Adhesives for laying floor tiles
Types of adhesives
There are several types of adhesives for laying floor tiles. Some come ready-mixed, others in powder form to be mixed with water. A number are waterproof and where the floor will be subjected to frequent soakings (as, for example, in a shower cubicle, wet floor, kitchen floor) or heavy condensation you will need to use one which is water-resistant.
The picture below shows wall tiles adhesive 🙂
Usually the adhesive does not become waterproof until it has set completely, which means that you can clean tools with water and do not require a special cleaner. On a solid floor with underfloor heating you should use an adhesive which is also heatresistant or the adhesive will fail and the tiles will lift necessitating continual re-fixing.
A cement-based floor tile adhesive is suitable for use on good, level concrete whereas a suspended wooden sub-floor will need an adhesive with some degree of flexibility built in. Combined cement/rubber flexible adhesives are available for this purpose but even these, sometimes should not be used on suspended wooden floors which are subject to a lot of movement, you will have to add a covering of external grade plywood boards to provide a more stable surface before fixing the tiles.
Manufacturers’ instructions give guidance as to the type of adhesive suited to a particular situation and you should study these carefully before making your choice. You should also follow their recommendations as to the thickness of adhesive bed required; most resin-based ready-mixed adhesives are used as thin beds (3 to 6mm/Vs to 1/4in), while cement-based powder adhesives may be laid up to 12mm (1/2in) thick. Usually a spreader is supplied with the adhesive to make applying it a straightforward job.