Adhesive solutions

The times when tiles were glued to the wall or floor using traditional cement mortars are gone forever. Today, adhesive mortars are relevant.

Nowadays, most young tilers probably won't even be able to make the right composition of the cement mixture, since ready-made adhesive mixtures are widely used. Just like traditional mortar, they consist of cement, sand and water, but they can also contain various additives that give the mixture certain properties. However, it should not be forgotten that different types of work require different adhesive mixtures. After all, the offer on the market is so rich that a beginner may have certain problems when choosing a mixture.

Accurate choice

The first thing to understand is that there are no universal adhesive solutions. Everything depends on the surface on which the tiles will be laid, the type of material from which they are made, and the operating conditions. Otherwise, using a solution intended for floors on the walls will cause the tiles to "slide" down. Some adhesive solutions are used for ceramics, others for stone. It is also necessary to consider whether the work will be carried out inside or outside the building. Compliance with these requirements is only the beginning of the tiling process.

Basic classification

The most important indicator to consider when choosing a mixture is the quality and condition of the substrate on which the tiles will be laid. Depending on this, there is a basic division of adhesive mixtures: thin-layer cement mortars (up to 5 mm thick), medium and thick-layer for simultaneous leveling of the ground (the solution can hide depressions up to 2 cm), as well as resin-based solutions.

Cement mortar is usually sold as dry mixes intended for dilution with water. The amount of water is determined according to the required consistency of the mixture, determined by the size of the tile. Cement mortar can also be selected in terms of its different elasticity. If the substrate is uneven, it can be treated with a special leveling solution, and then a thin-layer adhesive solution can be applied.

Cement mortar

Cement mortar is intended for use on rigid substrates (plaster, concrete, etc.), semi-elastic mixtures – on less rigid substrates, such as plasterboard. Elastic mortar should be used on flexible, unstable substrates (e.g. wooden panels, plaster, old tiles, walls painted with oil paints, etc.), as well as places subject to frequent temperature changes. Elastic mortars are also well suited for floors that are subject to strong pressure, such as in production halls. In all these cases, elastic mortar prevents cracking of tiles.

Resin based solutions

Resin-based solutions (acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane) are available as ready-to-use pastes or in two-component form - to be mixed before use. They have one thing in common - they are completely waterproof and do not absorb water vapor. Due to their high flexibility, such solutions are intended for gluing tiles to all types of surfaces, including wood, especially when cement mortar cannot be used. There are many different resin-based adhesive solutions. Information about the properties and specific use of the product in each case is provided on the packaging. The type of solution should be selected depending on the type of base and the size of the tile.

For special tasks

In addition to the main types of adhesive solutions, solutions for special tasks can be found on the Ukrainian market - gluing marble slabs (made on the basis of white cement) or large-sized tiles.