The use of Heavy Duty Mortar Beds and Renders in
modern-day tile and stone installation
With the tile and
stone installation industry forever evolving, it is essential that the
installation materials and methods develop accordingly. There are a number of
contributing factors that can lead to a failure of a tile and stone install,
however one of the largest causes of defects is incorrect surface preparation. With
the weight and size of tile installations on the rise, it is critical that the
surfaces adhered to be prepared with the correct products to ensure a
successful and lasting project.
As technology and fashion dictate a greater use of large format and
thinner ceramic & stone tile,
dimensional tolerances, and other surface preparation requirements
increase. For without such tolerances and preparation, it is difficult to
successfully install these tiles from both a technical and aesthetic prospective.
Throughout the years a
common method of installing renders or mortar beds has been with the use of
sand and Portland cement mixes. Typically these mixes are done on-site at a
ratio decided by the contractor, with minimal water added to make the material
formable. There are a number of issues that lead to failure from this material
being used in modern-day installations. They include but are not limited to;
1) Inconsistent and/or poor quality of raw materials;
2) Poor blending of powders
and;
3) Application of the material in areas subject to load-bearing or
heavy-duty wearing.
There may be circumstances where a sand and cement screed
mix may suffice, however, it is important to understand the situations in which
you need to move to a stronger alternative.
The more traditional
method of dimensionally correcting surfaces with non-proprietary screeds and
renders has its technical limitations and time delays. As well as variation in
the raw materials delivered to site and site mixing variation, once produced
they may not be structurally sound enough for the proposed installation
category, have the ability to work in thin section or be able to be worked over
in relatively short periods of time.
At LATICRETE, we
offer two products to provide lasting results for your mortar bed or render.
3701 Fortified Mortar Bed, is a polymer fortified blend of carefully
selected polymers, Portland cement and graded aggregates. Without the need for
a latex admix, 3701 Fortified Mortar Bed simply mixes with water for an exceptional strength
mortar bed or render.
Furthermore,
the use of 226 Thick Bed Mortar mixed with 3701 Mortar Admix is the complete
solution for lasting stone and tile installations. When mixed with 3701 Mortar
Admix, 226 Thick Bed Mortar boasts an impressive compressive strength ranging from 33.8 - 34.5
Mpa. Without the use of onsite blending of powders, LATICRETE premixed mortar
beds ensure a consistent and strong mix. These products are both designed to withstand
extra-heavy duty installations, even when applied to as little as feather edge
thickness.
Understanding the product needed for your
project is fundamental in creating a lasting installation. Click here for
more information on LATICRETE Thick-Bed Mortars & Screeds.
For more information on LATICRETE
trouble-free installation products, training, or technical support, contact
your local LATICRETE Representative on 1800 331 012 - or email: sales@laticrete.com.au.
