Tile Adhesive and Grout Advice - Part 1
THE TILE SOURCE
tips and hints
| Tile Adhesive and Grout Advice provides general information on the different types available and what they do. For more detailed data there are also links to the leading tile adhesive and grout manufacturers.
Ready Mixed Tile Adhesives As the name implies these tile adhesives are pre mixed to for ease of use. These tile adhesives are intended for internal wall use only in dry or intermittently wet areas. There are two grades, standard, class D1 and D2 which is water resistant. You will come across some ready mixed adhesives proclaiming they are waterproof, this is misleading as they are not water proof barriers. Many ready mixed tile adhesives are regarded as ‘non-slip’. This means the tile adhesive is designed not to let the tiles slip down the wall which helps fixing by reducing the need for tiling battens. These tile adhesives are suitable for fixing wall tiles, some floor tiles and some stones to a variety of wall surfaces. This type of tile adhesive will only set if it can naturally dry out, therefore setting times will be extended if tiles are fixed to non-absorbent surfaces or if the tiles are porcelain or glass (both are non-absorbent). Do not use ready mixed tile adhesives to fix large format porcelain/glass or any porcelain/glass to non absorbent surfaces. Read the instructions carefully before use. Cement based Tile Adhesives Cement based tile adhesives are very versatile as they can fix a wide variety of materials to a wide variety of internal or external surfaces, including swimming pools and other wet locations. Cement adhesives set chemically and will set under water, so do not pour any residues down drains or they will become well and truly blocked! Most of these tile adhesives are available in standard 24 hour set or rapid setting varieties. |
By adding polymers to the mix (polymer modified cement based tile adhesives) or as a separate additive the bond strength is enhanced. These tile adhesives are often distinguished with the adjective ‘flex or flexy’ or distinguished with branded names like ‘Porcelbond’. Polymer modified adhesives must be used when fixing porcelain or other non-absorbent
tiles. As most floor tiles are now porcelain it
is good practise to only used polymer
modified adhesive for fixing floor tiles.
Cement based adhesives are
powders that require mixing with
water to form a slump free mortar. The
instructions on the bag will tell you
how much water to add. Once mixed
the mortar will have a pot life (the time you
have which to use it) and an open time (the length of time you have to bed the tiles into the spread adhesive). Read the instructions carefully before use.Elastomeric Tile Adhesives This is a fancy term for rubbery cement based tile adhesives that are designed to stick to most surfaces. These tile adhesives are also capable of withstanding some vibration and some are designed to absorb movement in steel decking and timber floors. Bal Flex for wall tiles and Bal Fast Flex for floors tiles are examples of this type of tile adhesive which are often used for fixing to timber floors. For further information on tile adhesive and grout, smoothing compounds, waterproofing, primers and other accessories follow the link below: |
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