Such a finish flooring, such as tiles, has a lot of different advantages. One of them is high thermal conductivity. Under normal conditions, this is rather a drawback, since there is a significant leakage of heat from the room. But in the case of laying on a “warm floor”, high heat conductivity coefficients are beneficial, since ceramics perfectly transmit heat generated by heating elements.
The technology for installing tiles to heated surfaces is no different from working with ordinary rough substrates, however, you will need to use a special tile adhesive for a warm floor. If conventional formulations are used in the process, then such a topcoat will not last long - at best, from two weeks to a couple of months.
Why use special glue?
The need to use a special composition can be easily explained - in the case of underfloor heating, it works in special conditions. So, glue is affected by temperature changes, heating, as well as cooling - under the influence of temperature, its structure expands and narrows, and then simply collapses.
Due to the formation of micropores, the ceramic tile will peel off. Also, the level of thermal conductivity drops significantly - the structure is destroyed, air voids are formed, which reduce the level of thermal conductivity.
Tile adhesive for underfloor heating: characteristics
For laying ceramic, as well as any other tiles on a heated surface, an adhesive solution is required, which:
- without any consequences can withstand constant temperature changes;
- does not react at all to critical temperatures;
- has sufficient elasticity and is easy to apply on the surface;
- has good adhesion to the rough floor and tiles;
- does not affect floor heating.
Modern elastic adhesives have high consumer qualities. They are used for the installation of tile, stone, clinker tiles. This was achieved thanks to special polymer modifiers that are introduced into the adhesive. These substances do not allow the formation of cracks due to the expansion processes of the binder base.
Tile adhesive for underfloor heating: which is better
When choosing a suitable adhesive solution, you should definitely pay attention to materials that are compatible with a particular adhesive. Also on the package must be indicated that this mixture can be used on floors with the heating function. Today produce one-component as well as two-component mixtures.
Dispersion (single component) adhesives
This is a thick paste that does not need to be cooked somehow. It cures for a long time - it is suitable for beginning masters who have not previously performed such work. Long curing time allows you to fix installation errors and correct the location of the tiles. The home master will have about 15 minutes to do this.
Fast hardening two-component compositions
Two-component mixtures are made on the basis of various epoxy resins, as well as polyurethane. Such tile adhesive for a warm floor is a dry mixture - you will need to cook it before use. Also, before use, you should definitely read the instructions - all proportions are indicated there, as well as the pour time. These mixtures perfectly tolerate any temperature changes and have good adhesion.
Cement based tile adhesive
In addition to these types of solutions, a composition based on cement is popular. For the production of various varieties of this material are used, Portland cement is very popular for these purposes. As a connecting element, fine sand is used. Also included are various modifiers. This universal glue is a dry mixture that will also have to be prepared. The specifications depend on the modifiers used by the manufacturer.
Market Review
Today, the construction market presents a lot of imported and domestic products. Consider only a few manufacturers whose products are popular among craftsmen.
Henkel
This is a German manufacturer that supplies various materials under the brand name Ceresit to the construction market of our country. For ceramics, porcelain stoneware, as well as clinker flooring, the tile adhesive for Cerezite underfloor heating is SM-14 EXTRA, as well as SM-16 and 17. If the tiles are based on marble or limestone, then the elastic product Ceresit CM-115 is suitable .
The entire product line from this brand has all the necessary characteristics. Glues have good elasticity and adhesion to both the concrete base and the tile surface.
Bergauf
Products of this brand are also popular in our country. Production is located both in Germany and in Russia. The company has been offering its products in our markets for over 10 years. For underfloor heating, the manufacturer produces Keramic Express glue.
This composition is suitable for laying large tiles up to 0.9 m 2 . It has excellent characteristics and can be used even in rooms with a high level of humidity. The price of the composition is not high, which makes it quite popular.
The Keramic Pro series has high elasticity and is suitable for the installation of clay, marble, granite and limestone tiles. The product is characterized by high elasticity and good adhesion.
Knauf
Knauf tile adhesive for underfloor heating is also a product of a German company that has factories in our country. So, a universal product is offered - Knauf Flex. The mixture has high adhesion, elasticity and resistance to temperature extremes. This series of adhesives is suitable for wet rooms. The composition is good for ceramic and granite tiles.
Prospectors
And this is a completely domestic brand. The company produces high-quality tile adhesive for underfloor heating - Prospectors Plus. With it, you can install ceramic tiles on concrete, as well as cement. Products are very popular among beginner builders and professionals due to their excellent characteristics and affordable prices.
Unis
Among all domestic enterprises that produce tile adhesive for underfloor heating, Unis stands out. Eunice Plus has a unique composition. The product is highly resistant to high temperatures, and also boasts excellent adhesion. It withstands the effects of humidity and can be used in various types of rooms.
You can buy tile adhesive for underfloor heating "Eunice Plus" at affordable prices, which makes it popular among builders.
Litocol
According to sellers, the products of the Italian brand Litokol are very popular. The composition of Litoflex K80 is highly elastic. Glue is widely used for mounting tiles on warm floors. Suitable for any kind of floor tiles.
The product line for underfloor heating has one-component and two-component compositions. Litoflex K98 and K99 have a fast-acting effect. These mixtures can be used both inside and outside of any type of premises.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like other types of building materials, these adhesive mixtures also have pros and cons. When working with them this must be taken into account. Reviews will help to choose tile glue for a warm floor, because they can tell about the real pros or cons of a particular composition. So, what do those who have already used in their work say about such mixtures?
A good adhesive composition is highly resistant to temperature extremes over a fairly wide range. You can also highlight a small viscosity, which will give the adhesive sufficient elasticity. Due to the high adhesion, the adhesion between the tile and the subfloor increases.
The disadvantages appear only when the glue was improperly selected, in particular, did not take into account the features of a particular floor covering. For example, "Cerezit SM-14" is not suitable for marble, granite or natural stone tiles.
Selection recommendations
When choosing an adhesive mixture, you should definitely pay attention to the marking. It should indicate that the product can be used with the intended coating. So, if the installation is carried out on rigid bases, the adhesive product is strengthened.
Some craftsmen perform mesh reinforcement when gluing tiles. To do this, plastic nets and tile glue for a warm floor are used. Which is better to choose depends on the task and operating conditions.
As for brands, today you can safely purchase products from domestic manufacturers. Many adhesives may well compete with imported compounds. When purchasing products, it does not matter which one is domestic or imported, it is important not to trust the sellers too much; it is better to familiarize yourself with reviews about a particular product in advance. Tile adhesive for underfloor heating is a fairly popular product, its range on the market is widely wide. But professionals recommend purchasing such mixtures from well-known manufacturing companies.
The right choice, as well as proper use, is a guarantee of the reliability and durability of ceramic tile flooring.