Why prime a surface before tiling it?

10 COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY OUR NEW FLOOR TILE ADHESIVE GIVES YOU A WATERTIGHT FIX IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS!

Hybrid cars, hybrid work hours, and now hybrid floor tile adhesive! TAL has a reputation for pioneering every type of floor tile fixing adhesive in the local market! The introduction of TAL Hybridfix is our latest fit-for-purpose tiling installation solution, specially formulated as a fixative for specialized, resilient PVC composite flooring.

1. WHY IS THIS A HYBRID PRODUCT?

 TAL Hybridfix is a hybrid adhesive made up of two components:

• rigid polyurethane and,

• an epoxy-base

 These two components give TAL Hybridfix enhanced substrate moisture tolerance.

2. WHICH SURFACES DO I APPLY TAL HYBRIDFIX TO?

 This specialized floor tile adhesive is formulated specifically for the installation of composite vinyl interlocking tile flooring. This resilient PVC flooring type is typically used to create the smooth, seamless floors found in high-traffic areas such as supermarkets.

Substrates may be porous or impervious, smooth or rough, or dusty and powdery. Without applying a primer, the substrate may either draw the liquid from the adhesive or screed mix (porous surfaces), prevent the adhesive or screed from bonding onto the surface (dusty or powdery surfaces), or be too smooth or dense for the adhesive or screed to form an adequate bond onto the substrate (smooth, impervious surfaces).

Incorrect or inadequate surface preparation can adversely affect the integrity of the   installation and may lead to an installation failure. The solution is to use a primer.

TAL provides a range of primers to prepare the surface prior to the application of tiling adhesives, screeding and waterproofing compounds. The TAL range of primers consists of TAL Keycoat, TAL Floor Primer, TAL Floorkey, TAL Epoxy Primer and TAL Superprime.

For more helpful tiling tips visit the DIY tab on TAL’s website: www.tal.co.za

6. WHAT ARE THE IDEAL AREAS OF APPLICATION?

• Commercial and retail flooring: supermarkets, shopping malls, retail stores, and commercial spaces.

• Healthcare facilities: hospitals, clinics, and laboratories where hygiene and durability are essential for flooring.

• Educational institutions: Use in schools, colleges, and universities for flooring in corridors, classrooms, and common areas.

• Sports facilities: Flooring in gyms, sports turfs.

The new floor adhesive is suitably designed for application onto concrete, screed, toppings, and underlayment compounds. Where required, TAL Screedmaster underlayment compound can be installed to achieve the required smooth, level finish suitable for the installation of the covering.

7. WHAT IS THE AVAILABLE PACKAGING QUANTITY AND SHELF LIFE?

TAL Hybridfix is available in a 5 litre, two-component kit, made up of a base and hardener. This product has a shelf life of 6 months from date of manufacture when stored in its original sealed packaging in dry internal conditions between 10°C and 25°C. NB: Never store directly on a concrete floor.

8. IS THIS A TECHNICAL PRODUCT TO APPLY?

Yes. The application of resilient flooring is a skilled operation and should only be carried out by competent and experienced artisans with the correct training and equipment. Application by unskilled labour is not recommended.

       APPROXIMATE COVERAGE:

• Applied by a 1.6mm V-notch Trowel: ± 0.63kg/m2 (10.9m2 per 5L kit)

• Applied by a 3mm V-notch Trowel: ± 0.98kg/m2 (7.0m2 per 5L kit)

NB: Actual coverages will be determined by substrate porosity, surface profile, workmanship, wastage, etc.  Allow additional product (20 – 30%) for highly porous or textured surfaces.

Tools and equipment required:

• Suitable electronic Moisture Meter

• Diamond grinder, captive sandblaster, or similar surface preparation equipment.

• Broom, and heavy-duty vacuum cleaner.

• Slow speed drill (350 rpm).

• Approved mixing paddle attachment.

• 1.6mm V-notch trowel for smooth surfaces, and 3mm V-notch trowel for rough surfaces

• TAL VaporStop HB – moisture/vapour barrier system for substrates with elevated levels of moisture.

The floor must be thoroughly swept to remove all traces of dust and loose particles, taking care to remove the dust rather than redistribute it.  (Vacuuming is preferred.) Contamination on the surface will have an adverse effect on both the finish and long-term performance of the floor covering.

9. HOW DO I MIX THE PRODUCT CORRECTLY?

Pre-mix both the base and hardener components to disperse any settlement. Add all of the contents of the hardener component into the base component and mix using a slow speed drill (350 – 500rpm) with an approved mixing paddle attachment for 5 minutes, until both components are fully dispersed, and the mix is uniform in colour and consistency.  Be sure to rotate the mixer throughout the container. 

Mix only complete full kits. Do not mix up more product than can be used within the pot life (60 minutes @ 23°C).

When  using  large  format  tiles (a  tile  with  the  length of at least  one  edge equal to/greater  than  600mm, or a facial area greater than  3500cm²) there will be a smaller number of grout joints, compared with the same area of normal format tiling. As a result, less stress (movement) can be accommodated at tile joints.

Considering a wood-look tile installation? Give us a call or send usan email and we’ll give the right advice, no matter how big or small your tile installation: 0860000 TAL (825) or [email protected]. If this TAL Talk blog post interested you, you may want to take a look at this TAL Talk blog post: The 101 on wood-look tiles.

HOW DO I APPLY THE PRODUCT?

• Highly porous woodfloated surfaces must be primed with a “scraper” coat of TAL Hybridfix. 

  • This should be applied to the clean, prepared floor substrate using the straight edge of a plastering trowel.  

• Once this is done, the next step is to immediately trowel-apply TAL Hybridfix while the “scraper” coat application is still WET.

  • Use the appropriate V-notched trowel, to apply the adhesive onto the clean, prepared substrate.

•  Immediately apply the floor covering while the adhesive is still wet.

NB: Do not allow the adhesive to dry, as this will result in an impaired bond.

10. IS THIS PRODUCT QUALITY TESTED?

Yes. All TAL products are manufactured and tested in accordance with TAL procedures, which are maintained in line with Quality Control System Standard ISO 9001, OHSAS 45001and Environmental Management System ISO 14001

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO EN 14259:

TAL Hybridfix exceeds the minimum requirements of EN 14259, for Peel and Shear resistance.

Laboratory Test Data:

*At 23°C and 50% relative humidity.

The above data was obtained under Laboratory conditions using freshly manufactured material. Actual results in the field will vary as a result of factors such as Ambient Temperatures, Site Conditions, etc.

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For advice or a detailed Materials and Methods Specification, contact the TAL Technical Advice Centre on 0860 000 TAL (825), or e-mail [email protected].

Allow the screed installation to dry for 24 hours before subjecting to foot traffic (or other trades) or installing floor coverings.

TAL MOSAICFIX is available in 20 kg and 5 kg bags from leading retail outlets. 

Designed to be 100% compatible, using the TAL range of products ensures fully guaranteed multi-level tiling systems from a single source. TAL products are manufactured in South Africa to suit local climatic conditions.

If you are in any doubt, contact the TAL Technical Advisory Service on 0860 000 TAL (825), email [email protected]. Alternatively, employ the services of an experienced and skilled mosaic tiling contractor.

When replacing tiles, it is not always possible to apply the TALFIX directly to the floor, in which case apply the adhesive in a solid bed onto the back of the tile, ensuring complete coverage. Gently trace the notched side of a floor trowel through the adhesive to create ‘ridges’.

Adhesive system

When tiling onto existing tiles, it is important to only use a quick- or rapid-setting adhesive, as the existing tiles will present a dense, impervious surface, and standard-setting adhesives will take longer to dry. Too early trafficking of newly-installed tiles before the adhesive has set sufficiently can result in hollow-sounding or loose tiles.

Use TAL Tile-To-Tile quick-setting adhesive for tiling onto interior surface beds. When tiling onto suspended slabs and for external installations mix the TAL Tile-To-Tile with TAL Bond, replacing the water in the mix. Alternatively, TAL Bond Powder can be added to the adhesive mixing water.

Ensure that there is a solid bed of adhesive at least 6 mm thick beneath each tile.

Back buttering with a thin coat of adhesive may also be required when using large-format tiles to ensure full contact with the adhesive bed.

Grouting

Grouting should not be carried out until the adhesive has set sufficiently to prevent the tile installation from being disturbed during the grouting operation (always refer to the adhesive packaging for setting times). When using TAL TAL Tile-To-Tile, allow a minimum of six hours before grouting.

For interior surface beds, use TAL Wall & Floor Grout for filling tile joints up to 8 mm wide. TAL Quarry Grout can be used in wider joints up to 25 mm wide. On suspended slabs and for external installations, replace the water in the grout mix with TAL Bond, or add TAL Bond Powder to the grout mixing water.

Particular care must be taken to clean the grout off the tile face before it hardens completely. This is especially important when an additive such as TAL Bond or TAL Bond Powder has been used. A tile sample should be tested beforehand to ensure that no grout is absorbed through the glaze or into the tile body, thereby staining the tiles permanently.

Movement joints

The lack of movement joints in tile installations is a major cause of tile failure. When tiling over existing tiles, the existing structural and movement joints must be maintained in the new tile installation. The movement joints should be at least 5 mm wide and extend through the adhesive and both tile layers.