might crack (DAMHIKT!)

If it can't be set in, a little bead around it like a frame will make it look more intigrated, and protect corners and help it not fall off.

Better idea, I think.

The tiles are to go into door frames as shown in the sketch. They will be attached to floating panels. I was going to use villaboard for the floating panels but am hoping to use 3mm ply instead so I can recess the tile a bit further below the fronts of the door [does that make sense]. I do have liquid nails as well as araldite, so now I am confused again as to what to use.

PS Honorary Bloke, am a woodworker of the female persuasion!

Use Selleys "Roof and Gutter" silicon

Originally Posted by JMB

The tiles are to go into door frames as shown in the sketch. They will be attached to floating panels. I was going to use villaboard for the floating panels but am hoping to use 3mm ply instead so I can recess the tile a bit further below the fronts of the door [does that make sense]. I do have liquid nails as well as araldite, so now I am confused again as to what to use.

PS Honorary Bloke, am a woodworker of the female persuasion!

Attaching to floating panels is the go. Doesn't matter the substrate, as long as they are floating. Don't be confused. Use the Araldite. Forget the Liquid Nails. Horses for courses.

[As you are a female WWer, more power to you. ]

JMB,
I was going to say liquid nails but as there are so many views on this I am getting confused. I think the answer from this thread is that there are a few options open.

Regards
John

So the tiles will in fact be kind of recessed and flush with the door frames? Will there be a gap? Or not? If no gap I think aryldite will be fine. Door frame will give it a certain amount of support too. Looks like a cool idea. Another question. Are you going to seal around the tile? Like grout or something?

Also, Where are you getting tiles that shape? Do you have them already? It is a strange shape for one long tile, and difficult to get completely flat. Could add another problem to the equation.

I'm planning that the tiles will be set in about 4mm below the level of the door frame. Very minimal gap ie about 1mm around the edges of the tile. Will glue down probably with araldite and maybe use a little clear silicon around the edges, to seal up any gaps.

This cupboard sits above the vanity I am also making, and is part of a bathroom renovation. The first thing that my partner and I bought for the renovation was the 2 tiles and I am now a bit nervous about how they will go with the rest of the decisions we have made about the bathroom. I've attached a photo of one of the tiles and also our choice of floor and wall tiles for the rest of the bathroom. The large dark tiles are for the floor, white rectangles are for the walls, mosaic tiles are for features here and there and small square in the middle is sample of the caesarstone we are using for the vanity top.

Anyway... the answer to my question, "how will it all look?" is probably, "have to wait and see".