Tile Adhesive

From decorative tiled surfaces to highly functional tiled wall and floor finishes, tiling is one of the most popular surface finishing techniques used to enhance the appearance and functionality of all types of buildings and facilities.

It is always crucial to select the right tile and the right tile installation system for each different area of the specific project. This should include the correct surface preparation, waterproofing (if required) and joint sealing solutions for each area and tile type in order to ensure the right quality and durability.

Thanks to our knowhow in various application fields such as waterproofing, flooring and insulation, Sika is able to provide full systems. Sika has developed a comprehensive range of tile adhesives, tile grouts and useful ancillary products that are designed as integrated systems to achieve the optimum results.

Porcelain tiles are highly durable ceramic tiles, as they are produced under higher pressures and temperatures to be extremely hard and non-absorbent. Therefore they are frequently selected by demanding project owners who value performance and reliability.

For these areas and exposure conditions it is necessary to use a tile installation system that is also able to meet these requirements and accommodate the high stresses. This means providing a suitable substrate with high compressive and tensile strengths. Sika installation systems achieve this with a new generation of polymer modified tile adhesives that are specifically designed for bonding non-absorbent materials.

Then finishing is done with a flexible tile grout that also has good mechanical strength and high abrasion resistance. A high performance polyurethane based elastic sealant is used for any movement, isolation or connection joints that occur in the system.

The most important thing for wet room projects is to ensure that the area is waterproof to prevent ingress and subsequent water damage, deterioration and microbiological growth within the building fabric.

Sika provides a complete integrated system to fulfill the very demanding requirements of these areas. Firstly the surfaces are made waterproof using a one-component cementitious waterproofing mortar, which is highly flexible and fiber-reinforced. Then a flexible cementitious adhesive with a high polymer content is used for the tile installation, which is followed by a two-component, epoxy tile grout. This is designed to provide high chemical and abrasion resistance in the selected color shade. Finally, the system is completed with a high performance, antifungal, movement and connection joint sealant.

Tiling Build up in Standard Wet Rooms

Tiling Wet Rooms - ETAG 022 Part 1

Drywall materials and techniques are quick and easy to work with, which contributes to their growing popularity, even for use in wet areas.

Sika provides a full system to fulfill these demanding requirements ETAG-022 approved*. Firstly a ready-to-use, elastic waterproofing membrane is applied, with compatible sealing tape to waterproof and seal at any joints, around fittings, penetrations and at all perimeter terminations. Then a flexible cementitious tile adhesive with a high polymer content is used for the tile installation. A special highly flexible epoxy tile grout with high mechanical strengths and abrasion resistance is applied in the selected color shade. Finally the system is completed with a high performance, antifungal, elastomeric, movement and connection joint sealant.

Tiling Build up in Wet Rooms with ETAG-022 Part 1 Approval

Tiling Wet Rooms - ETAG 022 Part 2

In specific job sites, water vapor coming from the wet room needs to be kept out of the structure (e.g: wood). Sometimes as well, installation of the wet room needs to be fast. For this specific application, foil membrane from Sika is the most suitable solution, offering a vapor tight substrate and possibility of tiling one hour after waterproofing (on absorbent substrates).

Sika provides a full system to fulfill these demanding requirements for ETAG-022 approval*. Firstly a waterproof adhesive is applied to bond the foil membrane and sealing tape to waterproof and seal at any joints, around fittings, penetrations and at all perimeter terminations. Then a flexible cementitious tile adhesive with a high polymer content is used for the tile installation. A special highly flexible epoxy tile grout with high mechanical strength and abrasion resistance is applied in the selected color shade. Finally the system is completed with a high performance, antifungal, elastomeric, movement and connection joint sealant.

Tiling Build up in Wet Rooms with ETAG-022 Part 2 Approval

Tiling for New Balcony Construction

The build-up and installation of tiled finishes on new balconies requires careful design and execution, in order to prevent commonly occurring problems such as uneven floors, inadequate drainage and/or incomplete waterproofing and detailing at the perimeters, etc.

The Sika installation system starts with the waterproofing layer, which uses a flexible, fiber-reinforced mortar that can be applied just 24 – 48 hours after the floor screed has been laid. Then the fast cementitious tile adhesive is applied, which is specially designed for use on fully exposed balconies that are subject to extreme weather conditions. This is flexible, with a high polymer content to accommodate movement due to both wide and rapid temperature variations. The cement based tile grout is also flexible with a low modulus of elasticity, in order to minimize stress transfer to the substrate, whilst retaining good mechanical strengths and abrasion resistance. A high performance, elastic sealant is used to seal any moving joints or connections and ensure that they also remain watertight.

Tiling Build up on New Balconies

Tiling for Balcony Renovation

The penetration of water from exposed horizontal surfaces such as tiled terraces and balconies is a common cause of damage and deterioration in many buildings. The solutions provided by Sika enable the rapid refurbishment and upgrading of these areas.

After removing any loose tiles and grout, then cleaning all of the sound surfaces, Sika repair mortars are used to fill any voids and restore the levels. The innovative 2-in-1 waterproofing layer and tile adhesive is applied in one single application, which is ideal for use on these areas exposed to the elements and all weather conditions. This solution therefore also saves you significant time and reduces the overall cost of the works. The system is completed with a flexible cementitious tile grout that has good mechanical and abrasion resistance. Finally, a high performance, elastic sealant is used to seal any moving joints or connections.

Tiling Build up on Renovated Balconies

The installation of tiles in and around swimming pools has always been a critical application and Sika has extensive expertise and experience of providing the ideal solution with a complete system.

Firstly the substrate is prepared, made good and levelled with an appropriate cementitious repair mortar / surface smoothing mortar. Then Sika’s polymer modified, fiber-reinforced, cementitious waterproofing mortar is applied in two layers, which ensures durable, long term waterproofing of the area. A special flexible, cement-based tile adhesive is then used, which is able to withstand thermal shock on the substrate, as well as continuous immersion. An epoxy resin based grout with high mechanical and chemical resistance is applied, and finally any moving joints and connections are sealed with a high quality, flexible and chemically resistant, neutral curing silicone joint sealant.