Choosing the correct tile adhesive is essential to achieving a strong, durable, and long-lasting tile installation. The selection depends on factors such as the type and size of tiles, the substrate material, the location of the installation (interior, exterior, wet areas), and environmental conditions. To ensure consistency and performance, tile adhesives should comply with recognized industry standards such as EN 12004 (European Standard for adhesives for tiles).
Standard of Tile Adhesives
Standard EN 12004
This standard establishes the specifications and methods for classifying of adhesives for ceramic tile and similar material on floor and wall.
| C | Cement-base Adhesives in powder form, to be mixed with water or some other appropriate liquid right before use |
| Class 1 | Normal adhesives (with minimum criteria) |
| Class 2 | Improved adhesives (with additional criteria) |
| F | Fast setting adhesives |
| T | Thixotropic adhesives (withstand slip) |
| E | Extended (longer) open time adhesives |
Standard EN 12002
This standard determines the transverse deformation degree (elasticity) of cement-based adhesives and grouts, and divides them into two categories.
| S1 | Deformable product with ≥ 2.5 mm deformability |
| S2 | Highly deformable product with ≥ 5 mm deformability |
Sika Tile Adhesive Selection Guide
| Tile Adhesive | SikaCeram®-98 | SikaCeram®-128 MY | SikaCeram®-188 MY | SikaCeram®-666 | SikaCeram®-288 MY | SikaCeram®-98 + Davco Davelastic 98 | |
| Classification | C1 | C2E | C2TE | C2TE | C2TE S1 | C2TE S1 | |
| Tensile Adhesion | C1 > 0.5 MPa | ■ | |||||
| C2 > 1.0 MPa | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Slip Resistance | T | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Extended Open Time | E @ 30 minutes | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |
| Deformation | 2.5 mm ≤ S1 ≤ 5.0 mm | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Type of Tiles | Ceramic | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Porcelain & hormogenous tile | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Granite | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Marble | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Mosaic | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |
| Applications | Interior | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Exterior | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Semi Exposed | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Floor – Tiling on tile | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Floor – Medium tile (≤ 60 cm × 60 cm) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Floor – Large tile (> 60 cm × 60 cm) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Wall – Small to medium tile (≤ 30 cm × 60 cm) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |
| Wall – Medium tile (≤ 60 cm × 60 cm) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Wall – Large tile (> 60 cm × 60 cm) | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Swimming pool | ■ | ||||||
| Light weight block | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |
| Drywall | ■ | ■ | |||||
