Milz Werkzeuge DE
Guide · Tiles

Tile adhesive and mortar: basics for large format

Which adhesive for which panel, and why the notching is so important.

Contents

  1. Adhesive types
  2. The tooth pattern
  3. Substrate
  4. Temperature and time

Adhesive types

  • Insulating mortar: for walls, can be adjusted, but slow.
  • Flexible adhesive (C2): standard for floors and walls, good for porcelain stoneware.
  • Fast-setting adhesive: for quick foot traffic, less easy to correct.
  • Reaction resin: for special substrates and moisture.

    • The tooth pattern

    The notching of the trowel determines the amount of adhesive. For large formats you need a larger notching and often an additional flat spreading technique.

    Rule of thumb: apply enough adhesive for the tile to be fully covered when pressed down. Every so often, check a tile that has been lifted.

    Substrate

    The substrate must be even, clean, dry and load-bearing. Level out any unevenness first. For old substrates, check the load-bearing capacity and prime.

    Temperature and time

    Adhesive has an open time. In warmer surroundings it becomes shorter. Lay in small sections and not with adhesive that has already begun to dry.

    This guide is editorial and general. For safety questions the manufacturer datasheet applies.