How To Make Tile Mortar Yourself Instead Of Tile Adhesive

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Mix for tiles and its features
• Some nuances
• Structure and composition
• Solution preparation
• Ready dry mix
• Homemade cement mortar
• Most common mistakes
• Conclusion

A few of the basic elements that are used in ceramic tiling are mix and tile crosses. And it is the mixture that becomes a rather interesting point, since there are a number of its varieties, and in addition, you can use both a regular solution and special adhesives.

Mix for tiles and its features

When solving cladding with tiles, the first step is to finish the walls. For these elements, you can use a conventional solution, which is made on the basis of sand and cement, as well as ready-made adhesives.

Ready-made glue can be sold both in the form of a mixture already prepared for use, and in the form of a powdery material, which must additionally be diluted. The mixtures are prepared strictly according to the instructions on the package.

Ready-made dry compositions are cement with the addition of a special modifying agent. Usually found in packs of 5 or 25 kg.

Some nuances

Considering the flooring, it should be noted that the layer is thicker than the walls, which exceeds 3 mm. And therefore, what kind of mortar is needed for the tile will be determined by some factors.

1. First of all, the evenness of the base. Since, in the presence of irregularities, it is advisable to use a cement mortar, which will not only serve as an adhesive, but also help smooth out the irregularities. In this case, the thickness of the mortar layer can reach 3 cm. In turn, the use of ready-made adhesive mixtures requires a perfectly flat surface.
2. The type of tile is also an important factor. Considering, for example, porcelain stoneware, this material has low adhesion, therefore, a mixture for laying tiles of this type should contain special plasticizers that improve this indicator.
3. The human factor, or rather the economic factor, also has an impact. Since a self-prepared mixture is cheaper than a ready-made one, therefore, if everything indicates the possibility of using a standard cement mortar, then it is better to use it.

Speaking of the issue of economy, by the way, there are also several factors:

1. When finishing a cement base, the solution will be spent a little more than when laying on concrete.
2. There is also another factor regarding tiles. In particular, glazed will require less mortar for itself than unglazed.

Structure and composition

Considering the ready-made adhesive for laying tiles on the floor, it is almost impossible to fully find out the composition, since this is the manufacturer's secret. A big plus of such mixtures is that they are divided into different types, designed for different operating conditions and surfaces. Thus, we can distinguish:

1. Universal adhesive. Used in standard conditions for flat surfaces.
2. Reinforced, which is often used when laying fragile tiles.
3. Unconventional formulations for glass or metal tiles, for example.

At the same time, the standard composition of the cement slurry is known to everyone. It also adds cement and sand in various proportions, depending on the brand of the first element. In particular:

1. With M300 cement - 3 parts of sand.
2. For М400 - 4 parts of sand.
3. For M500 or M600 - 5 parts.

The sand itself is necessarily sifted, which is done to remove debris and clay.

If necessary, to enhance adhesion, standard PVA glue is also added. It is added in a ratio of 1 to 50, where the first value is the proportion of glue, and the second is the proportion of the total amount of the mixture. More clearly, 200 g of glue is added to 10 liters of solution.

Also, when laying tiles, the tile adhesive does not always meet the requirements for elasticity and water resistance.

In some cases, detergents can be used to increase elasticity. For example, liquid soap, shampoo, or diluted powder.

If it is necessary to improve frost resistance, then special additives are used for this, for example, Primer EC-30. It is a universal hardening accelerator, which, accordingly, imparts resistance to low temperatures.

Solution preparation

Now you need to consider the preparation of both the finished composition and the one made on your own.

Ready dry mix

Let's start with the finished mixture. In this case, the first step is to carefully read the instructions, which are usually found on the packaging. In some cases, additionally attached.

The main thing is not to pour water into the dry mixture, but to do the opposite. Otherwise, lumps will remain, which will affect the quality. The cooking process itself is as follows:

1. The required amount of water is poured into the container (the proportions are indicated in the instructions on the package).
2. After that, the mixture must be slowly started to stir with a construction mixer or a drill with a special nozzle.
3. Further, very carefully, the composition itself is gradually poured.
4. It is necessary to stir throughout the entire filling.

5. The mixing itself is carried out both during preparation and immediately before application.

   

Water temperature becomes an important factor. It shouldn't be cold, warm, or hot. The liquid is used strictly at room temperature. Otherwise, the components of the composition may lose their properties. Directly the temperature in the room during work should be in the range from 10 to 24 degrees.

At the recommended temperature, the floor tile mixture hardens rather quickly, so it is not recommended to make large batches. It is advisable to prepare as much glue as you can use within 30-40 minutes.

As you know, the tiles are often soaked before laying, and the bases themselves are moistened. This is not recommended when laying on glue.

Homemade cement mortar

In the case when a self-preparation solution is chosen, and not glue for laying tiles on the floor, you need to clearly know how to prepare it, which we will talk about further.

Preparation takes place as follows:

1. The sand is well dried and sieved.
2. Then it is mixed with a small amount of cement in accordance with the proportions that were indicated earlier in the article (depending on the brand).
3. The next step is to add water in the right amount. After stirring, a plastic solution should be obtained, which will hold on to the trowel without moving out.

4. If the solution turns out to be too liquid, then you need to add a little sand and cement, if, on the contrary, it is too dry, then a little water.

   

The tile must be soaked before such installation, while the period of stay in water is 8-10 hours. Just to get started, soak one tile, because if you come across poor quality material, then ugly yellow spots will appear under the enamel, which will ruin the whole look of the room.

If, after soaking and laying on cement, the sample has not lost its appearance, then the entire tile is also soaked. If soaking is not possible, then immediately before laying it is necessary to wipe the back side with a damp cloth.

When laying the floor tiles with self-prepared tile adhesive is done on a concrete base, the work is somewhat simplified. In this case, it will be a sufficient process to pour water onto the surface, and sprinkle cement through a sieve. Then the tiles are laid on the resulting "dough".

Most common mistakes

Quite often, when a quick laying of tiles is planned, a number of mistakes are made when preparing a solution:

1. Often sand is of poor quality, not sifted and not dried, and this is used in a hurry.
2. The use of old cement, which often loses its properties, is also an unacceptable mistake.
3. Water should be used only clean, in no case should you use sea water or dirty, settled water.
4. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed so that no lumps remain, which entails a loss of quality.
5. It is also a mistake to lay tiles with increased requirements (for example, porcelain stoneware) on a standard adhesive mixture or cement mortar.

It was a number of mistakes when using cement mortar, now we will consider the use of ready-made compositions:

1. The use of cold or hot water is strictly prohibited.
2. You cannot fill in the mixture first, and then pour water, in which case lumps will form.
3. Do not soak the tiles or moisten the substrate.
4. The containers for cooking must be clean, after each batch they must be cleaned and washed.
5. Stir the composition at a low speed of rotation of the mixer. At high speed the mixture will foam, at low speed lumps will remain.

And finally, a little advice, if you plan to lay tiles on tiles, what glue to use, our article on this topic will help you decide.

Conclusion

Now you can decide which tile mix to use and how to prepare it. For a more visual study of the topic, we suggest watching several videos.