DIY platform material help!

[philuk20]

Hey guys could you just verify that these materials are safe to use for my in progress diy platform?

Grout: waterproof wall tile adhesive: http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wc...ay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=467653

Sealant: Gorilla Glue http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gorilla-P...Scrapbooking_Glue_Tape_EH&hash=item27bd93cb25

Would these be good choices? If not could you see a better alternative on those sites (uk based)?
Any tips or money/time savers you have learnt from doing your own projects?

Many thanks!

 

[doe222]

For a sealent why would you be using glue? Buy a polycrylic clear sealant. Minwax makes a great polycrylic clear coat. And instead of that stuff for grouting you can just use regular grout and seal over it. Or do what i did and just run a bead of caulk between tiles as grout than seal coat over that. I think your making it a little to complicated for yourself. Polycrylic sealcoat can be applied with a paintbrush and dries to the touch in an hour or so. But no matter what you use your going to want to let it air out for a 4-5 days. No matter what you read or hear there is nothing, absolutley nothing on the market 100% non toxic, not even elmers glue. Basically there are certain ones that give off more harfull fumes than others. Get a low fume one and once dry it is non toxic as long as your bearded dragon doesnt inject a junk of it he will be fine. Which is very unlikley unless your bearded dragon has the jaws of a pittbull.

 

[philuk20]

Thanks for the advice, yes im alittle paranoid when it comes to doing things right!
I seen gorilla glue recommended as a sealer, but think this stuff will be better: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000GFPNF6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A31GR1S6M2Y8R2 aquamix penetrating sealer

I appreciate the time taken to post

 

[doe222]

Dont use that stuff either. Im gunna give you a link but its gunna be american. You can literally find it anywhere paint is sold. Its just a polycrylic clear sealant. Water proof and heat resistant, its good stuff. And its water based so its less toxic. http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/60-352-clear-finish-polyurethane/minwax-polycrylic-668002.aspx?utm_source=pla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=rkg

 

[rafa2k]

I used http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=e8d40b45-0ab3-49f7-8a9c-b53970f736af to seal the floor of my vivarium. The reason I used this glue is because 1. it's non toxic and 2. it's water proof. It actually came out looking like clear coat but much cheaper.

I simply sanded the wood until it felt like glass, added a coat of tightbond, sanded the rough out, applied 2nd coat, and sanded 1 last time. I tested it with 1 oz. of water and the water rolled right off.

Hope this helps

 

[philuk20]

I picked up ronseal quick dry varnish: http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=900765

tile a floor grout: http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=726867

Hopefully these will do! any clarification would be nice

 

[doe222]

Those will do just fine. Grout is pretty much all the same. Mix it to a putty state slap it in the grout lines and spread it around while pushing it into the crevices. A putty knife work fine. Than while its still wet get a sponge and wet it, go back and forth over the tile and grout, go against the lines so your not digging your grout out. Clean sponge as you go. let dry for at least 24hours before putting a clear coat over. I would wait probly closer to 36 hours. just because thats 20min drying time doesnt mean you can throw on another coat after 20min, thats just a selling factor. It even says right on the site you gotta wait 4 hours for another coat. IMO you bought somthing more expensive than what you need, plus its a varnish and not a seal coat. But for the floor it should do the trick. Next time buy the water based poly crylic like i recomended

 

[philuk20]

Those will do just fine. Grout is pretty much all the same. Mix it to a putty state slap it in the grout lines and spread it around while pushing it into the crevices. A putty knife work fine. Than while its still wet get a sponge and wet it, go back and forth over the tile and grout, go against the lines so your not digging your grout out. Clean sponge as you go. let dry for at least 24hours before putting a clear coat over. I would wait probly closer to 36 hours. just because thats 20min drying time doesnt mean you can throw on another coat after 20min, thats just a selling factor. It even says right on the site you gotta wait 4 hours for another coat. IMO you bought somthing more expensive than what you need, plus its a varnish and not a seal coat. But for the floor it should do the trick. Next time buy the water based poly crylic like i recomended

Thanks for the advice!
Yeah it was quite expensive, I asked in both of my local superstores but neither had a water based poly crylic. That was the closest they had, so checked online and it seemed it was on a few reptile friendly sites.
Any advice on the amount of layers of grout/varnish would be best?

 

[doe222]

Well grout you can only do one layer. Its grout. I would do at least 2 coats of varnish.