Repair is a complex and lengthy 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, tiles 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 this is the point that causes the most difficulties for beginners in the field of repair and decoration of residential premises.
Individual settlements
If you have never de alt with gluing tiles before, we recommend calling a specialist. Many factors must be taken into account when calculating. This is the type of material, size and quality of the surface itself. For example, under tiles and porcelain tiles, you need to apply a different amount of adhesive mixture.
Of course, you can ask the consultant in the store. He knows what thickness of tile adhesive is recommended for your chosenfacing material. In this case, the adjustment will have to be made independently, since the consultant does not have information about the quality of the surface.
Pre-training
At first glance it seems that all the walls are even. Based on this, the average thickness of the tile adhesive is selected. But attach one square to different places and try to shake it a little. If everywhere it lays down perfectly evenly, then you are lucky, or you have already leveled the surface. Most often, the tile begins to “play”, which means that all dips and cavities 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 lie unevenly, which will greatly worsen the impression. Therefore, we arm ourselves with any material (gypsum, Alineks, Vetonit) and proceed to leveling the surface. When it becomes completely even, let it dry, and you can get down to business.
Types of glue
Shops today have a fantastic selection of materials, each with its own characteristics. Usually the consultant suggests:
- Cement adhesive. This is a special dry mixture of cement, sand and plasticizers. Working with it is very simple: dilute with water and apply to the wall. True, in comparison with other materials of a similar action, it will have to be spent quite a lot. In this case, the thickness of the tile adhesive will depend on the type of work performed. When laying tiles on the wall or tiles on the floor, it will be different. If tile is used, then on the wallyou need to apply about 5-7 mm of the composition. However, heavy and thick slabs may need to be applied 7-9mm to keep them in place 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. At the same time, the thickness of the tile adhesive during laying will be minimal. If the tile is not too heavy, then no more than 5 mm will be required.
- Dispersion one-component adhesive is a mixture based on resin components. Depending on the severity of the tiles and the presence of defects on the wall, it will be necessary to apply from 3 to 5 mm to the wall. Just enough to keep your renovation looking perfect for years to come.
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 work with. The optimal thickness of tiles for walls is 4-9 mm. In this case, its perimeter must also be taken into account. In other words, as the area increases, so does the thickness. It is easier to work with a small tile, but it is more difficult to choose a pattern. Products that are too thin are of poor quality and are very fragile, while products that are too massive may 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 layer of adhesive composition laid on the floor should be from 9 to 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 arm ourselves with a level
A misconception of many people who are first engaged in repairs is the reluctance to level the surface of the floor before gluing the tiles. All flaws are planned to be smoothed out due to the adhesive layer. In fact, it is much better to first lay a cement screed, and only then a facing coating. Therefore, using a level, check how flat your floor is. If there are no problems with this, then arm yourself with a notched trowel with the wave you need (3, 5, 11 mm) and simply apply the adhesive evenly. Otherwise, you will have to constantly take measurements.
The thickness of the tile adhesive on the floor must 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 highly undesirable.
Maximum thickness of tile adhesive
Do not forget that not only the presence / absence of defects matters, but also the structure of the floor itself, as well as the tiles used. So, concrete and porcelain stoneware have high porosity, which means that part of the adhesive mixture will be absorbedthem. If you are laying porcelain tiles on plastic or wood, it is better to use epoxy-based solutions, then the adhesive is applied 2-5 mm thick.
If the floor in the room is concrete, then it is better to take a cement composition. The thickness of the tile adhesive during laying can be up to 12 mm, but this is already the extreme limit. Do not forget that with these parameters, the surface must dry out for several days before the room can be entered. For walls, such an application will be unacceptable, it is better to choose other compositions that can be applied in a thinner layer.
How much material is needed per room
First you need to calculate how many square meters you need to tile. We won't stop there. There are several ways to find out the amount of glue you need to purchase.
- If you know exactly the brand 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 difficult. Example: we take the consumption of glue 1, 3 kg per 1 m2. A 30 x 30 cm tile will require a layer thickness of 4 mm. Therefore, the estimated consumption will be 5.2 kg/m2. That is, for an area of 10 square meters. m you will need 52 kg of glue. It turns out that for each square meter it will take 5.2 kg. But if the tile dimensions change, then you will need to re-search for the required layer thickness and recalculate the entire formula.
- You can roughly estimate the future consumption. To do this, we take ½ of the thickness of the tile and the averageconsumption for the selected adhesive. We multiply and get the number we need.
Modern Lineups
It is best to visit the store first and choose here which material is best for your renovation.
- Glue Unis. This manufacturer produces about 10 different products, but the consumption of tile adhesive per 1m2 with a coating thickness of 1 mm will be the same, 1 kg.
- Geresit. For a 1515 tile, you need 2.5kg/m2. The larger the area, the higher the consumption. If the size of each square is 4040, then 4.7 kg / m will be required 2.
Similarly, you can see the costs for each specific brand. Do not forget that any work is best done by the master, so when starting repairs, try to enlist the help of a specialist.
