LARGE FORMAT TILES FAILSAFE FIXING
Tilemaster Adhesives advises on how to ensure the optimum installation of large-format tiles.
When installing large format tiles, or ceramic slabs it is very important to ensure that the correct materials are used. These should enable ease of bedding the tiles into the adhesive bed, particularly as the standard thickness for these types of tile is 6mm.
For floors, the substrate should be totally flat, level, and stable. Laying on top of an existing sound tile installation is ideal, otherwise the use of a self-levelling compound such as Rapid Level 30 which hardens rapidly is recommended. Adequate time should be left to ensure that all substrates are properly cured to avoid movement after tile installation.
You should ensure when fixing that there are no air cavities under the tiles within the adhesive bed and that the back of the tile is entirely covered by adhesive. The installation method should be to ensure that the tile is back buttered/back trowelled as well as the usual layer of adhesive applied to the substrate, trowelling out only enough adhesive for one tile at a time to avoid a skin forming on the adhesive which could prevent proper adhesion.
Tilemaster Adhesives has a choice of standard and semi-rapid setting products in the Setaflex range, a polymer modified, flexible cement-based wall and floor tile adhesive. Both Setaflex Standard Set and Semi-Rapid Setaflex have been specially developed to give an extended pot life, making them ideal for working with larger format tiles. They can be used both internally and externally on almost all substrates, including timber, and are excellent for use in areas exposed to prolonged wet conditions. Tilemaster Standard Setaflex has a pot life of three to four hours and can be grouted after 24 hours. The Semi-Rapid version offers a great compromise between extended workability, with a pot life of 90 - 120 minutes, and a fast setting time, as it will accept light foot traffic and grouting after six hours.
Once the adhesive has set, the joints of the tiles can be grouted with Tilemaster Grout 3000, a flexible, fast setting wall and floor grout which can be used for joints between 1mm and 20mm and is ideal for use with this sort of tile installation.
Contact Tilemaster Adhesives for more information and technical advice on the best products for your particular project.
www.tilemasteradhesives.co.uk
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