Selection Guides - Tech Support

Tile Type

Recommended TAL Adhesive

Adhesive Selection Guide

Glazed Ceramic Wall Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Biscuit body, glazed


Glazed Ceramic Floor Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Biscuit body, glazed


Clay / Terracota Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Biscuit body, unglazed


Extruded /  Split Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Semi-virtrified / Vitrified,
glazed or unglazed


Concrete Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Dense body, unglazed


Porcelain Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Fully vitrified,
low porosity


Dark Coloured Marble & Granite Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Porous body, unglazed


White or Light-Coloured Marble / Travertine Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Porous, unglazed


Dark Coloured Natrual Stone eg. Sandstone, Slate

Tile Characteristics:
Natural products with variances
in composition, density, porosity


Large Format Floor Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Facial area greater than 350cm²,
or a tile with the length of at least one edge
greater than 600mm.


Fusion-Type Glass Tiles & Mosaics

Tile Characteristics:
Very dense body with
reflective characteristics


Resin-Backed Glass Tiles & Mosaics

Tile Characteristics:
Very dense body with
reflective characteristics


Resin Bonded Listellos

Tile Characteristics:
"Dust" bonded with epoxy resins


Terrazzo Tiles

Tile Characteristics:
Dense body, unglazed


* Adhesive selection also depends on background to be tiled onto and service conditions. Above recommendation is for tiling onto interior rendered walls and screeded surface beds.

 

NOTE:

TAL BOND must replace the water in the adhesive and grout mix when tiling suspended applications, exterior/exposed applications,   “wet” areas, heavy traffic areas, and areas where
   building movement or thermal expansion and contraction is expected.
• It is important that the tile selected is suitable for suitable for the application, preferebly against a written Supplier’s specification. Factor such as  water absorption, irreversible
  moisture expansion, MOR and PEI ratings, chemical resistance and overall stability of the product need to meet the requirements of the service conditions.

The backs of all tiles must be clean and free from dust and contaminants.
Friable or powdery products (such as natural stone) must be primed with a coat of TAL KEYCOAT Slurry prior to the tiles being fixed. (This coat must still be TACKY when the tiles are bedded into the adhesive.) 

Natural stone products must also be tested for inherent delamination prior to fixing.
• All “wet” areas, such as showers or balconies, should be waterproofed using TAL SUPERFLEX or TAL SUREPROOF waterproofing compounds prior to commencing tiling.

Grout Selection Guide

Tile Type

Recommended TAL Grout

Interior ‘dry’ areas

Interior 'wet' areas, Exterior / Exposed areas, Suspended Floors, Heavy Traffic Areas

Hygiene Areas (food prep and processing areas, clinics and hospitals), Pools, Saunas, Steamrooms, etc.


Ceramic Floor Tiles

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
5mm

TAL Industrial Epoxy Grout
Walls - Fine, Floors - Coarse


Porcelain Tiles
Granite Tiles
Marble Tiles

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
3mm


Natural Stone Tiles
ie Slate, Sandstone, etc.

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
5mm or as per manufacturer

TAL Industrial Epoxy Grout
Walls - Fine, Floors - Coarse


Clay / Terracotta Tiles

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
5mm

TAL Industrial Epoxy Grout
Walls - Fine, Floors - Coarse


Extruded Tiles
(VItro, NCI, Interbau, etc.)

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
5mm

TAL Industrial Epoxy Grout
Walls - Fine, Floors - Coarse


Concrete Tiles

Minimum Recommended Joint Width:
5mm or as per manufacturer

TAL Industrial Epoxy Grout
Walls - Fine, Floors - Coarse





Mosaic Tiles

The bonding and grouting of mosaics should be done in ONE operation , i.e. the adhesive will form the grout as well

NOTE :
TAL Super White Wall Grout is suitable for wall joints up to maximum 3mm wide
TAL Wall & Floor Grout is suitable for wall and floor joints 2 – 8mm wide
TAL Quarrygrout is suitable for wall and floor joints 5 – 25mm wide
TAL Stainfree Grout is suitable for wall and floor joints 3 – 12mm wide
TAL Fine Epoxy Grout is suitable for wall and floor joints 3 – 20mm wide
TAL Industrial Grout is suitable for floor joints only, minimum 8mm wide


It is important to use the stipulated amount of liquid in the TAL Grout mixture. When cleaning, a damp, not wet, sponge must be used.
Over hydration (too much water) of the mix, or in cleaning, causes colour variations in the grout joints, and also affects the integrity of the grout, resulting in a friable (soft, powdery) product.