Porcelain tile adhesive

Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive Introduction

Sahand Chemical porcelain tile adhesive is used for installing all porcelain tiles and ceramics on the floors and walls of rooms, halls, bathrooms, lobbies, and corridors. This product has easy preparation, fast execution, powerful adhesion, and high durability, and is recommended for installing ceramic tiles up to 60 x 120 cm in size.

Sahand Chemical porcelain tile adhesive has the Iranian National Standard license and quality approval from the Building and Housing Research Center of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. With its powerful formulation, this product has the ability to install various types of tiles, mosaics, and regular, glass, and porcelain ceramics, and enables tiling on all internal vertical and horizontal surfaces of floors and walls on all types of concrete, cement, and gypsum surfaces.

To purchase a variety of Sahand Chemical tile and ceramic adhesives, please click here.

What is Porcelain Tile?

Porcelain is a type of ceramic that absorbs very little water (less than 0.5%). Since traditional mortar (a mixture of sand and cement) requires water absorption for adhesion, it is not very effective with porcelain tiles, and a strong bond is difficult to achieve.  

Furthermore, porcelain tiles have a denser structure than regular ceramic due to higher compaction and firing temperatures, resulting in increased density and weight. This characteristic enhances the strength and durability of porcelain but also adds to its weight compared to regular ceramic tiles. The heavier weight of porcelain tiles can cause slippage and movement before the cement fully dries. Therefore, using porcelain tile adhesive is recommended to prevent this issue. Porcelain tiles have a denser structure than regular ceramic, which increases their weight. These two factors (low water absorption and high weight) necessitate stronger materials like porcelain tile adhesive instead of traditional mortar for installation.   

Porcelain Tile Adhesive vs. Traditional Mortar

Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive is an engineered cement-based mortar. Traditional methods involve manually mixing sand, cement, gravel, etc. The effectiveness of this method heavily relies on the accuracy, experience, and technique of the workers, and the mortar’s quality can easily degrade with variations in material ratios.   

This product, consisting of cement, minerals, and polymer additives, creates a flexible adhesive with high bonding strength, resistance to moisture and temperature, and a standard setting time. It offers superior properties compared to traditional mortar and significantly improves ease and speed of application.

Additionally, due to the thin application of tile adhesive compared to traditional mortar, the wall thickness is reduced, resulting in more interior space and a lighter overall structure.

Applications of Porcelain Tile Adhesive

In certain situations, traditional mortar cannot be used for tile installation, and porcelain tile adhesive is necessary:

• Installing porcelain tiles
• Tile-on-tile installation
• Installing tiles on non-absorbent surfaces (such as Sahand Chemical Two-Component Waterproofing, which requires polymer-modified tile adhesive)
• Installing tiles in environments where a thin-bed mortar is needed to reduce structural weight

Porcelain tile adhesive comes in a pre-mixed powder form and only requires the addition of water for use. This allows for quick preparation and application, saving significant time and cost.

The polymer additives in the formulation provide high bonding strength and flexibility to the cement-based mixture. This flexibility allows the installed tiles to withstand structural stresses and building settlements.

The polymer additives also provide good moisture resistance, making it suitable for use in damp environments like bathrooms.

Porcelain Tile Adhesive for Non-Porcelain (Regular) Tiles

Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive is suitable for various tiles and ceramics. However, for regular tiles with water absorption, Sahand Chemical Super Standard Adhesive is a more cost-effective option, offering higher bonding strength, quality, and durability than traditional mortar.   

The quality and strength of this product have been recognized by many professional tilers, builders, and contractors who use it in their projects across the country.

Using Porcelain Tile Adhesive Outdoors

Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive is a strong adhesive that performs well in outdoor environments with various weather conditions. However, it is generally recommended for indoor use. For outdoor tile installation, Sahand Chemical Two-Component Tile Adhesive is a more suitable option.

For installing porcelain tiles outdoors using porcelain tile adhesive, it is recommended to replace 1/3 of the water with Sahand Chemical Latex. For example, for outdoor use, mix one 5-kilogram gallon of Sahand Chemical Latex with 10 liters of water for every three 20-kilogram bags of porcelain tile adhesive (60 kilograms total).

Installing Large-Format Tiles (Slabs) with Porcelain Tile Adhesive

The bonding strength and durability of Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive, especially when applied over a construction primer, are sufficient for many large-format slabs. However, it is not recommended for tiles larger than 60 x 120 cm.

The best option for installing large-format slabs is Sahand Chemical Two-Component Tile Adhesive, specifically designed for large-format tiles and stones, and environments with underfloor heating or high traffic.   

Tile-on-Tile Installation with Porcelain Tile Adhesive

Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive is an ideal option for installing new tiles over old tiles without demolition. However, for best results, the old tile surface should be roughened with a chisel or grinder before installing the new tiles with porcelain tile adhesive.

If roughening the old tiles is not possible, Sahand Chemical Two-Component Tile Adhesive is a better option than porcelain tile adhesive.

Using Porcelain Tile Adhesive in Pools, Saunas, and Jacuzzis

This product has high moisture resistance, but for installing tiles in pools, saunas, jacuzzis, and environments with direct moisture exposure, Sahand Chemical Pool Tile Adhesive is recommended. For environments with underfloor heating or cooling systems, Sahand Chemical Two-Component Tile Adhesive is recommended.   

• Sahand Chemical Pool Tile Adhesive for indoor pools
• Sahand Chemical Pool Tile Adhesive with Sahand Chemical Latex for outdoor pools, saunas, and jacuzzis
• Sahand Chemical Two-Component Tile Adhesive for underfloor heating and cooling systems.

Sahand Chemical Tile Adhesive Application Guide Table

Calculating the Required Amount of Porcelain Tile Adhesive

The consumption volume of Sahand Chemical Porcelain Tile Adhesive heavily depends on the surface being tiled. For smooth cement surfaces, each 20-kilogram bag of this product is sufficient for tiling an area of approximately 3 to 5 square meters.

Any unevenness, out-of-plumbness, protrusions, or depressions in the substrate will increase the consumption of porcelain tile adhesive per square meter. To calculate the required amount of porcelain tile adhesive, you can use the calculator on this page or the calculator page.

How to Prepare Porcelain Tile Adhesive

Mix each 20-kilogram bag of Sahand Chemical Porcelain Adhesive with approximately 5 liters of water using an electric mixer (4:1 weight ratio). To do this, slowly add the powder to the water while mixing and continue mixing until a uniform and homogeneous mortar is obtained. Then, let the mortar rest for 5 minutes and mix again briefly. Your tile adhesive is now ready for use.

Substrate Conditions

It is strongly recommended that the back of the tile and the surface to which the porcelain tile adhesive is applied be as free as possible from any contamination, dust, paint, and grease. The presence of contamination on the surface prevents the tile adhesive from adhering and causes the tiles to become loose and separate from the surface.

Using Primer

The best way to prepare the surface before applying tile adhesive is to coat it with a layer of Sahand Chemical Construction Primer. According to measurements, the strength of the tile adhesive when applied with primer is approximately twice that when the tile adhesive is applied directly to the surface without primer. Using primer significantly increases the adhesion between surfaces and prevents the surface from absorbing water from the tile adhesive, which prevents the tile adhesive from becoming porous and achieving its maximum strength. Sahand Chemical Construction Primer is applied to the surface in a thin layer with a brush or roller and, after a short drying period, is ready for adhesive application. For gypsum surfaces and highly absorbent surfaces, it is mandatory to use construction primer before applying tile adhesive.

How to Apply Porcelain Tile Adhesive

In the standard method of tiling with tile adhesive, first, use a notched trowel to apply the tile adhesive to the desired surface in parallel grooves in one direction. Then, apply a thin layer of adhesive to the back of the tile or ceramic and install the tile on the surface within a maximum of 20 minutes. For best results, it is recommended to use a layer of Sahand Chemical Construction Primer on the desired surface before applying the tile adhesive.

Tile Installation Method Using Porcelain Tile Adhesive

To install tiles, first apply an appropriate amount of porcelain tile adhesive to the surface using a notched or toothed trowel and comb in one direction. Then, apply an appropriate amount of adhesive to the back of the tile in a thin layer and install the tile in a direction where the grooves created on the surface and the back of the tile are parallel and in the same direction. This allows air between the tiles to escape easily and the tile to adhere better to the surface. Note: The engagement between the tile adhesive and the back of the tile must occur completely and well. For this purpose, the tile adhesive must be completely distributed and applied to the back of the tile, and applying the tile adhesive to the back of the tiles in lumps is not recommended.

Application Temperature and Workability Time

The best application temperature for this product is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. At lower temperatures, the drying time of the adhesive will be longer. The usability time of the powder tile adhesive after mixing with water (workability time) depends on various factors such as ambient temperature and the volume of prepared adhesive. In general, to achieve the best performance of this product, we suggest preparing only the amounts needed for tiling up to a maximum of 1 hour and then making new adhesive.

Setting Time

The initial setting time of this product under standard conditions (25 degrees Celsius) is approximately 24 hours, and the tile adhesive reaches its maximum strength after 28 days. This time period depends heavily on various factors such as temperature, humidity, adhesive thickness, and application conditions and may be shorter or longer.

Expiration Date and Storage Conditions

This product can be used for up to one year if stored in its original packaging and in a dry place away from moisture.