What is the best glue for porcelain stoneware?

Porcelain stoneware is popular for interior decoration. Even the high cost of this material does not stop people from using it for repairs.

For this type of coating, it is important to choose the right adhesive that can withstand any stress. The attractiveness of this finishing material lies in the fact that it has high aesthetic qualities, has a rich color, and is able to create an imitation of a natural base.

The features of porcelain stoneware are as follows:

• Highest level of durability. The surface can withstand almost any weight load and mechanical stress.

• Wear resistance. It is difficult to find scratches on this material, it does not wipe off.

• Due to the impossibility of entering into chemical reactions with other substances, it is used as a coating in various organizations related to the food industry.

• It is heat resistant. Able to withstand exposure to open flames.

• Does not absorb moisture. This makes it ideal for decoration and outdoor areas.
• Porcelain stoneware is frost-resistant.

In the process of choosing an adhesive mixture, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the material with which you will have to work. Now in stores you can easily find glue compositions that are suitable for all types of tiles. But the price of such mixtures will be very high. However, it is important to always consider the quality of the product, not its cost.

The requirements for adhesives for porcelain stoneware should be determined:

• The peculiarity of the tile base is the inability to absorb the adhesive, so the glue itself must perform this task.

• After drying, the mixture should firmly adhere to the material and not deform under the influence of weight.

• Frost resistance must be possessed not only by porcelain stoneware, but also by glue.

• Ability to be flexible.

• The composition according to its properties should correspond to the qualities of the base.

• Comfortable installation conditions.

• The most important characteristic of an adhesive is adhesion. It makes it possible to firmly bond the surfaces.

The choice of this or that glue always depends on the place where it will be applied and to which surface it is attached. You should also take into account the size of the tile, the thickness of the glue application.

The following types of adhesives can be distinguished:

• Two-component is a dry powder that needs to be dissolved in water. It can be composed of all sorts of components. Differs in high elasticity. Before starting work, it is necessary to mix all the components using a professional mixer. For quick adhesion, a frost-resistant mortar is used.

• One-component - kerabond, which is based on cement. Suitable for external and internal laying of porcelain stoneware tiles. Ready to go straight out of the box. It dries for a long time, this helps the larger tiles to better adhere to the adhesive.

• A type of two-component adhesive is polyestermade on the basis of resins.

• Reinforced adhesive composition designed for better adhesion to the material.

• Quick dry used for laying tiles at temperatures below 15 degrees.

It is important to prepare the glue of the correct composition for laying porcelain stoneware. At the time of purchase, the binder mixture may be in the form of a powder. consisting of cement-sand elements, in which various polymers are also present. Due to the correct proportions of sand, cement and other substances, the required solution viscosity is achieved. Also on sale there are pasty bases, which are already ready to use.

There are some additives from the number of chemical compounds used in adhesives:

• polymer modifiers;

• water-repellent elements;

• antifreeze additives.

It is important to consider which room the glue will be used for. So, for a bathroom, kitchen, other rooms with high humidity, a moisture-resistant mixture is selected. In places of heavy traffic, adhesive solutions with sufficient strength are used. When decorating fireplaces and stoves, it is better to use glue for porcelain stoneware with increased heat resistance.

If you need to glue porcelain stoneware tiles on plywood, then glue is selected, which contains highly elastic elements. When laying tiles on a warm floor for large-format porcelain stoneware or for any heavy material such as natural stone, it is also necessary to use a tile mortar that is elastic. If you need to withstand constant temperature drops, this option is the best.

On sale most often you can find an adhesive mixture, packaged in bags of 25 kg. The consumption of glue will depend on its type and brand. It takes from 2 to 5 kilograms of composition per m2. Porcelain stoneware is very heavy, so it is important that the adhesive has a high compressive strength. It is necessary to remember the fact that the thickness of the tiles is related to the consumption of the adhesive mixture. When forming the bonding layer, it must be remembered that the larger the material, the more the adhesive will have to be consumed.

When choosing which glue it is better to remember that during the installation process, the base of the mixture is deformed. A notched trowel acts on the surface. Often the recommended comb size is indicated on the packages themselves, which affects the consumption of the bonding agent.

The most popular manufacturers of adhesive mixtures today are the following:

• Ceresit. Suitable for installation in wet areas

• Unis. Designed for gripping heavy slabs. Applicable for both outdoor and indoor use.

• Vetonit. It is moisture and frost resistant, therefore it is recommended for outdoor decoration.

• Litokol. It is available on the market in various varieties depending on the conditions of use.

• "Hercules". Ideal for laying large slabs. The advantage is the affordable cost. It is made using modern technologies and is not inferior in quality to foreign manufacturers.

• Knauf. Good for small size porcelain tiles.

According to the masters, the most effective adhesive is Knauf products. It has a very fast drying speed.

According to ordinary people, the glue from Ceresit is considered good, since it has versatility and has a good price-quality ratio.

In order not to be mistaken in the choice of glue and to use it correctly in work, you need to take into account the important recommendations of professionals:

• It is always important to pay attention to the labeling of the product, because this is where it is indicated for which surface the mixture is suitable and what type of adhesion.

• For laying porcelain stoneware on substrates such as plastic or wood, it is better to use glue that contains polyurethane.

• You should never level the walls with adhesive solutions.

• The bonding agent is applied to the surface with a trowel, then leveled.

• While the glue used to lay the porcelain stoneware tiles on the floor is drying, do not walk on the floor for three days.

• In the process of decorating the walls, work should start from the bottom.

• To complete the stage of attaching the tiles to the base, you need to grout the joints. This is done to create a more aesthetic finish.

• Adhesive for porcelain stoneware must meet the requirements of standards in construction.

• The thickness of the adhesive mixture must be equal to the thickness of the tile.

• The key point is the preparatory stage, which consists of stripping and leveling the base.

• When installing small tiles, it is important that the composition is well deformed.

All the features that are inherent in porcelain stoneware will only be preserved if it is correctly laid with the help of the right glue. Carrying out the adhesion of tiles with glue, you need to take into account the level of comfort in the process of working with such compounds. The polymer elements included in the recipe allow installation not only for professionals, but also for beginners.

For information on how to choose the right tile adhesive, see the next video.