Bond It Supergrip Tile Adhesive
Bond It Supergrip Tile Adhesive is an off-white, ready-mixed polymer adhesive designed for fixing ceramic wall tiles in interior locations. Its non-slip, thin-bed formulation provides excellent initial grab and bond strength while allowing tiles to be repositioned during installation. This makes it a practical choice for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and suitable domestic shower areas.
Supplied ready to use, Super-Grip eliminates the measuring and mixing associated with powdered tile adhesives. Open the container, stir if required and apply the adhesive directly to the prepared wall using an appropriate notched trowel. Its smooth consistency and high spreadability make it suitable for professional tilers and DIY users.
Bond It Super-Grip conforms to BS EN 12004 classification D1T. This identifies it as a normal-dispersion tile adhesive with reduced-slip properties. The non-slip formulation helps prevent tiles from sliding down the wall after they have been positioned, reducing the need for temporary support in many standard applications.
Ready-Mixed Convenience
Because the adhesive is supplied as a ready-mixed paste, there is no need to add water or a separate liquid admixture. This saves preparation time and helps maintain a consistent formulation throughout the project.
Ready-mixed adhesive is particularly convenient for smaller tiling jobs, repairs and rooms where mixing powdered products would be impractical. The resealable container also allows unused material to be stored for later use, provided it has not been contaminated and remains within its stated shelf life.
Do not add water, cement, sand or other materials to the adhesive. Altering the formulation may reduce its non-slip properties, extend drying times or cause bond failure.
Suitable Tiles
Bond It Super-Grip is designed for ceramic wall tiles, including mosaics and compatible vitrified tiles. It is intended for standard interior wall tiling rather than floors or heavy-duty applications.
Tiles larger than 250 × 300mm should be installed using a suitable cement-based powdered adhesive instead. Larger tiles reduce the area through which moisture can evaporate and may prevent a ready-mixed adhesive from drying correctly.
Super-Grip should not be used for porcelain tiles unless Bond It has confirmed suitability for the exact tile and installation. Porcelain has extremely low water absorption and normally requires a polymer-modified cement-based adhesive capable of curing behind an impermeable tile.
Natural stone, resin-backed tiles, glass tiles and other specialist coverings may also require a dedicated adhesive. Always check the tile manufacturer’s recommendations before beginning the installation.
Interior Wall Applications
Suitable applications include:
- Kitchen walls and splashbacks
- Bathroom walls
- Utility rooms
- Toilets and cloakrooms
- Domestic shower walls when used with waterproof grout
- Decorative ceramic mosaics
- General interior ceramic wall tiling
- Small repairs and replacement tiles
The product is not suitable for floors, exterior walls, swimming pools or areas subject to continuous water immersion. It should not be used in commercial wet areas or locations exposed to prolonged saturation.
For domestic shower areas, the background must form part of an appropriate waterproof system, and the tiles must be finished with a suitable waterproof grout. Tile adhesive and grout alone should not be treated as substitutes for tanking where a waterproofing system is required.
Suitable Backgrounds
Super-Grip can be used on correctly prepared interior wall backgrounds such as finished gypsum plaster, cement/sand render, brickwork, concrete, plasterboard and fibre-cement tile backer boards.
The wall must be structurally sound, stable, clean and capable of supporting the combined weight of the tiles, adhesive and grout. Weak plaster, loose coatings or flexible boards must be repaired or replaced before tiling.
The adhesive should not be applied to walls affected by rising or penetrating damp. Damp can prevent the product from drying correctly and may cause loss of adhesion. The source of any moisture must be identified and resolved before installation.
Preparing Plaster and Render
New plaster should normally be allowed to dry and strengthen for at least four weeks before tiling. Tile only onto the finished plaster coat, and ensure the surface is sound, clean and free from dust.
New cement/sand render should be allowed to dry for at least two weeks. Concrete and brickwork should generally be left for at least four weeks before tiling. Actual curing periods may vary with thickness and site conditions.
Remove wallpaper, distemper, loose emulsion, flaking paint and other weak decorative finishes. Fill cracks and holes using a compatible repair product and allow it to dry before applying the adhesive.
Plasterboard and Tile Backer Boards
Plasterboard and fibre-reinforced cement boards must be securely fixed and sufficiently rigid. Boards should be braced and screwed at suitable centres so they cannot flex under the weight of the tiles.
Check the board manufacturer’s maximum tiling weight and priming requirements. Waterproof boards may slow the drying of ready-mixed adhesive because moisture cannot escape through the background. Allow additional drying time before grouting.
Tiling Over Existing Tiles
Super-Grip may be used to fix porous ceramic tiles over existing ceramic tiles, provided the original tiles are firmly bonded and correctly prepared. Remove loose or hollow tiles and repair the background before continuing.
Existing tiles must be thoroughly cleaned to remove grease, soap, polish and other contamination. Abrade glazed surfaces to create a mechanical key and remove all resulting dust.
Tile-on-tile applications are impermeable and will extend the adhesive’s drying time. Allow up to three days or longer before grouting, and confirm that the adhesive has become sufficiently firm.
Application
Apply the adhesive to the prepared wall using a suitable notched trowel. Spread only as much material as can be tiled within approximately 15 minutes—normally no more than about 1m² at a time.
Hold the trowel at a consistent angle to form even adhesive ribs. Press each tile firmly into position using a slight twisting or sliding motion to ensure good contact between the tile back and adhesive.
The final adhesive bed should be approximately 2–3mm thick. Grout joints should be at least 2mm wide unless self-spacing tiles are being used. Tile spacers may still be required to maintain consistent joints and alignment.
Do not fix tiles using the spotting or blobbing method. This leaves unsupported voids behind the tiles and reduces overall contact. In domestic shower areas, achieve a complete solid bed without voids that could trap water.
Open Time and Repositioning
The exposed adhesive has an open time of approximately 15 minutes at 20°C. Heat, airflow and absorbent backgrounds may shorten this period. Spread the adhesive in small sections and check it regularly.
If a skin forms on the surface, scrape the affected adhesive away and apply fresh material. Do not attempt to reactivate skinned adhesive by adding water or pressing tiles into it.
The formulation allows tiles to be repositioned shortly after fixing. Make any adjustments promptly, before the adhesive begins to dry and develop its bond.
Drying and Grouting
Final setting normally takes between 24 and 72 hours. Drying depends on temperature, ventilation, tile size, adhesive thickness and the absorbency of both the tile and background.
Grouting can normally begin after approximately 24 hours when tiles have been fixed to porous plaster. When fixing onto impermeable backgrounds such as existing tiles or waterproof boards, drying may take up to three days.
Do not grout until the tiles are secure and the adhesive has dried sufficiently. Sealing the joints too early can trap moisture and significantly delay final curing.
Coverage
Coverage depends on the background, tile profile, trowel size and final adhesive thickness. On a typical smooth plastered wall, allow approximately 2–3kg of Super-Grip per square metre.
Flat-backed tiles on an even surface will normally achieve the best coverage. Studded or deeply profiled tile backs, uneven walls and applications requiring full solid bedding will use more adhesive.
Key Features and Benefits
- Off-white, ready-mixed polymer adhesive
- No water or separate mixing required
- Designed for interior ceramic wall tiles
- Suitable for mosaics and compatible vitrified tiles
- Ideal for kitchens and bathrooms
- Suitable for domestic showers with waterproof grout
- Non-slip formulation
- Excellent initial grab and bond strength
- High spreadability
- Allows tiles to be repositioned during fixing
- BS EN 12004 classification D1T
- Maximum adhesive bed depth of 3mm
- Open time of approximately 15 minutes
- Final set after approximately 24–72 hours
- Coverage of approximately 2–3kg per m²
- Non-flammable formulation
- Available in 1.5kg, 7.5kg and trade-size tubs
Important Limitations
Do not use Super-Grip on floors, exterior surfaces, swimming pools or areas exposed to continuous immersion. It is not intended for porcelain, large-format tiles or walls affected by penetrating damp.
Do not apply at temperatures below 5°C. Large tiles, dense backgrounds and impermeable surfaces will significantly extend drying times. Where suitability is uncertain, use an appropriate Bond It cement-based powder adhesive or contact the manufacturer for technical advice.
Cleaning, Storage and Safety
Remove adhesive from tile faces using a damp cloth before it dries. Rake excess material from grout joints as work progresses. Clean trowels and other tools immediately after use with water.
Store the sealed container in dry conditions between 5°C and 30°C, away from direct sunlight and frost. When stored correctly in its original unopened packaging, the product has a minimum shelf life of approximately 12 months.
Avoid contact with skin and eyes and wear suitable gloves and eye protection. Keep out of reach of children. Always consult the latest Bond It technical and safety data sheets before use.
