Repair is a long and complicated business, and you need to prepare for it in the most thorough way. Choose a general idea, draw up a project, purchase materials, invite craftsmen. And do not forget to correctly calculate how much wallpaper, tile or glue you need so that at the most crucial moment you do not have to drop everything and run back to the store.
Today we want to talk about how thick the tile adhesive should be. Usually it is this moment that causes the most difficulties for beginners in the field of repair and decoration of residential premises.
Individual calculations
If you have never dealt with gluing tiles before, we recommend that you call a specialist. When calculating, you must take into account many factors. This is the type of material, the size and quality of the surface itself. For example, under a tile and porcelain tile it is required to put a different amount of adhesive mixture.
Of course, you can ask a consultant in the store. He knows what thickness of tile adhesive is recommended for the facing material of your choice. In this case, the adjustment will have to be done independently, since the consultant does not have information about the quality of the surface.
Preliminary preparation
At first glance it seems that all the walls are flat. Based on this, the average thickness of the tile adhesive is selected. But attach one square to different places and try to rock a little. If everywhere it lies perfectly perfectly, then you are lucky, or you have already leveled the surface. Most often, the tile starts to “play”, which means that all the dips and troughs will be filled with glue, which will significantly increase consumption.
But this is the worst option, because after gluing the tiles on the wall will not be laid out, which greatly worsens the impression. Therefore, we arm ourselves with any material (gypsum, Alinex, Vetonit ) and proceed to level the surface. When it becomes completely flat, let it dry, and you can get down to business.
Types of glue
In stores today, a fantastic selection of materials, each of which has its own characteristics. Usually the consultant offers:
- Cement glue. This is a special dry mix of cement, sand and plasticizers. It is very simple to work with it: dilute with water and apply to the wall. True, in comparison with other materials of similar action, it will have to spend quite a lot. In this case, the thickness of the tile adhesive will depend on the type of work performed. When laying tiles on a wall or tiles on the floor, it will be different. If a tile is used, then about 5-7 mm of the composition should be applied to the wall. However, for heavy and thick boards, it may be necessary to apply 7-9 mm to hold them for a long time.
- Two-component adhesives are an epoxy resin and a catalyst. The result is a very viscous mixture that provides strong adhesion to the surface. Moreover, the thickness of the tile adhesive during installation will be minimal. If the tile is not too heavy, then no more than 5 mm will be required.
- A one-component dispersion adhesive is a mixture based on resin components. Depending on the severity of the tile and the presence of defects on the wall, it will be necessary to apply 3 to 5 mm to the wall. This is enough to make your repair perfect for many years.
Tile selection
Of all the options that are available in stores today, the ideal choice for wall cladding is ceramic tile or tile. The second option is easier to use. The optimal thickness of the tiles for the walls is 4-9 mm. At the same time, its perimeter must be taken into account. In other words, as the area increases, so does the thickness. It’s easier to work with small tiles, but harder to pick a picture. Too thin products are of poor quality and are very fragile, and too massive can begin to fall off after a while.
Flooring
In order to cover the floor with high quality and for a long time, you will also need a good tile adhesive. Consumption and thickness are variables, but we will try to outline the boundaries that will help you navigate. The minimum adhesive layer laid on the floor should be between 9 and 11 mm. At the same time, experts recommend focusing on the thickness of the selected tile. Usually for the floor take at least 10 mm. If you decide to create a mosaic floor from small fragments, then you can use a smaller layer.
We are equipped with a level
The mistake of many people who first started repairing is their unwillingness to level the floor surface before gluing the tiles. All flaws are planned to smooth out due to the adhesive layer. In fact, it is much better to put a cement screed first, and then a facing coating. Therefore, using the level, check how smooth your floor is. If there is no problem with this, then arm yourself with a notched trowel with the wave you need (3, 5, 11 mm) and just apply the adhesive composition evenly. Otherwise, you will have to constantly measure.
The thickness of the tile adhesive on the floor should be the same over the entire surface, otherwise dips or bulges may result. All existing defects will necessarily lead to shrinkage of the floor covering, which is extremely undesirable.
Maximum tile adhesive thickness
Do not forget that it matters not only the presence / absence of defects, but also the structure of the floor, as well as the tiles used. So, concrete and porcelain stoneware have high porosity, which means that part of the adhesive mixture will be absorbed by them. If you lay porcelain tiles on plastic or wood, it is better to use solutions on an epoxy base, then the adhesive is applied with a thickness of 2-5 mm.
If the floor in the room is concrete, then it is better to take a cement composition. The thickness of the tile adhesive during installation can be up to 12 mm, but this is already an extreme limit. Do not forget that with these parameters, the surface must dry for several days before you can enter the room. For walls, such an application will be unacceptable, it is better to choose other compositions that can be put in a thinner layer.
How much material is needed per room
First you need to calculate how many square meters you need to paste over with tiles. We will not stop there. There are several ways to find out the amount of glue you need to purchase.
- If you know exactly the brand that you will buy, then go to the manufacturer’s website, enter the dimensions of the room, each tile and get the result in kilograms.
- The second option is more complicated. Example: we take a glue consumption of 1.3 kg per 1 m 2 . A tile measuring 30 * 30 cm will require a layer thickness of 4 mm. Therefore, the estimated consumption will be 5.2 kg / m 2 . That is, an area of 10 square meters. m it will take you 52 kg of glue. It turns out that for every square meter it will take 5.2 kg. But if the dimensions of the tile change, then you will need to re-search for the required layer thickness and recount the entire formula.
- You can roughly estimate the future expense. To do this, we take ½ tile thickness and average consumption for the selected adhesive. Multiply and get the number we need.
Modern compositions
It is best to first visit the store and here already choose which of the materials is best suited for your repair.
- Glue Unis. This manufacturer produces about 10 different products, but the consumption of tile glue per 1 m2 with a coating thickness of 1 mm will be the same, 1 kg.
- Geresit. For tiles measuring 15 * 15, 2.5 kg / m 2 will be required. The larger the area, the higher the consumption. If the size of each square is 40 * 40, then 4.7 kg / m 2 will be required.
Similarly, you can see the costs of each particular brand. Do not forget that any work is best done by the master, so when starting a repair, try to get the help of a specialist.