How to replace tile adhesive without losing strength

In different places of the apartment, the surface is covered with tiles. It can be a part of a wall in the kitchen, a whole wall in a bathroom, two walls in a toilet, a part of a floor in a hallway, even a part of a ceiling where the owner will come up with it. At the same time, the surfaces are different, the tiles are also different, but the common thing is the way of fixing the tiles - they are glued. And this is where the differences begin. Depending on the type of base surface and on the nature of the tile, the adhesives for this technological operation can be different - both branded and homemade. The decision is made by the master tiler, depending on the circumstances. And we have our own experience, and the combination of the two materials dictates the decision, and it’s just that the branded glue could not have been bought on time, and the work could not be stopped. So the master will think about how to replace the tile adhesive without losing strength?

Assortment of tile adhesives

The building materials market is extremely rich in offers in any type of construction, including materials for facing works. No room can do without ceramic tiles. Somewhere a part of the surface is pasted over with tiles, somewhere they can tile the entire room with tiles for the sake of being able to maintain sterile cleanliness. The tiles are glued to the main surface.

A set of requirements is imposed on adhesives. The material should be:

• the material must be reliable - so that the tile does not fall off after a while;
• resistant to weathering - especially if the tiles are glued outdoors;
• convenient to use;
• resistant to ultraviolet light, mold, fungi and bacteria;
• fireproof;
• water-, moisture- and vibration-resistant;
• economical.

PHOTO: skr.sh

Adhesives are specialized according to the type of surface on which the tiles will be glued:

• wall;
• floor;
• ceiling;
• foundation;
• base;
• roof;
• steps;
• facade.

There are different adhesives for interior and exterior use. There are also universal brands of adhesives.

There are a lot of such proposals on the building materials market, it is difficult for an inexperienced person to choose.

PHOTO: skr.sh

How to replace tile adhesive

In an emergency, when the glue has run out or they did not have time to prepare it at all before the start of work, a skilled craftsman will make his own magic mixture, which will glue the tiles no worse than purchased glue.

Even in recent years, no special tile adhesive existed on our market. The tiles were laid on an ordinary cement mortar, glued on molten bitumen, on linoleum diluted with acetone, on the scarce Bustilat glue. A sealant is often used to secure one or more tiles. It has good adhesive properties. You can also apply thick oil paint for several tiles.

Now polymers are added to the cement slurry. To do this, you need to prepare fine sand with a fraction of 2 mm, cement, water, PVA glue or liquid soap. Diluted wallpaper glue can be used instead of water. And even better is a plasticizer such as liquid glass of the C3, D5 brands, dibutyl phthalate and the like. A mixture is prepared in the proportion: 1 part of cement and 3 parts of sand are poured with water and mixed until smooth. Then diluted PVA glue is added in a ratio of 2 parts of glue and 1 part of water.

PHOTO: kraska.guru

Before using such a solution, before laying the tiles, it is necessary to prepare the surface - make notches on the wall, treat with a primer and dry. The tiles must be soaked before laying. True, the durability of such an attachment is somewhat lower than on a special tile adhesive.

Some experts argue that you can do without sand, but this is already a violation of generally accepted traditions.

In the practice of builders, there are also reverse operations - the remnants of tile glue are used to seal small damages in plastered or concreted surfaces. If you need to increase the plasticity or adhesion to the base, or to give the composition antifungal or anti-mold properties, then a certain amount is also introduced into the cement mixture tile adhesive.

Conclusion

Experienced master builders are well aware of the advanced capabilities of each material. This knowledge helps them out in the frequent cases of the absence of any component in the performance of specific work. The master will always find an opportunity how, without compromising the quality of the work, to replace the missing material with another. In particular, tile adhesives have many options for replacing other adhesive mixtures. And you can also get financial savings.