Ardex X77 Wall Adhesive

[mpf]

Hi,

I'm pretty new to to tiling (just finished training) and I like to have an in depth product knowledge before I carry out any work so have been doing a lot of research over the last few weeks regarding products and pro's and cons.

I've just been looking into Ardex X77 wall adhesive which is marketed as being produced specifically for large format tiles. They state it will give 6.3m2 coverage for 3mm beds which has confused me somewhat as as far as I was aware I should be using a thicker bed for large format tiles. ie. a 10mm notched trowel so the bed thickness is going to be around 5mm.

I'm wondering whether it's just a marketing ploy (to make it sound like it gives better coverage than it does), or whether a 3mm bed can be used?

 

[Tile Shop]

If you hold a 10mm trowel at a 45 degree tilt, the height of the rib will only be 7mm high. So a perfectly flat back tile will compress the ribs down to the 3mm bed. However with the marking on the backs of tiles, this will also swallow up some adhesive coverage as large format tiles must be back skimmed to ensure there are no voids or air pockets and giving you maximum adhesive coverage. Doing it this way, I think 6.3sqm per bag is a little optimistic. It'll be nearer 3-4sqm per bag.

With large format tiles and the minor undulations of the wall/floor, it is better to give yourself some room in adhesive depth to adjust. So if the wall/floor has been correctly prepared/levelled you should be naturally getting at about 3mm and 100% coverage. Periodically lift your tiles to check and if your're not, use a bigger trowel or notch the adhesive on both the floor/wall (as normal) and the tile (instead of skimming it).

The thickness of adhesive as long as you stay within its recommended depth limits, doesn't really matter too much, but 100% coverage or solid bed fixing does.

 

[mpf]

If you hold a 10mm trowel at a 45 degree tilt, the height of the rib will only be 7mm high. So a perfectly flat back tile will compress the ribs down to the 3mm bed. However with the marking on the backs of tiles, this will also swallow up some adhesive coverage as large format tiles must be back skimmed to ensure there are no voids or air pockets and giving you maximum adhesive coverage. Doing it this way, I think 6.3sqm per bag is a little optimistic. It'll be nearer 3-4sqm per bag.

With large format tiles and the minor undulations of the wall/floor, it is better to give yourself some room in adhesive depth to adjust. So if the wall/floor has been correctly prepared/levelled you should be naturally getting at about 3mm and 100% coverage. Periodically lift your tiles to check and if your're not, use a bigger trowel or notch the adhesive on both the floor/wall (as normal) and the tile (instead of skimming it).

The thickness of adhesive as long as you stay within its recommended depth limits, doesn't really matter too much, but 100% coverage or solid bed fixing does.

Great, thank you. That makes more sense then. I had been assuming it was the compression that reduced the bed size rather than that and the angle of trowelling combined.

 

[Simon Dale]

Hi,

I'm pretty new to to tiling (just finished training) and I like to have an in depth product knowledge before I carry out any work so have been doing a lot of research over the last few weeks regarding products and pro's and cons.

I've just been looking into Ardex X77 wall adhesive which is marketed as being produced specifically for large format tiles. They state it will give 6.3m2 coverage for 3mm beds which has confused me somewhat as as far as I was aware I should be using a thicker bed for large format tiles. ie. a 10mm notched trowel so the bed thickness is going to be around 5mm.

I'm wondering whether it's just a marketing ploy (to make it sound like it gives better coverage than it does), or whether a 3mm bed can be used?

Its very gritty goes off a bit quick in bucket. Ill get told off here. The best I have used is AK22 like cream 🙂

 

[mpf]

Its very gritty goes off a bit quick in bucket. Ill get told off here. The best I have used is AK22 like cream 🙂

Must admit I haven't come across this as my supplier doesn't stock it but I'll have a look into it.

 

[Simon Dale]

Must admit I haven't come across this as my supplier doesn't stock it but I'll have a look into it.

Call them its not cheap but you pass that onto customer Marek is the man

 

[Qwerty]

@ISOMAT UK

 

[LM]

Its very gritty goes off a bit quick in bucket. Ill get told off here. The best I have used is AK22 like cream 🙂

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a far better adhesive imo. I’ve used a fair bit of both.

 

[MTiler]

Check out Kerakolls Bio Gel its great stuff.

 

[Simon Dale]

Check out Kerakolls Bio Gel its great stuff.

A bit like bubblegum funny stuff. Skins up a bit quick for those big ones 😉