Why masters do not advise laying tiles on cement mortar. How to lay tiles on the floor in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway (instruction) Ceramic tiles cement mortar floor

Each person who decides to lay the tile with his own hands must first think about how and with what help to fix it on the surface. The main role of the mortar for ceramic tiles is the installation of a tile coating by fixing it to the floor or wall. It is not at all difficult to prepare it yourself, at home.

The first thing to do is to decide on the composition. Mortar for ceramic tiles is of two types:

cement-adhesive mixture, made by hand. It is the most versatile and most reliable material;
ready-made dry mixes sold in stores and markets. They are intended only for smooth, plastered surfaces made of concrete, brick, wood.

The first option is the most popular. The composition of the cement-adhesive mixture does not depend on where the tile coating will be glued, on the floor or on the walls. For its manufacture, it is desirable to use purified, coarse sand and cement. The higher the brand of cement, the better the quality of the mortar, but in any case it should not be lower than 300. If you use cement grade 300-400, then its ratio with sand will be 1:5, and if you take cement grade 500-600 - then 1:6.

In order to achieve a good adhesion of the surface with the solution, you can dilute it with PVA glue.

The sand used, if it is wet, must be dried, because. wet will not penetrate through a fine sieve when sifted.

When purchasing cement, it is imperative to check the release date. If the expiration date has expired or is close to it, then for sure he has lost half of his properties. If the purchased cement does not have a package, then its suitability can be established as follows: you need to pick it up in a handful and squeeze it, while the fresh one will come out between the fingers, and the expired one will get into a lump.

cement mortar

To make a cement-adhesive mortar for ceramic tiles, the following technology is used:

First of all, you need to sift the sand. If this is not done, then various pebbles, fragments of shells, pieces of clay that may be in it will fall into the solution and the tile laid on it may subsequently crack;
The sifted sand is mixed with cement in the above proportion, adding water until it resembles dough in density. After that, the solution is ready for use.
To ensure good adhesion, PVA glue can be poured into it - 1/2 liter of glue is taken per 10 liters of solution.

An excellent replacement for the cement-adhesive mixture is a ready-made dry mix (tile adhesive) purchased at the store. It consists of cement, sand and a huge number of various chemical additives that give it properties appropriate to its purpose. Subsequently, a mortar for ceramic tiles is made from this mixture. The price depends, as a rule, on the manufacturer and on the quality of its components.

Dry mix solution

Working with such mixtures requires strict adherence to instructions. The adhesive properties of ready-made suspensions are better, moreover, they are diluted with special antifungal additives. But all this is true only if the solution is made correctly:

must be protected during operation. Airways using a respirator or gauze bandage;
pour three liters of water 22-24 C into a clean ten-liter bucket;
Pour the dry mixture into the water gradually, stirring constantly. The finished volume should be approximately 2/3 of a bucket;
mix thoroughly so that no lumps remain. This can be done with a special whisk;
to enhance adhesion, dilute the solution with PVA glue at the rate of 1/2 liter per 10 liters of composition;
the prepared solution must be allowed to stand for ten minutes and mixed again.

Types of ready-made dry mixes (tile adhesive)

Versatile mix. The most popular, used to fix tiles small size. Usually it is used for interior decoration with ordinary tiles.
Reinforced blend. Its main purpose is to fix large tiles on the floor and walls. characteristic feature of this type of mixture is to ensure good adhesion to the surface and high resistance to various kinds of loads.
Pool mix. With its help, pools and baths are trimmed mosaic tiles. This mixture is moisture resistant and includes components that prevent the appearance of mold.
Frost resistant mix. Designed for outdoor work. With its help, plinths of buildings, stairs, terraces, etc. are covered with tiles. This mix is steady against repeated freezing with the subsequent thawing.

These are the main types of ready-made dry mixes from which mortar for ceramic tiles is made. Photos of them can be viewed on the Internet on the websites of enterprises selling building materials.

How to choose a good quality dry mix

There are several criteria that you need to rely on when choosing a finished mixture:

when buying a ready-made mixture, you should always check the expiration date and compliance with storage conditions. If they are violated, this material may partially or completely deteriorate;
it is better not to purchase a mixture that was produced more than six months ago, because. it has the property of caking, and may later petrify;
where and by whom the mixture was released also matters. There is a myth that says that when buying expensive materials, people overpay for the brand that is depicted on the package, but this judgment is far from the truth. Manufacturers who have been on the market for a long time, in order to stay afloat in the face of fierce competition, are constantly researching the properties and composition of mixtures, improving their products.
When choosing the type of this material, you should not buy the same one for walls and floors. they will be loaded differently. It is better not to save and buy a reinforced mixture for the walls.

With the help of this guide, any beginner in matters of repair and construction will be able to independently prepare a mortar for ceramic tiles. See the video below for more detailed instructions.

Tip: despite the fact that the optimal composition of the ingredients has already been selected in all mixtures, there are several additional additives that will make the glue even stronger. Manufacturers do not add them, as it is not cost-effective and greatly complicates the production process. Such additional substances include PVA glue (added to the diluted mixture) and cement (above grade 50).

There are quite a lot of different companies on the dry mix market, but not all of them offer decent products. Among the time-tested and customer reviews are:

Ceresit,
Optirok (Vetonit),
atlas,
sopro,
Bolars,
Eunice.

The most famous of all manufacturers is without a doubt Ceresit products. This brand is part of the Henkel concern, which also produces goods under the brands Thomsit, Metylan and Moment. The main capacities are located in Ukraine, but the products fully comply with the requirements and technical standards. The range offers a lot of different compositions, which differ from each other in the composition and method of operation of the tile. There are frost-resistant mixtures for outdoor work and various compositions for porcelain stoneware, thin tiles and other types of tiles.

The Finnish corporation Optirok offers the domestic consumer a Vetonit product range. Considering the harsh Finnish weather conditions, adhesive mixtures are made with an additional margin of safety, so Vetonit adhesives are suitable for use in all regions of Russia.

Polish Atlas is also quite high quality, but it is cheaper than analogues. The company specializes specifically in adhesive mixtures, therefore it offers a lot of compositions designed for specific loads. This allows you to optimize the process of installing tiles so as to maximize its service life.

Sopro is a German company that has repeatedly been awarded in international construction competitions. Of course, the quality of its products is at the highest level, in connection with this, domestic distributors significantly overestimate the cost of goods. It makes sense to stop at the choice of this company if a large amount of work is required and a wholesale purchase is possible. Then the price will be acceptable.

Of the domestic companies, Bolars and Eunice are worthy of attention. Both companies have their own factories in Russia. Products comply with GOST. Since there are no customs clearance and delivery costs, the goods of these manufacturers are cheaper. But little experience in this industry allows us to recommend firms exclusively for internal works for wall tiling. Also, it should be added that the Moscow company Eunice does not yet have a wide network of distributors, therefore it is available only to residents of the Moscow region.

A few of the main elements that are used in ceramic tiling are the mixture and crosses for laying tiles. 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 adhesive compositions.

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 powdered material, which must be further diluted. Preparation of mixtures is carried out 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 packages of 5 or 25 kg.

Some nuances

Considering the floor cladding, it should be noted that it is large, in contrast to the walls, which exceeds 3 mm. And because what solution is needed for the tile will be determined by some factors.

First of all, the evenness of the base. Since in the presence of irregularities, it is desirable to use cement mortar, which will not only serve as glue, but also help smooth out bumps. In this case, the thickness of the solution layer can reach 3 cm. In turn, the use of ready-made adhesive mixtures requires a perfectly flat surface.
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.
The human factor, or rather, the economic one, 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, by the way, about the issue of savings, there are also several factors here:

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

Structure and composition

Considering the finished adhesive for laying tiles on the floor, it is almost impossible to fully know the composition, since this is the secret of the manufacturer. A big plus of such mixtures is that they are divided into different types, intended for various conditions operation and surfaces. Thus, we can distinguish:

Universal glue. It is used in standard conditions for flat surfaces.
Reinforced, which is often used when laying fragile tiles.
Non-traditional compositions designed, for example, for glass or metal tiles.

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

With cement M300 - 3 parts of sand.
For M400 - 4 parts of sand.
For M500 or M600 - 5 parts.

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

If necessary, enhance adhesion, also add standard PVA glue. 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. To put it more clearly, for 10 liters of solution, 200 g of glue is added.

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, gives resistance to low temperatures.

Solution preparation

Now it is necessary to consider the preparation of both the finished composition and the one made independently.

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 located on the package. 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:

An important factor is the temperature of the water. It should not 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 the work should be in the range from 10 to 24 degrees.

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

As you know, tiles are often soaked before laying, and the base itself is moistened. When laying on glue, this is not recommended.

Homemade cement mortar

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

The preparation is as follows:

Tiles before such laying, while the period of being in water is 8-10 hours. Just for starters, soak one tile, because if you come across a material of poor quality, then as a result, ugly ones will appear under the enamel yellow spots that ruins the whole look of the room.

In the event that, after soaking and laying on cement, the sample is not lost appearance, then the whole tile is soaked. If soaking is not possible, then immediately before laying it is necessary to wipe the back side with a damp cloth.

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

Most Common Mistakes

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

Often one comes across poor quality sand, not sifted and not dried, and in a hurry this is used.
Also, an unacceptable mistake is the use of old cement, which often loses its properties.
Water should only be used clean, in no case should not be used sea water or dirty, settled.
The mixture must be thoroughly mixed so that no lumps remain, which entails a loss of quality.
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 series of mistakes when using cement mortar, now consider the use of ready-made compounds:

It is strictly forbidden to use cold or hot water.
You can not fill the mixture first, and then pour water, in which case lumps will form.
Do not soak the tile or moisten the base.
Containers for cooking must be clean, after each batch it is necessary to clean and wash.
It is necessary to stir the composition at a low speed of rotation of the mixer. At a high speed, the mixture will foam, at a low speed, lumps will remain.

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

The quality of tile laying is determined by several factors: the tile itself, the type and preparation of the substrate, the experience of the master tiler and the mortar used. If the first two can be assessed visually, the work can be done independently, then with a tiled solution the situation is more complicated.

To choose the right mortar for laying tiles, you need to have some knowledge in this area.

There are two options for making a solution for tile works:

1. The traditional way of preparing mortar for tiles

The method involves the manufacture of a cement-adhesive mortar manually (manually). Professional construction teams today practically do not use this method, due to the length of the mixing process and the instability of the composition. However, in private construction, it has not yet lost its relevance.

Advantages manual method mixing tile mortar:

you can do it yourself;
solution components are available and cheap;
the solution is environmentally friendly;
allows you to level the base for laying;
proven grip reliability;
versatility of application. The solution is suitable for any tile and any surface;
low cost.

The disadvantage is that the proportions are determined “by eye”, therefore, even within different batches, the consistency of the solution may differ. In addition, a lot of time is spent on preparing the solution, and the constituent elements of the mixture need storage space.

Making cement mortar for tiles with your own hands

Despite the mortar's long-standing fame, many users are interested in how to make cement mortar for tiles. After all, the duration of the operation of the lined surface depends on this.

The composition of the cement mortar

Cement

For mixing the mortar, only fresh cement is used. Preferably Portland brand or white cement. It is not recommended to use cement grades below 300 for tile work. Cement, depending on storage conditions, loses up to 40% of its properties during the year. Coating masters claim that floor tiles will stay on such a solution, but laid on the wall - "crawl". This drawback is eliminated by adding more cement to the solution, which leads to an increase in the cost of work.

How to determine the quality of cement

You can check the quality of cement by eye. To do this, squeeze a handful of cement in the palm of your hand. If it wakes up through your fingers, it means fresh, if a lump forms, cement is not suitable for mortar. This method of determination can be useful when there is an opened bag of cement or it sells in bulk.

Sand

For mixing the tile mortar, it is better to use river sand. Before adding to the solution, it must be sieved or washed and dried. Additional impurities (shells, small stones, lumps of clay) contained in the sand will create some difficulties in facing. Especially if you apply a thin layer of the mixture, which will cause the tile to lift, and trying to set it in place by tapping can cause the ceramic to crack.

Advice. Dry sand is more convenient to sift

Water

There are no water temperature requirements.

In what proportions to mix cement with sand

These components are mixed in a certain ratio (proportions). Moreover, when changing the brand of cement, the ratio changes towards an increase in the composition of cement:

Note. The heavier the tile, the more cement you need to add to the mortar.

PVA additive in cement mortar

It is possible to give the cement-sand mortar additional elastic properties by adding PVA glue to it - 200 gr. for 10 l. finished cement mortar. PVA will give the mixture greater adhesion to the surface. At the same time, the cost of this modifier is only 80 rubles. for 0.9 kg.

An alternative to PVA at home can be improvised materials ( detergent, powder, liquid soap). Some consumers recommend adding laundry detergent or soap to the grout. Why is this being done? To improve the properties of the solution. Such a plasticizer is able to make the cement mortar for tiles more plastic, which is important when laying floor tiles.

The addition of lime to the cement slurry will increase the ability to resist moisture retraction (dampness) and make the slurry more elastic. Slaked lime or its substitute MTS (LP) is used (80 rubles / 1 liter).

Resistance to low temperatures will add a plasticizer - antifreeze hardening accelerator Primer EC-30 (about 100 rubles)

How to prepare cement mortar for laying tiles

The procedure for mixing the cement-sand mixture: the cement is thoroughly mixed with the prepared sand. Then water is gradually added to the mixture. The solution is stirred until it reaches the desired consistency. You can check the readiness of the solution by hooking part of the mixture with a trowel. If the mixture holds, you can start work, if it spreads, there is too much water, respectively, you need to add cement-sand.

Advice. Professionals say that less tile, the thinner (less viscous) the solution should be.

Note. When using this method, the facing tiles must be moistened before laying. Otherwise, it will draw water out of the solution.

2. Innovative way to prepare tile mortar

Assumes that a ready-made tile mortar will be used. Despite the fact that ready-made solutions appeared on the construction market relatively recently, they quickly gained popularity among users.

All tiling solutions can be divided into three categories:

Dry mixes for laying tiles

This category is the most widely represented on the market. Dry mixes for tile work can be used both for wet laying (tiles, ceramic tiles, natural Decoration Materials), and for dry (paving slabs). Designed for cladding different surfaces, but they have one thing in common - they are delivered in bags in a dry state.

The dry mixture consists of many components with a predominance of gypsum and cement (90-95%). Various additives (5-10%) give mixtures a variety of properties that will appear when water is added to a dry mixture.

As additives, the following can be added to the composition of the tile mortar:

polymer additives are responsible for the adhesive properties of the composition;
hardening retarders or accelerators;
water-repellent components (additives), impart resistance to moisture to the glue;
coloring pigments;
plasticizers, which are responsible for the elasticity of the composition.

If we compare the traditional cement-sand and dry mix, then the latter will have advantages due precisely to the presence of additives. The mixture is more plastic, has great ability to compression.

The tile mix is usually packed in 25 and 5 kg bags.

Note. Many users add a dry mix to a cement-sand mortar made by themselves, i.e. by hand. This allows you to improve the quality characteristics of the mixture without a significant increase in the cost of the solution.

What dry mixes for tiles are better to choose?

There are many competing brands on the market for dry adhesive solutions. But the sales leaders are Optirok (Vetonit), Atlas, Sopro, Eunice. It is these brands that have earned customer loyalty due to the consistently high quality of mixtures. And also because these brands have several subspecies of mixtures. Thus, the master can lay any tile on any surface, and with confidence provide a guarantee for his work.

According to consumer reviews, Ceresit CM 11 (cost from 215 to 300 rubles depending on the region) can be considered the number one brand in the domestic market. This brand belongs to the Henkel concern and it became more accessible to the domestic consumer after the opening of production in Ukraine. Adhesives Thomsit, Metylan and "Moment" also belong to this manufacturer and are designed for different categories of consumers. So, for example, the cost of glue for Moment tiles is 150 rubles / pack. At the same time, its properties are quite satisfactory for many consumers.

Preparation of mortar for tiles from the finished mixture

The technology is simple, just pour the right amount of the mixture into a suitable container with water. At the same time, manufacturers warn that you need to knead the amount of material that is needed to work for 0.5-1.5 hours (depending on the type of mixture). The fact is that after the solution has matured, adding water to it is categorically not recommended. This significantly reduces its properties.

Advice. A mixture that has lost its mobility (set, but not hardened) must be mixed again.

For mixing use water at room temperature. The use of cold or hot water will negate the properties of modifiers. When closing the mixture, you need to remember that the mixture is poured into the water, and not vice versa. After 5 minutes of stirring, the mixture must be left to ripen. During this time, the modifiers will “open up”. After that, the solution is mixed again and get to work.

To make a solution from a dry mixture, it is better to use a nozzle on a drill for mixing the solution - a mixer. The speed of rotation of the mixer is about 500 rpm. If foam appears on the surface of the mixture during mixing, this indicates that the speed of rotation of the nozzle is too high. If lumps do not break - about low.

Only a clean container is used to prepare the solution. Otherwise, hardened particles remaining after the previous batch may get into the solution. They will not allow you to apply an even thin layer.

For facing surfaces with heavy tiles, it is better to mix the mixture with latex, it increases the strength and elasticity of the adhesive. For example, LITOPLUS K55 glue is diluted with Latexkol-m.

Adding PVA to the mixture will further increase the strength of the adhesive. For 10 liters of solution, 0.2-0.5 liters are added. glue.

Paste mix (mastic) for laying tiles

For example, for laying tiles on simple bases, Garant + mastic is good, its cost depends on packaging, on average it is 100 rubles. per kg.

Good user reviews about NEOMID Supercontact mastic. It is designed for lining stoves and fireplaces (price 480 rubles / kg). SOUDAL 24A is positioned as a superglue for tiles, it fully justifies its position (price 790 rubles / 6 kg). TERRACO TERRAPAST - paste-like adhesive, which is intended for use on complex surfaces (drywall, plywood, MDF, etc.) - 1200 rubles / 15 kg.

The material was prepared for the site www.site

The advantage of ready-made formulations is that they are already ready for use. There is no need to start them with water, which ensures the same consistency of the solution, and also makes them more convenient, less laborious, and completely dust-free during operation.

How to put tiles on mastic

There is a peculiarity in the use of mastic - they are applied exclusively on even, cleaned, pre-wetted surfaces with a thin 2-3 mm layer. Please note that the thickness of the layer is regulated by the manufacturer. Users do not advise exceeding it, having made sure from their own experience that this does not improve the quality of the cladding. But it leads to a greater consumption of the mixture and increases the slip of the tile (when laying on the wall). In addition, mastic should be applied to small areas intended for cladding, due to the fact that it quickly hardens. Thus, you need to work with mastic quickly.

Special adhesive solutions - liquid nails

Good reviews about Moment Mounting glue Universal MP-40 (price 180-200 rubles/pack), Liquid Nails LN 604 (120 rubles/pack).

Benefits of using ready-made tile mortars

ease of mixing;

absence or minimization of dust during mixing;

homogeneity of the mass and the absence of lumps that form when mixing cement by hand;

minimal set of tools and limited space for kneading;

wider color gamut. Dry mixes based on white cement make it possible to veneer the surface with mosaics or light natural stone without compromising the appearance;

the ability to create minimal seams between tiles;

the ability to choose from different price categories: from elite to economy;

there is no need to store each element of the mixture separately;

a single recipe within the selected brand ensures the stability of the composition;

the presence of special modifiers, plasticizers and other additives that give the mixture additional strength;

the exact proportions of the constituent mixtures;

a variety of subspecies of mixtures intended for different surfaces, types facing tiles, operating conditions, which significantly expands the capabilities of facing masters;

the possibility of using in places with an aggressive environment: swimming pools, plinths, opening verandas or terraces, balconies. And also in places with active load, such as stairs of shops and office buildings;

less time for mixing;

cost savings due to the fact that the layer can be applied in a thin layer.

The disadvantage is the higher price of the finished solution and the need to level the surfaces. The permissible curvature of the base when facing should not exceed 10 mm. If more - you need to level or use a special mixture for tiles.

Ready-made and dry adhesive mortars for tiles - application according to the field of application

Mortar for laying tiles, made of cement and sand, according to the scope of application, belongs to universal solutions. Among dry formulations, universal tile adhesive also occupies a half in the total sales structure. He has proven himself well when facing simple surfaces indoors. To perform outdoor work, laying tiles on the floor, cladding wall surfaces, you need to use specialized adhesive solutions.

For floor work, elastic tile adhesive is used. It will compensate for the deformations caused by the load. These include Ceresit CM 16 (cost 420 rubles) or Litokol Litoflex K80 (560 rubles). At the same time, in order to lay tiles on a heated floor, you need to use a special mixture for tiles on the floor. In the product line of the Henkel concern, this is an elastic universal adhesive for tiles Ceresit CM 117 (700 rubles / 25 kg).

When facing walls with tiles, any mortar for tiles is suitable. When installing large format slabs, it is advisable to apply a tile mortar to the wall with increased fixation to prevent the tiles from sliding off the vertical surface. This is ILMAX 3100 unifix (price 325 rubles) or Weber vetonit ultrafix (540 rubles).

For outdoor work, it is advisable to use frost-resistant tile adhesive.

For lining stoves and fireplaces, heat-resistant tile adhesive is used. Positive feedback on the mixtures and Bergauf Keramik Termo (average cost 435 rubles).

Bathroom tiling requires increased attention when choosing an adhesive; universal compositions will not work here. For the bathroom, it is better to use moisture-resistant tile adhesive. Finishing a small area can be done liquid nails, for example, Moment Mounting Universal MP-40 (130 rubles/pack). In any case, the tile mortar in the bathroom must ensure the joint is sealed.

Advice. You can reduce the cost of glue by purchasing an all-purpose adhesive and joint compound. Experts advise using Scanmix SL tile joint mix or Soudal fix all sealant for such purposes.

For laying tiles in a pool or fountain, only waterproof tile adhesive is used, for example, Osnovit Maxiplix AC16 (880 rubles).

Laying tiles on the work surface in the kitchen. Users appreciated the use of tiles instead of traditional countertops. It's comfortable and beautiful. When choosing a mortar for ceramic tiles for facing countertops, you need to pay attention to the environmental friendliness of the material. Therefore, many craftsmen advise preparing a mortar for tiles from cement and sand, or using universal glue. Such solutions contain a minimum amount of additives, which allows us to talk about their safety. Also use a tile grout that is designed to come into contact with water.

According to reviews, a good mounting adhesive Liquid Nails LN 604 Projects & Foamboard (average cost 131 rubles) has the advantage of moisture resistance, the absence of toluene and acetone, environmental friendliness and structure density, which makes it easy to clean the work surface.

Estimated product life is 20 years.

Positive feedback on the epoxy two-component adhesive base Ceresit CU 22. It is designed specifically for use in laboratories, kitchens Catering, breweries. It has been laboratory tested and can come into contact with drinking water. The only thing that prevents the widespread distribution of this solution is the high price of glue, up to 5 thousand rubles. per container with a capacity of 8 kg.

Mortar for paving slabs

Somewhat apart is the mixture for paving slabs. Depending on the purpose, two types of solutions are distinguished.

Type 1 - Mix for laying paving slabs

It is designed for laying finished tiles on the base. Such solutions are popular on the market as the paving system for paving stones "RodStone - Osnova" (price 250 rubles / 25 kg), mix for laying paving slabs M150 (120 rubles / 25 kg). These mixtures are designed to fill the joints between tiles under light load, i.e. when paving garden paths, house porch, etc.

Laying paving slabs in the country with a high load intensity is carried out on more specialized compounds, for example, a Quick-mix PFN grout (1650 rubles / 25 kg) is suitable. It is worth paying attention to solutions with drainage properties, such as quick-mix TPM-D08 (1800 rubles / 25 kg.).

To reduce the cost of the process with the same quality, the composition of the mortar for paving slabs, prepared at home, will help. For its manufacture, you only need cement (Portland cement grades marked at least 400) and dry sifted sand. Mixing proportions are determined by the brand of cement and are usually 4 parts cement and 1 part sand.

Note. The use of such a solution involves the arrangement of a cement-sand cushion under the laid out paving slabs.

2nd view - Mortar for the manufacture of paving slabs

The composition of the solution for includes:

cement. It is preferable to buy fresh Portland brand cement with a marking of at least 400;

sand. It is advisable to use a river that has been purified from impurities. To do this, the sand is sifted through a fine sieve;

filler. Gravel, screenings or small gravel (fraction not higher than 10 mm) usually acts in this capacity;

water;

special additives.

When preparing a mortar for paving slabs, the proportions of which depend on the type of cement, various additives can be used to improve the quality and performance of paving slabs.

As additives can be used: plasticizer, dispersant - increase the frost resistance of tiles; a catalyst for hardening the solution, which allows you to quickly and efficiently make tiles, dyes - allow you to give additional decorative properties.

A detailed overview of mortars and mixtures for laying tiles will help you decide on the right adhesive material, and additional advice at the point of sale will help you make your choice.