Adhesives
Get the right bond strength for your projects with premium quality tile adhesives. The Tile Shop carries tile adhesives and tile mortar in a variety of formulas that offer increased bond strength for tile installation projects with ceramic, porcelain, mosaic, glass, metal and natural stone tiles on walls or floors.
Claros Silver Tumbled Cobble Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Claros Silver Broken Brick Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Volcano Diamond Honed Travertine Mosaic Wall and Floor Tile
Volcano Brushed Amalfi Travertine Mosaic Wall and Floor Tile
Claros Silver Double Chevron with White Marble Wall and Floor
Claros Silver Tumbled Amalfi Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Scabos Cobble Tumbled Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Claros Silver Tumbled Hex Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 2 in.
Scabos Triples Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Machu Picchu Amalfi Tumbled Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Bucak Light Walnut Honed Filled Travertine Mosaic Wall and Floor Tile - 2 in.
Jinshan Coffee Bone Diamonds 12 x 12in.
Machu Picchu Tumbled 2 x 2 in.
Claros Silver Tumbled Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 2 x 2 in.
Claros Silver Honed Amalfi Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 12 x 12 in.
Macchu Picchu Andorra 14 x 14 in.
Claros Silver Hex Honed/Filled Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 2 x 2 in.
Chala Veincut Brushed Amalfi Travertine Mosaic Wall and Floor Tile
Claros Silver Honed Travertine Wall and Floor Tile - 2 x 2 in.
How to Pick the Right Tile Adhesive
Tile adhesives all serve the same purpose, but different environments and types of tile will require different varieties of adhesive. For example, a shower tile adhesive will require different properties compared to a living room wall tile adhesive. However, you will likely be choosing between one of three types of tile adhesive.
Thinset
Thinset is highly resistant to moisture, making it suitable for areas like kitchens, showers, and even swimming pools. Modified thinsets offer enhanced flexibility, making them suitable for areas with slight movements or temperature fluctuations, such as heated floors or exteriors. This makes it a popular choice as stone, porcelain, and ceramic tile adhesive because it provides excellent adhesion.
Mastic
Mastic is a pre-mixed, paste-like adhesive made from organic compounds. It's ready to use straight from the container. However, unlike thinset, mastic is not water resistant and therefore should only be used indoors in dry environments. Still, mastic can be easier to use than thinset since it does not require mixing and is generally easier to apply.
Wood Flooring Adhesive
Wood floor tile adhesive is specially formulated to adhere to most types of wood flooring, including natural, manufactured, bamboo and many others. This type of adhesive provides the elasticity needed for wood flooring, keeping firm adhesion while the wood naturally expands and contracts. High quality wood flooring adhesives will also contribute to noise reduction and water resistance.
White vs. Gray
Tile adhesives may come in white or gray variants. While the color itself isn't usually the most critical factor for bond strength, it's important to consider how the adhesive's color might affect the aesthetics of your project.
When using light-colored tiles or grout, white thinset mortar is preferred to avoid any gray adhesive showing through the grout lines and disrupting the clean look. Conversely, with darker tiles or grout, gray thinset mortar might be a better choice for a seamless appearance.
In most cases, choosing the adhesive based on its functional suitability for your project is the top priority.
We Can Help
Still not sure which adhesive is right for your project? You can visit one of our showrooms and our tile experts will help guide you.