February 19/26, 2018: Volume 33, Issue 18
By Nicole Murray
The latest batch of adhesive products unveiled at TISE 2018 aim to simplify installation challenges while addressing specific issues floor layers face on the job site.
Case in point is H.B. Fuller, which showed its Ultimate Six Plus adhesive designed for the trending large, thin panels but can be applied to any size tile. Ultimate Six Plus allows the floor to be walkable within six hours, giving the installer an opportunity to correct minor imperfections. “This type of adhesive is strong but easy to apply to material that must be handled delicately,” said Michael Bobak, product manager. “Installers are under less pressure to apply the material before it hardens, and the six-hour window is very useful when other [trades] are on the project site with you. There are times you cannot control when other construction teams walk on the floor too soon, for example. This product is the solution to that problem.”
H.B. Fuller also showcased an innovative spray adhesive that changes color to indicate the exact moment when it is appropriate to place the flooring. It is particularly useful in resilient flooring applications, the company said. “When the adhesive is clear, it is ready to receive flooring,” Sonny Callaham, technical product manager, explained. “The product can always be placed with confidence because the adhesive times it out for them.”
Ardex debuted a new roll-applied adhesive designed specifically for LVT and LVP that also caters to installers with little to no experience because the product is painted on for application. The adhesive is a bright plum color, which helps installers keep track of where adhesive has already been applied. This not only avoids waste but also saves money in terms of time spent on the site. “Wasting adhesive to make sure all areas are sufficiently covered was one of the major complaints circulating,” said Ed Masilunas, business manager of adhesives, Ardex. “We chose a bright color so less time is wasted ensuring every area has been applied with the needed amount of product for it to do its job.”
In addition, Ardex’s adhesive is pressure-sensitive in 10 minutes, allowing for a quicker tack. “This factor makes it perfect for places that can’t shut down for long periods of time,” Masilunas added. “For example, this product is perfect for schools or hospitals where projects are very time sensitive and always have people roaming.”
Bostik Set unveiled a single-component adhesive designed for thin porcelain tile wall panels. The product features recycled pieces of black rubber mixed in for a uniform film thickness between the wall and the panel. “The rubber makes the adhesive less prone to crack, offers a sound-dampening component and does not let the material compress past a certain point,” Scott Banda, director of marketing and business development, explained. “This product is also environment friendly because the rubber pieces are recycled.”
DriTac rolled out its Total Sound Reduction System, which includes DriTac 7900 Super Grab, a urethane wood flooring adhesive meant for installing long and wide planks, and DriTac 5900 MegaBond, designed for installing resilient flooring and helps control vinyl plank shrinkage.
“We are marrying our underlayments with our adhesives to offer an enhanced system package that we can get fully behind,” said John Lio, vice president of marketing.
The major advantage of this package, according to Lio, is a lifetime warranty is offered because all the products needed are coming from one supplier, leaving only one source to go to for any issues that may arise. “It avoids any finger pointing because we know this package inside and out. It gives us all the more reason to stand behind these products because we make it a point to only release premium-level options.”
