14 Golden Rules
Tiles must be dry and the back of the tile clean. Surface to receive tiles should be true, even and free from grease, wax, oil, curing compounds and all forms of contamination. Adhesive should be applied using the appropriate notched trowel.
Do not use the spot fixing method. Always apply adhesive with notched
trowel horizontally, not in a swirling motion. Press tiles firmly into adhesive bed. The whole of the back of the
tile must be in good contact with the adhesive. No voids must occur
beneath tiles. NOTE: 100% coverage of adhesive must
be achieved. Remove tile from time-to-time to check that complete contact with
the adhesive is made. Do not fix tiles over skinned adhesive. Allow adhesive to set before grouting, usually not less than 24
hours. During this time, the tiles
must be protected from weather, water penetration etc. Adhesive should be used strictly in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. To achieve greater adhesion and a longer open time, porous concrete
should be dampened with
water prior to tiling with cement-based adhesives. Any loose powder should be removed from the back of the tiles. Appropriate movement joints must be used and construction joints
must not be tiled over. Thin bed fixing of floor tiles. The minimum finished thickness of
the adhesive should not be less
than 3mm thick. Hairline cracks in concrete up to 2mm should be bridged. Prime the
clean surface, allow to dry
and apply a liberal coat of Barrierflex as a 1 to 1 mixture, then
inbed reinforcement mat and
immediately apply a second coat of Barrierflex. Allow to cure before
tiling with Barrierflex. Tiles must NOT be stored in direct sunlight
prior to fixing.
The Top 10 Reasons for Tile Fixing Failures
Incorrect or no expansion joints
Incorrect choice of adhesive
Adhesive "skins" before tile is bedded in
Contaminated background
Poor/incorrect surface preparation
Poor adhesive coverage
Unsatisfactory bed thickness
Excessive movement in the substrate
Dust or loose backwash not removed from tile back
Incorrect mixing ratio of adhesive powder and liquid
Download Adhesive Technical
Specification Guide (pdf file).
|
