Choosing the correct tile adhesive is important to make sure your tiles stay in place and last long. Different tile types (like ceramic, porcelain or stones), tile size, subtrate material, surfaces, and installation locations (like bathrooms or outdoor) should use different kinds of tile adhesives. EN 12004 (European Standard for adhesives for tiles) helps to understand how strong and flexible a tile adhesive is.
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 |
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Sika Tile Adhesive Selection Guide
| SikaCeram®-288 MY | SikaCeram®-188 MY | |
| C2TE S1 | C2TE | |
| C1 > 0.5 MPa | ||
| C2 > 1.0 MPa | ■ | ■ |
| T | ■ | ■ |
| E @ 30 minutes | ■ | ■ |
| 2.5 mm ≤ S1 ≤ 5.0 mm | ■ | |
| Ceramic | ■ | ■ |
| Porcelain & hormogenous tile | ■ | ■ |
| Granite | ■ | |
| Marble | ■ | |
| Mosaic | ■ | ■ |
| Interior | ■ | ■ |
| Exterior | ■ | |
| Semi Exposed | ■ | |
| 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 | ■ |