Tile Adhesives

Q1: What is a tile adhesive?
Ans: A basic tile adhesive is made of cement, sand and special additives and is in a powder form.
The powder is mixed with either water or Latex Admix (based on application) to a paste like consistency and used for fixing tiles/stone on different surfaces.
The tiles are fixed with the tile adhesive in a thin bed using notched trowel.
The tile adhesive is packed in moisture resistant paper bags.

Q2: why should tile adhesive be used?
Ans: Conventional cement sand does not have the necessary bonding properties to bond the different type of tiles available in varied sizes under different application conditions.
Tile adhesives have been proven over the years as highly suitable for application on diverse surfaces such as plywood, gypsum board, metal, glass, tile over tile etc and also for demanding installations such as external façade, swimming pool, industrial floor etc.

Tile adhesives provide high strength, flexibility and full coverage to the tile surface, thereby providing full bed, sound and long lasting installation as compared to the hollow and weak installation with conventional system.

Q3: Where can tile adhesives be used?
Ans: Tile adhesives can be used in all such areas where tile/stone fixing is done such as floor/wall areas in residential buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals, industrial plants, swimming pools, external façade etc.

Q4: What are the different types of tile adhesives available in laticrete?
Ans: Tile adhesives are broadly classified into two types:
1 Thick bed adhesive: suitable for application over un-leveled floors.
2 Thin bed adhesive: suitable for application over leveled floors

Thick bed adhesive:
It is a 2 component adhesive consisting of factory prepared thick bed powder and latex admix The powder and the admix are mixed in a defined ratio to form a thick bed adhesive of thickness 25mm or above.
It is suitable for installation of all types of ceramic tile, vitrified tile and natural stone on internal and external concrete floor. Thin set adhesive
There are several kinds of thin set adhesives.

A) Thin set adhesive:
It is a basic tile adhesive made of cement, sand and special additives and mixed with water to form a tile adhesive which has a better bonding and ease of application when compared to conventional cement sand system.
It is suitable for internal applications of ceramic tile on cement plaster/ screed.
The tiles are set in a thin bed 3mm-12mm

B) Polymer modified adhesive:
It is single comp tile adhesive in powder form consisting of cement, sand, special additives and polymers.
The powder need to be mixed with water to form a high strength adhesive specially suited for internal & external installation of glass mosaic adhesive and vitrified tiles.

C) Latex fortified adhesive:
It is a 2-component tile adhesive consisting of adhesive powder and latex admix.
The powder and latex admix are mixed in a defined ratio to form a high strength and flexible adhesive.
Latex fortified adhesive are suitable for internal & external applications of ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, agglomerates, natural stone etc over several surfaces such as cement plaster, plywood, gypsum board, cement backer board etc.

D) Epoxy adhesive:
It is a 3-comp tile adhesive consisting of resin, hardener & filler packed in a factory prepared kit.
It is the strongest tile adhesive available and suitable for installation of industrial tile in highly chemical resistant and corrosive environment.
It is also suitable for installation of moisture sensitive marble and agglomerates.
Comparison of conventional method of fixing and laticrete thin set adhesive.