Scentus Tile Adhesive

Application

Scentus Tile Fix Standard (hereinafter FIX STANDARD) is a cementitious adhesive for the installation of porous and vitrified tile on internal and external (low rise) wet and dry wall and floor surfaces. Designed for easy use and high durability.

Background preparation

Suitable backgrounds are rendered cast-in-situ or precast concrete, strong or medium strong cement and lime cement renders, cement based thin wall plasters and aerated lightweight concrete.
The backgrounds shall be straight and smooth enough to allow the fixing of tiles by the floating or floating buttering application method. If necessary the surfaces are plastered or rendered with lime cement or cement based plasters, renders, or cementitious thin wall-plasters.
The backgrounds shall be clean and strong enough. Cement laitance, oil, grease, and other impurities are removed.
In wet areas the substrates are pretreated with suitable liquid polymer or polymer cement based waterproofing products according to the specifications by the architect.
FIX STANDARD is designed for application on dry surfaces.

Climatic Conditions

FIX STANDARD is developed for both hot and dry and climates, and for moderate climate, and is applicable down to a minimum temperature of + 5^oC during the installation and for two days thereafter. Too strong sunlight and wind should be avoided. Please refer to separate hot weather work instructions below.

Mixing

FIX STANDARD is mixed with a whisk and power drill. Small amounts can be also be mixed manually. The water requirement is about 6.8 litres of clean water / 25 kg bag.
The powder is added to the water and mixed until the consistency is uniform. The maturing time after the first mixing is 10 minutes in order for the additives to dissolve properly. The adhesive is ready for use after a further short mixing during which the water amount can be fine tuned if necessary.
The pot life of the mixed adhesive is 4 hours in temperatures below + 25^oC, 3 hours in temperatures between +25^oC and +35^oC, and 2 hours in temperatures higher than + 35^oC.

Work Method

In normal circumstances the “Floating method” is applied.
The adhesive is first applied onto the background with a straight edge trowel. Then a thicker layer is applied and combed with a notched trowel held at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the substrate.
In hot (more than + 30^oC) conditions and in windy conditions and for tiling on the exterior the “Floating and buttering method” is applied.
The adhesive is applied as described in the “Floating method” but prior to the installation of the tiles a thin (about 2 mm thick) layer of layer of adhesive is applied to the back of each tile with a straight edge trowel.

The adhesive is spread out only onto such a big background area that the tiles can be installed in fresh and sticky adhesive layer. This “Open time” varies depending on the ambient temperature, the relative humidity of the air, the wind strength, and the absorption rate of the background. In normal temperature (+20 – 25^oC) and light air movement this time is typically 10 – 15 minutes.

The tiles are installed with firm enough pressure and with a slight twisting motion. When the work is started the fresh adhesion is checked by immediately removing a freshly installed tile. In case of floor and façade tiling the backside of the tile shall be fully covered. For other applications of vitrified tiles the backside shall be at least 90 % covered. For porous tiles the backside coverage shall be minimum 80 %. If the coverage is insufficient a thicker adhesive layer, more pressure or twisting action is applied, in hot conditions a shorter open time is applied, the “Floating and buttering method” is applied, or a combination of these methods is used. When the right application technique is found it is applied as long as the application and conditions prevail.
Depending on type of tile and substrate absorption the joint width is kept constant by using a tiling string or tiling spacers.

A tiled floor can be stepped onto at the earliest 2 days after the installation of the tiles.

Grouting

Before the grouting the tiling is let harden as follows.
Normal wall tiling 1 day.
Floor tiling 2 – 3 days. A tiled floor shall be put into hard service only after 14 days after the installation.

Tools and Consumption

For wall tiling and floor tiling with tiles with flat backside a notched trowel having 6 mm x 6 mm notches at 12 mm centres is used. The consumption is around 3 kg / m².
For floor tiling a 6 x 6 x 9 mm notched trowel is used and the consumption is 4 – 5 kg / m². For big floor tiles a notched trowel 10 x 10 x 10 mm, or bigger, is used and the consumption is then 5 – 6 kg / m².
The tools are cleaned with water immediately after the use.

Package Size and Storage

FIX STANDARD is supplied in 25 kg paper bags. Unopended bags can be stored in dry conditions for 1 year. On site the material is stored away from the ground and is protected from rain.

Safety

The fresh mortar is alkaline due to its content of Portland cement and irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Avoid unnecessary contact with the skin.

Note: The same precautions, safety, and first aid measures apply as for Portland cement and for Portland cement based products.