The individual areas in our homes, whether it is an interior or exterior, a corridor, a bathroom, a toilet, a balcony or a terrace, are subjected to many different influences from their surrounding environment. What they have in common, however, is the most preferred technology for their covering – through ceramic tiles and flooring. And their “installation” is done with the help of special tile adhesives. Regardless of the design, regardless of whether it is the popular trend of tiles imitating a cement, brick or 3D surface, or the size, shape and arrangement of the tiling material, the most important component that determines the quality of the final result of the coating is the adhesive with which it is laid. The quality of the tile adhesive is of utmost importance both for their easy laying and for their secure and long-lasting adhesion. Of great importance when choosing an adhesive is the consideration of the characteristics of the base on which the tiles will be glued and the type of tiles themselves.
WHAT DO THE MARKINGS ON TILE ADHESIVES SHOW?
Tile adhesives have common markings that are placed on their packaging. These markings are in accordance with the Bulgarian Construction Code. What do they indicate?
C1 – cement-based tile adhesive;
C2 – cement-based adhesive with improved characteristics;
C1T – cement-based adhesive with the improvement that it does not slip;
C1E – adhesive with longer open time;
C1F – adhesive with short curing time;
C1TE – non-slip adhesive with long open time;
С1FT – non-slip adhesive with fast hardening;
C1FE – adhesive with a combination of fast curing and longer open time
C2T – adhesive with improved characteristics that does not slip;
C2E – adhesive with improved characteristics and longer open time.
HOW TO CHOOSE ADHESIVE FOR TILE?
The quality and reliability of adhesives is guaranteed by standardized testing methods. But to make the right choice, we do not have to study this complex matter. We need to pay attention to several key characteristics that determine the applicability of a particular product to the specifics of our project. We will dwell on the most important characteristics.
- Type and features of the lining
Terracotta tiles and granite tiles, heavy and light facing stones, glass ceramics, marble, large-format ceramic tiles – the possibilities and options for choosing a facing material are practically unlimited. However, each of them has certain properties and characteristics, such as color, porosity, format, mass, water absorption, etc., which in themselves must be taken into account when choosing an installation adhesive.
- Specificity of the base
Wood, metal, plasterboard, mosaic, old painted, tiled, critical or deformable substrates – the variety in the type and condition of the substrate (suitability for bonding, load-bearing capacity, water absorption, etc.) that will be tiled is also enormous and in itself requires the use of the appropriate adhesive capable of guaranteeing the long-term stability of the applied coating.
- Place of application
Ceramic coatings are particularly preferred for balconies, terraces, damp and wet rooms, heavily loaded public spaces, swimming pools and a number of other areas. In itself, each of the listed places exposes the coating to a combination of specific conditions and different loads, such as severe atmospheric and climatic influences (solar radiation, rain, snow, seeping moisture), large temperature changes and amplitudes (heating from the sun, underfloor heating or cold rooms), causing large linear expansions and contractions in the coating, varying degrees of loading (human traffic and mechanical pressure) and the resulting movements and vibrations in the base, as well as a number of others.
All these key moments and specific features bring to the forefront the question of whether there is a universal solution that would satisfy them to the maximum and guarantee the reliability and long-term operational quality of our project.
Professional adhesives for laying ceramic tiles and flooring provide guaranteed security over time.
In the variety of ceramic adhesives available on the market, one can easily get confused. Many of them offer a solution for a smaller or larger part of the above-mentioned features. In such a situation, the right approach is to use professional adhesives and solutions that will give the user the important guarantee of a reliable and long-lasting end result.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHEN USING TILE ADHESIVE?
The task of the adhesive is to securely fix the tile, compensating for the unevenness of the substrate. In addition to its strength, it is important to pay attention to its elasticity, so that the bonding adhesive layer can absorb thermal expansion in the substrate without breaking.
What should you be careful about when using tile adhesive?
- Cavities under the tiles
Ceramic coatings are fragile and the voids beneath them lead to their easy destruction under concentrated loads or heavy objects being dropped. Water may penetrate and collect in the voids, leading to the appearance of mold and unpleasant odors in the room. In the case of exterior cladding, freezing of water beneath the tiles would lead to the destruction of the coating. For this purpose, all voids and irregularities must be filled well.
It is also very important that the adhesive layer on the tile and the substrate is applied evenly. This ensures maximum adhesion strength and resistance to point loads - stepping on, dropping heavy objects, impact or drilling with a drill.
- Color of the facing tiles
With light or translucent tiles, glass ceramics or natural stones, dark-colored adhesives show through them – for this reason, it is imperative to use white-colored adhesives. They do not show through the face of the tiles, preserve the real color of the grouting mixtures and do not affect the final visual effect of the tile.
- Porosity /absorbency/ of the tiles
Standard adhesives are unsuitable for gluing tiles that do not absorb water easily (porcelain tiles, glass ceramics, etc.) or highly absorbent limestone and stone coverings. In both cases, use modified adhesives suitable for the purpose to ensure proper adhesion of the tiles and prevent peeling of the coating.
- Tile size
For tiles larger than 20x20 cm, it is mandatory to apply an adhesive layer to both the base and the back of the tile. This guarantees the strength of the bond. Be sure to use elastic and high-strength adhesives.
- Temperature expansions
In the case of claddings subjected to thermal loads (built-in heating, fireplaces, ovens, refrigerators, etc.), the base is constantly contracting and expanding. The coating laid on it also contracts and expands, but to different degrees, which leads to the formation of large stresses in the adhesive layer, providing the connection between the base and the cladding. For this purpose, use adhesives that are elastic and high-strength and can absorb the stresses that arise and prevent the coating from breaking.
- Resistance to intense stress
In rooms subject to intense and constant loads or adverse weather conditions, it is necessary to choose adhesives that are elastic and high-strength and could absorb the stresses that arise and prevent the coating from breaking.
- Weather resistance
To ensure the strength and durability of ceramic tiles exposed to adverse weather conditions, use adhesives with increased strength and high elasticity.
HOW DO WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT THE LAYING OF TILES?
Atmospheric conditions directly affect the quality of ceramic tile installation and, in particular, its adhesion. What should you keep in mind?
- Temperature: it is an important factor affecting the quality and strength of the bond. Work at air and surface temperatures of +5°C to +28°C. At temperatures above +28°C, the water in the adhesive evaporates very quickly, and at temperatures below +5°C there is a risk of freezing. In both cases, this leads to cracking and unwanted defects in the coating, which is why the use of adhesives with specific qualities for the conditions is necessary.
- Air currents: they lead to rapid drying of the surface of the adhesive layer. The open time of the mixture is significantly reduced.
- Air humidity: it is of decisive importance for drying. At low humidity, cement adhesives dry faster, and at higher humidity - much slower.
- Fog: fine droplets in the air in foggy weather combined with low temperature lead to a complete change in the behavior of the adhesive solution. High humidity impairs the good bond of the adhesive with the substrate and the cladding.
HOW TO PREPARE TILE ADHESIVE FOR USE?
Preparing tile adhesive for use goes through several phases. What are they?
- Mixing: to prepare the adhesive, use a clean bucket. Add the required amount of water according to the instructions on the package of the selected adhesive and, while stirring continuously, add the adhesive itself. Stir using an electric mixer at low speed (to prevent air from entering the mixture) until a creamy, homogeneous mixture without lumps is obtained. When mixing small quantities, use a spatula or trowel.
- Maturation: after mixing, let the adhesive stand for about 10 minutes. This time is necessary for the complete dissolution of the additives and the achievement of optimal product qualities.
- Mixing: before starting work, stir the mixture again, stirring periodically during work - this will maintain the required consistency of the adhesive.
- Open time: check the packaging or the product data sheet for how long and under what atmospheric conditions the mixture is suitable for use. Usually the mixture retains its properties for about 5 hours at a temperature of 20÷25°C. After the specified open time, the qualities of the solution deteriorate and it cannot be used.
- Adjustment time: check the product instructions. When laying the tiles, you have a certain amount of time to adjust the placement. If you try to move them after this time, the adhesion will be disrupted.
- Curing: the time for complete curing of the adhesive depends on atmospheric conditions (temperature and humidity), but is not less than 72 hours. Full loading of the tiled surface is recommended after 14 days.
HOW IS TILE ADHESIVE APPLIED?
Apply the adhesive to the substrate using a notched trowel. The size and size of the comb vary depending on the type of substrate, size and type of tiles. For standard-sized tiles, use a trowel with a minimum tooth size of 8x8 mm (this ensures proper distribution of the adhesive and avoids the so-called “paws”, where there is an empty space without adhesive under the tile). The rougher the substrate and the larger the tiles, the larger the trowel comb should be. 10-20 minutes after applying the adhesive, a crust forms on its surface, which prevents good adhesion of the tiles to the substrate. If this happens, remove the material and lay a new one. Apply a thin layer of adhesive to the back of each tile as well - this achieves 100% contact surface. After laying the tiles, the layer of adhesive under them should be half the size of the teeth (this is achieved by tilting the trowel at 45° to the substrate).
HOW ARE TILES LAYED?
Start laying the tiles from the places where you planned to lay whole tiles and leave the places where cut pieces will be laid for last. Lay the tile on the layer of adhesive and slide it into its exact place with light pressure. Fix the tile with a rubber mallet so that there are no air bubbles and cavities under it. Use a spirit level to control the alignment and the desired slope of the tiles. Make sure that the back of each tile is tightly covered with adhesive and that there are no cavities under it. Using joint crosses, fix the desired width of the joint (at least 3 mm). For larger sizes of tiles and especially if they are made of porcelain stoneware, it is recommended that the joints be wider (4÷4.5 mm) to accommodate deformations caused by temperature differences.
After you have laid the whole tiles, continue laying the cut ones. Cut using a tile cutting machine, taking care not to injure yourself on the sharp edges. Small parts and pieces of the tiles can be cut using an angle grinder or pliers. To cut round holes in the tiles, use special pine crowns and a drill.
WHAT ADVICE DOES WEBER GIVE?
Laying ceramic tiles is an expensive and laborious process. Some of the tile adhesives in our store are from the proven WEBER brand, so we will introduce you to the advice that the specialists on the company's website give regarding preparing the base for gluing. Here are 8 important things that you should keep in mind when you get to work.
Prepare the base well and you will ensure low material consumption and a long-lasting ceramic coating.
1. Equality of the base
The base must be flat – without any raised areas, protruding remnants of old coating or unfilled holes. The flatness of the base is checked with a two-meter level. The level is placed on the floor, with 3 mm thick metal washers placed under both ends. The base must not lift the level from the washers. The distance between the base and the level must not exceed 6 mm. If the uneven areas in area are more than 1/5 of the room, it is imperative to level the base.
2. Base hardness
The hardness of the base is checked by scratching it with a sharp tool in several places. The resulting scratches should be superficial. If large pieces are separated during scratching or the base is hollow, these areas should be removed and a new coating should be applied. Remove a small part of the screed with a chisel - this will check the condition of the base in depth. The plastered walls are swept. Any loose particles of the floor screed are removed.
3. Foundation stability
This check mainly applies to wooden floors, joists, flooring, etc., on which tiles are to be laid. Floorboards or planks should not move when you walk on them. Their creaking is a sure sign of movement and should be eliminated by placing a wooden wedge or pad. If the creaking continues, replace the removed element. Strengthen wooden or plasterboard partitions so that they do not give in to pressure.
4. Porosity (absorbency) of the substrate
The absorbency of the substrate is checked by pouring 50 - 100 ml of water on a small area of it. If the water soaks in less than 1 minute, the substrate is too porous and needs to be primed before laying the tiles. Too high or low absorbency of the substrate will impair the strength of the adhesive layer.
5. Adhesion strength to the substrate
Check adhesion when tiling over old surfaces – paint or existing tiles. Check the strength of old tile substrates by tapping. Remove any tiles that are loose and fill in their space. Check old paint substrates with a sharp tool. Apply a dozen parallel horizontal lines and cross them with the same number of vertical lines. The distance between the lines should be about 2 mm. The paint is suitable for tiling if at least 80% of the resulting squares remain connected and do not fall off. If the percentage is lower, remove all the paint as it will not support the weight of the tiles.
6. Cleanliness of the base
It is important for the durability of the tiles that the substrate is thoroughly cleaned before laying them: If you are going to lay tiles on a removed floor covering such as linoleum, linoleum, carpet or vinyl tiles, clean the adhesive residue mechanically. Dust the substrate and prime it. If you are going to lay tiles on old tiles, remove any varnish or wax residue with sandpaper. Wash the substrate to remove dust. If you are going to lay tiles on a concrete substrate, remove any undissolved lime, plaster, grease stains, formwork oil or dirt.
7. Humidity of the base
Lay tiles only on well-dried and settled substrates. In newly constructed buildings, wait at least 2 months for the natural settlement and drying of the concrete and plasters. In the case of gypsum substrates, make sure that they are completely dry - a process that takes about 2 weeks. Before laying tiles on gypsum substrates, be sure to prime them.
8. Priming the base
The primer evens out the absorbency of the substrates and ensures a strong bond between the substrate and the adhesive. Priming the substrate is a mandatory step in the tile laying process.
WHY ARE CERESIT ADHESIVES PREFERRED?
In the conditions of economic crisis and reduced consumption, leading manufacturers of construction materials have generally two paths for successful market presence. On the one hand - to invest funds in creating newer and more advanced products, and on the other - to squeeze out even the smallest reserves in order to maintain acceptably low prices. These are the approaches by which the leading European manufacturer in the field of construction chemicals Henkel successfully imposes its products under the Ceresit brand and in particular tile adhesives, which have been preferred for years due to their very good qualities. They are applicable in all operating conditions of floor coverings or wall coverings. As is known, there are no completely universal materials. Therefore, Henkel periodically updates the adhesives it offers on the market. Each of them has its own narrow specialization, allowing it to provide the right solution for each specific case.
The different Ceresit adhesives are designed for different substrates and types of tiles. With its extensive experience in construction technologies, this brand offers the optimal price-quality ratio. The wide variety of Ceresit tile adhesives covers both standard applications (e.g. use on cement substrates) and more specific cases (e.g. tile on tile or use on heavily loaded floors).
As important as the price is, the more important thing is the quality that the home or professional builder receives. The first criterion when choosing the adhesive is where the flooring or tile covering is located - indoors or outdoors. In the second case, the requirements for the residual elasticity of the hardened adhesive are additionally increased so that it can absorb the significant thermal movements of the top coating relative to the base, caused by solar heating. The extent to which the covering or flooring is subjected to water pressure or heavy wetting is also important when choosing. Marble slabs pose specific requirements, because the adhesive could seep through them and cause unwanted staining. Granite slabs also have their "claims", because their surface does not have capillaries that facilitate the adhesion of the adhesive. When describing the technology for laying flooring or tiling, there is also the concept of "critical bases" - such are gypsum board, gypsum fiberboard or cement Aquapanel boards, YTONG blocks, flooring over heating systems, over wooden floors, etc. In each of these specific cases, additional requirements are placed on the adhesive, which, if not met, increase the risk of tiles peeling, opening joints and the appearance of other defects.
When evaluating one or another adhesive, in addition to the length of time during which the adhesive applied to the substrate is suitable for gluing tiles (open time), especially in wall coverings, the ability of the adhesive to hold the laid tile and prevent it from sliding under its own weight is of essential importance. If it does not have this ability to the required extent, then at least the first row of tiles glued to the wall must be supported on a leveled screed and in general the work becomes more complicated and slower.
The important thing to know is that for every such case there is the right Ceresit glue. This glue has different modifications, but we will focus in more detail on two of them, which are available in our store.
CERESIT CM 11 PLUS GRES IS AN IMPROVED VARIANT OF HITA CM 11
Henkel's adhesive technology team has created an even more reliable and better product for one of the best-selling tile adhesives on the Bulgarian market, the hit Ceresit CM 11. The new CM 11 PLUS GRES adhesive has an improved and refined formula. This adhesive has better working parameters, higher technical indicators and more applications, but remains in the price class of CM 11.
CM 11 PLUS GRES is a solution for gluing ceramic tiles on concrete, cement screeds and other mineral substrates indoors and outdoors. The adhesive is an excellent solution for laying porcelain tiles indoors (max. 40x40 cm) and ceramic tiles indoors and outdoors. CM 11 PLUS does not allow slipping and is suitable for gluing tiles on vertical and horizontal substrates. The adhesive is water and frost resistant.
Until now, this adhesive has offered an optimal combination of quality and price, which has made it preferred for flooring and cladding that do not have increased requirements, caused by so-called critical substrates, for example.
The improved version of CM 11 has good water and frost resistance. It is also characterized by the very minimal slippage (≤0.5 mm) of the tile glued on the fresh adhesive. This is a great convenience, especially for people without much professional experience in this field.
The most significant innovation in Ceresit CM 11 PLUS GRES is that the adhesive is now also suitable for gluing porcelain stoneware tiles (indoors), which, as is known, is a preferred material for flooring in more intensively used rooms such as corridors, hallways, kitchens, etc.
CERESIT CM 16 FLEX IS IDEAL FOR FLOORS ON BALCONIES AND TERRACES
This is an adhesive with very good qualities for bonding tiles (including porcelain stoneware and glass ceramics) on the already mentioned critical substrates. It is suitable for bonding tiles on existing old cladding. It retains high elasticity after hardening, which allows it to absorb the movements of the cladding or the base without cracking or peeling. It is used outdoors and indoors, and is particularly suitable for flooring on balconies and terraces. With it, the sliding of a tile glued to the wall is also minimal (≤0.5 mm) and does not affect the work. This adhesive is also characterized by the extended "open time" - up to 30 minutes.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you can find a variety of tile adhesives. The differences in their characteristics also determine the differences in the use for which they are intended, so you will certainly find the right adhesive. Even if you are not closely familiar with the technologies in this area, the technical data sheets of the products indicate specifically what they can be used for, which will orient you and make your choice as easy as possible. The technical data sheets also contain detailed information about the adhesives and how to use them.
Almost all tile adhesives come in standard 25 kg packages, but there are also smaller ones depending on the specifics of the product.
We would like to draw your personal attention to the MASTERHAUS tile adhesive, which is produced especially for our company. The adhesive is of class C1T and is suitable for laying granite tiles, ceramic tiles and natural stone with the exception of marble. Its price is extremely favorable.
In addition to the already mentioned reputable brands WEBER and CERESIT, the other products in this group with us are from ARDEX, BAUMIT, ROFIX, VEKTOR, THRAKON and BORO. The prices are favorable.
