All About Mallet and Its Role in Tile Fixing
21st Nov, 2022
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Check out the biggest trends of the season and our expert take on them.
Cement mortar was once the default choice for fixing tiles on floors and walls because it was familiar, accessible, and cost-effective. However, as installation needs grew more demanding, it became clear that cement mortar couldn’t always deliver the precision or long-term durability that modern installations demand.
That’s where tiling adhesives have transformed modern installation. Engineered for better tile bonding and consistent performance, they are replacing cement mortar for faster, cleaner, and more reliable results. With advanced solutions like water-resistant tile adhesives that perform even in wet and high-traffic spaces, professionals now prefer these adhesives for projects that demand durability and precision.
Let’s understand why.
Tiles have become larger, thinner, and far less porous, while applications have expanded to more critical areas such as bathrooms, balconies, kitchens, façades, and tile-on-tile renovations. Traditional cement mortar was never designed for these conditions. It requires thick beds, inconsistent on-site mixing, and rushed working times that compromise consistent tile bonding, especially on vitrified surfaces. Purpose-built tiling adhesive systems solve these issues by improving wetting, coverage, flexibility, and long-term durability, making them the smarter choice for modern tile fixing needs.
While cement mortar was once the default choice for installations, it presents several drawbacks that directly affect durability and tile bonding:
Modern tiling adhesives are a factory-made mix of cement, polymers, and graded sand engineered to solve on-site challenges for interior designers and installers. This formulation ensures consistent quality and performance across all projects.
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits they offer:
| Aspect | Adhesive systems | Cement-sand mortar |
|---|---|---|
|
Consistency |
Factory-controlled, predictable performance |
Highly variable on-site |
|
Bond to vitrified/porcelain |
Excellent tile bonding with polymers and wetting agents |
Weak without slurries, soaking, or hacks |
|
Bed thickness |
Thin-bed for accuracy and reduced load |
Thick-bed, heavier, more levelling needed |
|
Workability |
Extended open time, non-slip, easy trowelling |
Skins quickly, inconsistent work time |
|
Deformability |
Available in S1/S2-rated flexible options |
Rigid, prone to crack transfer |
|
Tile-on-tile |
Designed systems with primers and high polymer content |
Generally unsuitable |
|
Wet areas |
Compatible with waterproofing systems and wet-area use |
Susceptible without membranes, risk of debonding |
|
Speed |
Faster install, earlier grouting/traffic with rapid-set |
Slower curing, delayed handover |
|
Global best practice |
Standard in modern tiling systems |
Considered outdated for today’s tile formats |
Every space comes with its own challenges – tile size, surface condition, moisture exposure, or even renovation constraints. The right tiling adhesive not only ensures lasting tile bonding but also improves installation efficiency and long-term performance.
Here’s how different adhesive formulations address the specific technical demands of modern tile installations:
With low absorption and smooth surfaces, vitrified and porcelain tiles require high-performance tile fixing adhesive to provide a secure grip and lasting tile bonding. Large-format tiles increase these demands because even small coverage gaps can create significant voids. Modern adhesive technologies improve contact by enhancing wetting and transfer, making them the preferred choice for durable installations.
Bathrooms, balconies, kitchens, and outdoor thresholds introduce moisture, heat, UV, and movement stresses that traditional mortar cannot reliably accommodate. While a waterproofing membrane is always essential under the tile in wet areas, choosing the right water-resistant tile adhesive ensures the bond remains strong when subjected to cyclical wetting, cleaning chemicals, and thermal movement. This combination vastly lowers the risk of tile pop-ups and grout cracking.
Renovations increasingly require tile-on-tile installation to minimise noise and dust from demolition. Adhesive systems designed for this application are formulated for superior tile bonding to dense, glazed, or previously polished surfaces when used in conjunction with surface preparation. This allows faster makeovers with minimal disruption and lower waste.
Roff’s range of professional tiling adhesive systems is designed to meet the needs of interiors, exteriors, wet areas, and renovations, helping you choose the right solution for lasting tile bonding across different conditions.
Some tips for choosing the right adhesive for different spaces include:
Roff’s portfolio helps interior designers specify with confidence across bathrooms, balconies, kitchens, living rooms, and commercial high-traffic zones, making “adhesives over cement” the smarter choice in modern renovations.
Using the right tiling adhesive not only ensures strong tile bonding but also helps prevent many common site issues that arise with cement mortar. Here are some failures you can avoid:
To ensure durable installations and long-lasting tile bonding, it’s important to follow a few key best practices on site:
Modern tiling standards and specifications worldwide prioritise engineered adhesive systems because they are performance-tested, substrate-aware, and tailored to today’s materials. Choosing adhesive over cement is a quality and risk management decision that protects budgets, timelines, and brand reputation on every project.
Cement may have been the go-to option for decades, but adhesive-based systems are now the wiser, faster, and more reliable standard for tile fixing. With Roff’s high-performance range, you get better tile bonding and a smoother workflow across bathrooms, balconies, and high-traffic areas in modern renovations. Choose Roff’s tiling adhesives for every space and enhance your results today.
FAQ #1: What makes tiling adhesive better for vitrified tiles than cement?
Tiling adhesive contains polymers and wetting agents that grip low-porosity vitrified surfaces, achieving better transfer and long-term adhesion than cement mortar.
FAQ #2: Can I use a waterproof tile adhesive in bathrooms without a membrane?
A wet-area-rated adhesive is water-resistant and reliable under cyclical wetting, but it does not replace a waterproofing membrane. You should always use a membrane beneath tiles in bathrooms and balconies.
FAQ #3: Is tile-on-tile installation safe with adhesive?
Yes, when the existing surface is cleaned, lightly abraded if required, and a high-polymer tile fixing adhesive is used, tile-on-tile installations are durable and efficient.
FAQ #4: How soon can I grout when using adhesive?
Yes, when the existing surface is cleaned, lightly abraded if required, and a high-polymer tile fixing adhesive is used, tile-on-tile installations are durable and efficient.
FAQ #5: Do adhesives help reduce hollow sounds under tiles?
Yes, thin-bed application with the correct notch size and back-buttering on large formats achieves high coverage, minimising voids and the drummy sound common with thick cement beds.
FAQ #6: What if my site has high temperatures and low humidity?
Use adhesives with extended open time and the right materials, work in manageable areas, and check transfer regularly to prevent skinning and ensure strong tile bonding.
