One of the key aspects of a successful tile installation is to get the right adhesive. Knowing how to mix adhesive correctly is important to achieve the strongest bond possible and thus a long-lasting installation. Improper adhesive mixing may cause issues to your installation or even lead to a complete failure.
Here are some key steps to ensure a proper mix, and why they are necessary, regardless of the brand or type of adhesive.
How to mix adhesive right: before you start
Be familiar with the specific type of adhesive you use. While specifics vary between manufacturers, every bag will have instructions printed on it – read them. You should at least know basic things like the adhesive mix ratio or amount of water, slake time, pot life (time between mixing and when the mixture is no longer usable), and open time (time between spreading the adhesive and having the tile set). Provided you are aware of those things, there should be no real surprises following the steps below.
To know how to mix adhesive properly, you must understand these steps and the basics of how cementitious adhesives actually work, on a chemically and microscopic level. Adhesives consist of a few basic ingredients: sand, Portland cement, lime and (usually) various chemically manufactured additives which assist in the adhesive mix being able to retain water for a longer amount of time. These additives can also provide different properties to the final product like flexibility, strength, faster curing times, etc. Most modern adhesives have at least one type of additive.
Understanding the way that cement works and why it needs to be mixed in a certain manner, in different stages, is key to ensure a successful result. Cement cures through a process called hydration. The dry cement molecules are inert – they don’t do anything at all until they are mixed with water. Once water is added to cement the molecules use that water to grow small crystals. The more water available to the molecule, the longer and thicker the crystals grow.
When these cement molecules are all growing crystals next to one another, the crystals will grow around other crystals and interlock. This is how cement gets stronger, and why it gets stronger the longer it exposes to water. In the case of a adhesive, the crystals will not only grow around other crystals, they will grow into the pores of the tile and substrate. This is how to achieve the bond.
When a modifier is added to the mix, it helps achieve a stronger bond to the tile than an adhesive without modifiers. The more modifiers included in the adhesive mix, the stronger the bond, because the polymers allow the mix to retain water for a longer period. When the polymers expose to water, then dispersed evenly into the mix, they surround the cement molecules and allow them access to water for a longer period (the water won’t evaporate through the polymers). This process produces a longer, thicker cement crystal than the adhesive you would have without any type of modifier.
Equipment
Wondering how to mix adhesive the right way? Well, selecting the right tools for the job is among the first decisions you have to make. The mixing drill and mixing paddle are fundamental. Use a mixer with a low rpm. Most adhesive manufacturers recommend a low rpm to ensure a minimum amount of air trapped in the adhesive as well as a more consistent mix. You also want to use a spiral-type mixing paddle rather than the ‘egg-beater’ type. This also prevents excess air in the mix. The range have both a low rpm and comes with the proper type of paddle. Combined with the Rubi’s rubber bucket, you have all the equipment needed to properly mix adhesive for tile installation.
Initial adhesive mix
Start by pouring water into your bucket first. This cuts down on the amount of airborne particles. If you put the powder in first, then add water, you’ll have a large cloud of dry adhesive floating around when you begin mixing, and it’s difficult to get all the dry adhesive mixed up, it will stick to the sides of the bucket. Add the adhesive to the water, mix, add more adhesive or water as needed to reach a fairly thick consistency – about the creaminess of thick peanut butter. You want the swirls at the top of the bucket to stand up without slumping or disappearing (see the photo).
Most manufacturers recommend what seems like an excessive amount of time to mix adhesive, five or ten minutes. This is a LONG time to mix adhesive, but it will help achieve the required blending and saturation of the individual molecules, both cement and additives, in your mix. Most professionals will only mix long enough to get a consistent mix of the powder and water. Ideally, you should stick to the recommended time, but, realistically, it won’t likely happen. Just be aware, and always mix a bit longer than the time you feel may be necessary.
It is completely fine to add more adhesive or water at this stage to reach the desired thickness. Do this during the initial mix rather than adding more later in the process. Adding more water or adhesive after the slaking stage will considerably weaken the adhesive. The adhesive should be thick enough to stick to the trowel when you turn it upside down. If it drips off then it is too thin, you need to add more powder to the mix.
Slaking
The slaking stage is very important! It is a key issue when determining how to mix adhesive perfectly. Slaking simply means letting the mixed adhesive sit, untouched, for ten minutes or so. It is critical to allowing the chemical makeup of the adhesive to work correctly. Not doing so, and using it immediately after the initial mix, will lead to the adhesive getting stiff and unworkable (fairly quickly). Then, the adhesive won’t bond or cure correctly with the tile. Slaking also provides the maximum working time once the adhesive is fully mixed.
Most modern modified adhesives have powdered additives (usually polymers of some sort) added to the dry mix. Chemically speaking, these additives, like the cement, get activated through hydration, but they work a bit differently. When adding water to the cement, the mix begins to grow crystals and that’s how adhesive gets its strength. The longer the cement exposes to water, the longer the crystals grow. The longer the crystals grow, the stronger the cured product will be.
Once you add water to the additives, however, the molecules in the additives will absorb the water. Think of a molecule of the additive like a cotton ball. The outer layer of the additive will be hydrated, but the inner portion will still be dry. Slaking provides the additive enough time to become completely saturated.
If you do not put the adhesive to slake, the mix will have dry polymers. The dry polymers will leach water from the cement and cause it to stiffen up quickly. If the cement does not have sufficient water to continue growing the crystals, the crystal growth and curing process essentially stops. Therefore, not allowing the adhesive mix to slake causes it to get stiff quickly, which weakens the adhesive and create issues with bonding. Lack of crystal formation in the cement leads to an insufficient bond to the tile and substrate. Allow the additives to dissolve fully to have a proper adhesive mix.
Final adhesive mix
Once the adhesive slakes, move on to get the final mix by distributing the additives evenly into the adhesive. This process helps spread the polymers and water throughout the mix to produce a consistent, properly blended adhesive during and after the cure time.
Do not add more water or powder to the mix at this stage! Excessive water will only spread out the mix. There is already water between the adhesive molecules, separating them from each other. The farther apart the molecules are when the crystals begin to grow, the harder will be to achieve the interlocking crystal formation of the cement, which is where the strength of the adhesive comes from. If the crystals cannot fully interlock with one another, the final product will be weaker. By the way, this is also why you don’t want excessive air trapped in the adhesive mix.
If properly mixed, the adhesive should have standing ridges without slumping when spreading it with the trowel.
So, how to mix adhesive the right way? Just remember this:
• Don’t add too much water – this will weaken the mix.
• Mix slowly to trap the minimum amount of air in the adhesive mix.
• The adhesive should be fairly thick, like thick peanut butter.
• The thickness and consistency of the initial mix should be the same consistency of the final mix.
• Slaking is necessary!
• Do not add more water or adhesive mix after the adhesive slakes.
• Know the working time of your adhesive, pay attention to when it begins to stiffen up.
The right adhesive mix is critical to achieve a successful tile installation with the most durable bond. How you can see, it is not that simple to know how to mix adhesive correctly. When done properly, it makes a world of difference.
Do you know other pro tips about how to mix adhesive for tile installation? Leave your comments below!
[Interested in mixing adhesive like a pro? You better get the right tools!]
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