From our experience it’s clear that most tilers favour a powder adhesive, and whilst both varieties have their advantages and disadvantages, each is best suited to slightly different projects. The real difference is in the chemistry of how the products dry. But what does that mean in practice?
Ready-mix adhesives dry by evaporation
Ready-mix adhesives dry a bit slower than powder adhesives due to the evaporation process. The way it dries makes it unsuitable for tiling onto floors or for porcelain tiles. This is because it relies on the air to dry, whereas cementitious powder tile adhesives dry chemically.
Ready-mixed adhesives are ideal for tiling areas such as kitchen splashbacks where the levels of moisture are lower, but you may need to check if suitable for use in wet areas. These tile adhesives are ideal for smaller projects as you can just pop the lid off and start tiling – great for quick jobs that don’t need a more versatile adhesive.
Powder adhesives dry chemically
Powdered adhesives come in various grades and dry as a chemical reaction takes place after mixing. Suitable for most tiling jobs and types of tiles — including ceramic, porcelain and natural stone, as well as larger tiles — powder tile adhesives can also be used in wet areas such as bathrooms or wet rooms.
Unlike ready-mix tile adhesives, powdered tile adhesives can be used for tiling floors, and are suitable for use outdoors, which means you can also lay paving or patios. With flexible varieties available, these types of adhesives are suitable for tiling over underfloor heating, or in areas where movement is expected.
What's more, with new innovations such as Low Dust Technology™, Weber powder adhesives are safer and more convenient to use than ever.
Classifications for tile adhesives
Whether you’re working with ready-mix or powder adhesives, there’s a method of classification that means it’s quick and easy to choose the right adhesive for the job.