Everything you need to know about tiling application, specifications, and safety information, and our guarantee.
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TECHNICAL ADVICE
For any technical queries contact the company on 083 661 6508 or e-mail info@tiletak.co.za
Operating times:
Monday – Thursday 07h30-16h30
Friday 07h30-15h00
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
- Admixture:
Synthetic latex base polymer used as a water replacement in cement based tile adhesives & grouts where improved flexibility, adhesion & water resistance is required. - Open Time:
The maximum time in which a tile can be laid into a bed of tile adhesive with no adverse effect on the bond strength. - Bed Thickness:
The thickness of the tile adhesive after the tile has been laid. - Pot Life:
The period of time that a tile adhesive can be used before setting commences. - Shelf Life:
Shelf life of a tile adhesive is the period it can be stored and retain its integrity. - Slip:
Downward pressure exerted by the weight of the tile itself when laid into a wet bed of tile adhesive. - Buttering:
Buttering is when tile adhesive is spread on the back of the tile before the tile is laid. This method will ensure good tile adhesive contact. Normally used with irregular tile backs & large format tiles where bowing can occur. - Butt Joint:
Butt jointing occurs when tiles are laid with no space between the tiles. - Grout:
Grout is the material used to fill the joints between the tiles. - Movement Joints: A gap that is carried through the tile adhesive and the tile panel that is filled with a flexible compound that can absorb pressures exerted on the tile panel.
GENERAL TILING SPECIFICATIONS
Surface Preparation
New floors & walls must be allowed to cure as directed below to ensure that the tile application is not affected by shrinkage/movement during the curing process:
- New concrete: 6 weeks
- New screed: 4 weeks
- New Plaster: 2 weeks
- New Brickwork: 4 weeks
Ensure that surfaces to be tiled are sound (no cracks & crumbling), clean, free of dust, release agent or any type of surface dampness. Any fungicide must be treated and killed before applying any tile adhesive.
Very smooth surfaces such as steel trowelled floors & off shutter concrete must be acid washed to remove laitance and then rinsed with cold water. The floor must then be primed with a slurry coat of 1-part Tile Tak Tile Key to 2 parts 42.5mPa – cement.
Painted surfaces, gypsum and old surfaces of bitumen must be chipped to expose at least 80% of the original substrate. The floor must then be primed with a slurry coat of 1-part Tile Tak Tile Key to 2 parts 42.5mPa cement.
High porous surfaces can negatively affect the bond strength of the tile adhesive. Check the porosity of the substrate by applying a small quantity of water. If the moisture is completely absorbed within 1 minute than the surface is too porous and will need to be sealed & primed. Prime with a slurry coat of 1-part Tile Tak Tile Key to 2 parts 42.5mPa cement.
Mixing
The mixing of the tile adhesive can be done using a mechanical mixer or by hand using a paddle. Add 20kg Tile Tak Porcelain Fix 24hr to 5 lt of clean, cold water and mix into a smooth paste. It is always advisable to use a full bag in 1 mix. Once mixed into a smooth, lump free consistency allow to stand for 5 minutes before mixing again before use. Use with 120 minutes.
Where the application is external or in wet applications (i.e., showers etc.), or high traffic installations or where flexibility is required (i.e., high ambient variations etc.) replace the water in the mix with Tile Tak Tile Bond.
When mixing tile adhesive please remember the following:
- When mixing always add powder to water to avoid excess lumping during mixing. Never add
ore liquid to a bag than specified – 5lt water to 20kg Tile Tak Porcelain Fix Tile Adhesive.
- If the product begins to stiffen after been mixed never add extra water as this will
compromise the integrity of the tile adhesive system.
- Cold ambient conditions will extend the drying time & alternately hot ambient conditions will
shorten the working time of the tile adhesive.
- Always clean the mixing apparatus with clean water before the tile adhesive hardens.
- Never wash cement-based tile adhesive down the drain as polluting the system may
contravene the bye laws and blockages will occur.
Product Application
Before tiling commences ensure that the tiles are dry, and the back of the tile is free of dust & other surface contaminants that may affect the adhesion of the tile to the substrate.
Apply the mixed tile adhesive to the surface using a wall trowel for lightweight wall tiles (notches 6mmx6mmx6mm) and a floor trowel for floor tiles (notches cut 12mmx12mmx12mm) & heavy walls tiles where a solid bed of tile adhesive is necessary.
Tile Tak Porcelain Fix 24hr can be applied in a bed thickness of 3mm – 15mm and up to 20mm in isolated sections. For greater bed depth we would recommend that a “butter” bed be laid beforehand.
When laying the tiles, we would recommend that only sufficient tile adhesive be spread to accommodate tiles that can be laid within 15minutes. If the tile adhesive when laid is left exposed for more than 15 minutes the adhesive will skin. If skinning was to occur the tile adhesive must be respread before laying the tiles. When installing tile panels, it always good practice to “twist” the tiles when bedding the tile.
Once the tiles have been laid, bed the tiles into the tile adhesive using a rubber mallet. Again, it is good practice to remove tiles once laid to check the adhesive contact with the back of the tile. When laying large tiles, it may be necessary to “butter” the back of the tile panel before laying to ensure full adhesive contact between the tile and the substrate. Never ever use a 5-spot mixing method when lay wall or floor tiles.
Never butt joint tiles. It is good practise to leave a grout-joints varying from 2-3mm for ceramic wall tiles, 3mm for porcelain & marble, and 6mm for ceramic floor tiles & natural stone floor tiles. Clean the tile adhesive out of all the grout joints and parameter joints before the tile adhesive harden.
When laying tile in large areas it is essential not to tile over expansion joints, structural joints. These joints must be carried through the tile panel and filled with a compressible compound (silicone sealant etc.) Movement joints must be installed in tiling every 5 metres running in both directions, and 3 metres in exterior applications. See section on MOVEMENT JOINTS.
Should the tile adhesive begin to stiffen in the bucket, the pot life of the tile adhesive is nearing. Do not add extra water to try and thin out the tile adhesive.
Special Notes
- Allow for 24hrs drying before grouting.
- Mechanically support large wall tile laid for 24 hours.
- All exterior tile application must be protected from the sun and incumbent weather for
24hous. This is to prevent rapid drying. Tiles to protected from Rain for at least 24 hours.
- Cater for longer setting times when large tile panels are laid.
- Ensure that the tile panel has full contact with the tile adhesive. It is good practice to check laid tiles on a regular basis for full tile adhesive contact. Any voids beneath floor tile panel will result in cracked tiles.
Grouting – Wall & Floor Panels
- Ensure that the tile adhesive has been removed from the joints
- Allow for 24 hours before grouting the joints
- Do not grout with pure cement
- Grout with Tile Tak Wall & Floor Grout
- In wet conditions replace the water in the mix with Tile Bond
Use Tile Tak Wall & Floor Tile Grout to grout the joints. Please refer to the Tile Grout product data sheet for mixing & application instructions.
Movement Joints
Tile panel movement joints should be installed as follows:
- Movement joint for internal application must be installed in both directions at 4
metre intervals running in both directions
- Movement joints for exterior applications must be installed in both directions at 3
metre intervals running in both directions
- Movement joints must also be catered for in both internal & exterior applications
around the perimeter of all floors
- Movement joints must be installed around all vertical & horizontal corners and must
be carried through all structural joints in the same thickness as the structural joint.
All tile panel movement joints must be 5-6mm in width and must be carried through the tile panel and extend through the tile adhesive. The moment joints must be filled with a recommended polyurethane joint sealant.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Cleaning
Dry Powder Spillages. Do not allow for water exposure. Sweep up & Discard in accordance with the by-laws.
Wet Adhesive Spillages. Pick up the wet adhesive before the product dries & wipe down affected areas with a damp cloth/sponge. Discard in accordance with the by-laws.
Storage & Shelf Life
When stored in dry conditions, off the floor & out of direct sunlight, the shelf life is 3months.
Packaging
Tile Tak Porcelain Fix 24hr is supplied in 20kg bags
Safety & Warnings
Precautions:
The following precautions must be adhered to:
- Ensure that the above instructions are adhered to at all times and do not adulterate the product in any way as this could result in tile failure.
- Rubber gloves should be used when applying Tile Tak Porcelain Fix Tile Adhesive. In the event of skin irritation, rinse the affected area under cold water. Consult a medical doctor if the irritation persists.
- Keep the product away and out of reach from children and pets.
- Use a respirator when handling the dry product.
- This guideline only serves as a basic manual for the surface preparation product selection and installation procedure for this type of application. Each installation needs to be assessed and the products used, and the procedures followed should be in accordance with the SABS Code for the design and installation of ceramic tiles SABS 10107:2011
GUARANTEE
Tile Tak products are manufactured and tested within in-house procedures and are guaranteed to be free from any manufactured defects and fit for specified purposes. This guarantee is subject to the performance of Tile Tak products when applied in strict accordance with the application specifications for the specific project, where good workmanship is adhered to. As Tile Tak has no influence over specific site conditions it is important that the applicator will always carry out sufficient testing of the product to satisfy themselves that the product is suitable for the intended purpose. Tile Tak will not be liable for inadequate workmanship nor any defects due to external factors beyond the control of Tile Tak including, unsound structures, building movement, development of cracks etc., nor product adulteration or product misuse.
