Choosing the right adhesive is not a flashy decision – but its consequences are. A poorly chosen adhesive may not show problems for months, then tiles lift, parquet starts to move, and grout cracks. If this happens a year after project completion, the fault is attributed to the workmanship, not the material.
The classification of tile adhesives (C1, C2, C2TE) describes how much load and movement the bond can withstand. C2TE adhesives guarantee full surface coverage and installation without vertical slip – a mandatory requirement for large format tiles, not an extra option. For parquet adhesives, flexibility and moisture regulation are crucial: the right formula holds the moving wood without creating stress in the substrate. In facade insulation systems, ETICS adhesives provide the mechanical fixing of the insulation board – these cannot be replaced by general-purpose adhesives. Flexible flooring adhesives are specially made for vinyl, linoleum, and carpet-based coverings where classic cement-based formulas are not suitable. Where no standard category offers a solution – chemically exposed industrial spaces, natural stone, or special substrates – it’s worth looking among specialized adhesives.
Some specific cases where material choice is critical: for tiling over underfloor heating, the adhesive must withstand expansion cycles, otherwise the grout cracks before the covering wears; for natural stone and marble tiling, a white, non-staining adhesive is required because the stone transmits the base color; for ceramic on old, moving wooden substrates, a flexible adhesive (S1 or S2 deformability class) is needed, otherwise the tile will detach. For wall tiling, slip resistance is the primary concern – vertical applications have different requirements than horizontal ones.
The Masterworks team considers the entire system beyond just material choice: substrate, movement, heating, grout. We offer tile adhesives, parquet adhesives, stone and ETICS adhesives alike. Browse our products or request personal advice – categories can be navigated at the bottom of the page.
The Kerakoll Color Collection is an integrated project that includes innovative materials - resin, cement, handcrafted wood, microcoatings, paints, and glazes - coordinated on a single color palette.
