Is it possible to plaster with tile adhesive

Although tile adhesive is most commonly used to hold tiles in place, it has other uses as well. It has its own advantages and disadvantages and can be used as a substitute for conventional plaster in some circumstances.

You may think of using tile adhesive as a quick fix or when you run out of plaster. But it’s crucial to know when and how to use this material for plastering effectively.

To assist you in determining whether plastering with tile adhesive is the best option for your project, this article examines the benefits and drawbacks of the technique.

Is it possible to use tile adhesive instead of plaster

There is an article about using putty in place of decorative plaster in the section dedicated to decorative plaster. It’s possible that you’ve read about the wet facade system, which uses adhesive compounds. Similar to plaster, liquid wallpaper is applied using an adhesive foundation. Instead of plaster, why not use tile adhesive? In discussing the feasibility of plastering walls using tile adhesive, it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this approach, as these mixtures are more costly than plaster and come with unique properties, finishing work intricacies, and operational subtleties.

Remembering that every type of material has a specific purpose is important when selecting materials strictly. Since most modern building materials are interchangeable, do-it-yourself artisans will experiment with every kind in an unconventional "field." It turns out, therefore, that dough-like masses on different bases, when spread out and allowed to harden, form a coating that functions no less well than plaster.

Therefore, it is possible to plaster using tile adhesive.

The inscriptions of cement-based manufacturers indicate the same thing. The possibility of using glue for wall leveling is occasionally mentioned on the packaging by the brand manufacturer Ceresit. Remind yourself that some mixtures are not as strong as plasters. To obtain a high-quality coating, compare the technical specs of adhesive mixtures and plasters.

Pros and cons of such a solution

Let’s enumerate the benefits of adhesive compositions:

• increased adhesion, solutions adhere well to concrete;
• being thin, sticks to the base without sliding down;
• high plasticity, ease of placement;
• service life allows you to work with the material without haste;
• easy to manufacture, easy to apply;
• environmentally friendly;
• resistance to temperature changes,
• mechanical strength is comparable to cement plasters;
• fast strength gain;
• possibility of use for finishing facades;
• long service life.

Adhesive coatings like plaster are better than gypsum compositions and putties in some situations. These combinations, for instance, are a necessary component of a bathroom. They don’t peel off, degrade in response to pressure or impact, or let moisture seep through to the walls. On the other hand, gypsum is water-averse, readily fractures and explodes when struck, and peels off in layers.

The drawbacks consist of:

1. High price.
2. You cannot apply adhesive masses in a layer thicker than 10 mm. If a greater coating thickness is required for leveling, then it is necessary to apply the mass several times. Plasters allow the application of layers thicker than 1 cm.
3. It is inconvenient to work with glue. It is not intended for plastering and sticks to the rule.

Aligning walls with tile adhesive

For instance, wall tiles were taken out of the bathroom during repairs. The wall still has a layer of the previous tile adhesive on it, with possibly a layer of leveling plaster beneath it. The wall’s firmly adhered adhesive layer is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to remove. After that, you’ll need to use cement-sand or gypsum mortar to level the wall before applying an adhesive composition layer.

Using adhesive mass to level the wall without having to remove the old coating is more cost-effective and easier. Once the adhesive has dried, place the tiles on a level surface using a similar adhesive composition. In this instance, plastering using tile adhesive will be less expensive. It will be sufficient to use an adhesive mixture to slightly "correct" individual potholes. Once the "patches" have dried, add a thin layer of adhesive solution and level using a tearing rule.

A video showing how to use tile adhesive to plaster aerated concrete

The steps involved in this work are similar to those in plastering:

• prepare the base;
• install beacons;
• plaster once or twice;
• dry;
• do finishing work, for example, glue tiles.

Prepare the base

Despite the mass’s increased stickiness, carefully prepare the base:

• remove loose, fragile coating from the walls (whitewash must be removed, as well as paint, peeling plaster, wallpaper, tiles);
• remove hardware that can become sources of rust, isolate the left ones by painting with oil paint;
• clean off efflorescence, grease, traces of grease, soot (remove everything that reduces adhesion);
• repair cracks, chips (large potholes, cracks, after priming, repair with the application of reinforcing mesh);
• remove dust;
• cover with a primer, selecting a product according to the base material (2-3 times with drying after each);
• install a reinforcing mesh if necessary;
• we set up beacons.

Mortar is used to patch up large cracks and potholes.

Installation of beacons

Small depressions can be leveled using beaconless techniques. For instance, you can use a scraper rule or a wide spatula to level the mixture after it has been applied. However, beacons are used if applying layers thicker than 6 mm is necessary for leveling. Install beacon strips utilizing a specific technology and a level. Measure the wall first, then determine which point is the most convex. This point serves as a reference point for building an auxiliary plane out of beacons if it is not possible to remove the protrusions.

Beacon strips can be produced independently of a solution, like gypsum, by utilizing metal beacon profiles or string beacons. Depending on how long the rule is, the distance between the beacon slats can range from one meter to one and a half.

It is more challenging to level tile mixtures with a rule because they are stickier (more viscous) than plaster mortar. As a result, novices ought to employ a shorter tool (meter bar rules).

Preparation of the solution

Adhesive masses made from dry powders are prepared as directed, just like plaster mortars made from dry mixtures.

1. Pour the mixture from the package (the required amount) into a container with warm water.
2. Mix the components with a mixer with a nozzle for 3-4 minutes.
3. Let the mixture mature for 10 minutes.
4. Mixing procedure is performed again.

It is advisable to ascertain the composition’s shelf life prior to beginning work in order to avoid making more solution than you will have time to utilize.

Before use, the glue is closed. To avoid prolonged exposure to air during the break, the completed composition should be covered with a lid. The dry mixture leftovers are kept in a dry pantry after being hermetically sealed.

How to plaster with tile adhesive

Refer to the directions on the tile adhesive package carefully when plastering a wall. Cement is used as a binder in adhesive solutions, which are used in the following situations:

• air temperature should not exceed +5 — +30 о С;
• the proportion of water for mixing is no more than that specified by the manufacturer;
• layer thickness is no more than the recommended 10 mm (see. instructions);
• the diluted composition is not rejuvenated (you must be prepared to use up the prepared dough in 20 minutes);
• each applied layer is dried before applying the next one (if tiles are not glued to it);
• some adhesives have limitations in use or special conditions, these conditions must be met, or another type of adhesive is selected;
• when applied in a layer more than 10 mm, the hardening mass can crack, sometimes adding sand helps (but it is better not to exceed the specified thickness);
• it is also recommended to apply an intermediate primer between layers.

Because tile adhesives were not designed with plastering in mind, they typically have a high cement content and are therefore fatty; plastering calls for leaner mixtures. Add sand to the adhesive mixture to make it plasterable. It’s time to lower the fat content if the solution adheres too much to the trowel.

The adhesive composition shrinks, in contrast to plaster. If you prime it before gluing the tiles, you can see how "craquelure" honeycombs start to show up when using it for leveling. Once the glue has absorbed some of the primer’s moisture, this is how it swells. When the primer mixture dries, this "decoration" will vanish.

While plastering can be done with tile adhesive, it’s not the ideal solution for most projects. Although tile adhesive can adhere to surfaces well, it cannot provide the same durability or smooth finish as traditional plaster. Generally speaking, for a polished and long-lasting finish, plastering materials are better suited for the job.

Types of tile adhesive

Adhesion composition developers stay current with chemists, leading to the production of a wide variety of adhesive compositions for tile installation.

Traditionally, types that vary in strength and other attributes are distinguished:

• universal (used for repairs with an average level of tasks to be solved);
• moisture-resistant (for car washes, swimming pools, showers, kitchens, where the humidity is above average or the walls are in contact with water), for example, Ceresit CM 11 PLUS;
• reinforced (with increased strength and adhesive characteristics);
• for outdoor work (frost-resistant, withstand repeated freezing);
• for transparent tiles/mosaics (developed on the basis of white cement, therefore they can be used even for finishing);
• heat-resistant (for gluing on stoves, fireplaces).

Compositions resistant to moisture contain ingredients that stop the growth of fungi and mold.

There are two ways that adhesive compositions can be released:

• dry mixes in powder form;
• ready-made viscous adhesive masses.

Cement serves as the foundation for all adhesive tile compositions. Contemporary tile adhesives incorporate an additional binder, which is a polymer such as polyurethane or latex. In other words, mineral-polymer composites are the new adhesives. Sand is used as filler. Modifying additives (antifungal, antifreeze, moisture-retaining, etc.) account for 5% of the total amount of components.

Tile adhesive designed for facade finishing has a 35 cycle frost resistance. Two crucial properties are determined by the adhesive mass composition:

• lifetime (on average – 3 hours);
• strength of the resulting connection.

Tile adhesive as a leveling plaster in the bathroom

One requirement is that it is worthwhile to align the walls using a traditional plaster solution if the leveling layer is greater than 2 cm. It is simpler and less expensive. Tile adhesive works better than gypsum composition for light leveling. Select a waterproof adhesive mixture for plastering.

Beacons can be left in the solution if the finishing is accomplished by gluing tiles together.

Aspect	Details
Can you plaster with tile adhesive?	Yes, but it"s not recommended for large areas as it"s not designed for this purpose.
Why is it possible?	Tile adhesive can adhere well to surfaces and provides a smooth finish.
Any limitations?	It may crack or not hold up over time on large wall areas.
Best use case	Small repairs or minor leveling before tiling.
Alternative options	Traditional plaster or ready-made plaster mixes designed for wall applications.

Plastering can be done with tile adhesive, but it’s not always the best option. It might not offer the same degree of durability and finish as conventional plaster materials, despite the fact that it might work well for minor repairs or particular circumstances.

To ensure a smooth and durable finish, sticking to standard plaster is advised for larger surfaces or more difficult conditions. While tile adhesive might be an easy fix, it’s important to know its limitations.

In the end, the choice is based on the particular project requirements. Examine the surface and surrounding circumstances before selecting the plastering material.

Video on the topic

Tencuiala de baie. 4 moduri. 90 de grade. #15

A very convenient solution for plastering.

Tile adhesive instead of plaster. Construction life hacks //FORUMHOUSE

How to plaster with tile adhesive.

TILE GLUE instead of PLASTER.