Easi-Flex S1 Flex Tile Adhesive Grey 20kg
Easi-Flex S1 Flex Tile Adhesive Grey 20kg is a flexible, standard-setting, polymer-modified cement-based adhesive manufactured by Palace Chemicals. Designed for fixing wall and floor tiles, it can be used for internal and external installations involving ceramic, porcelain, vitrified, mosaic and compatible natural stone tiles.
The adhesive conforms to BS EN 12004 classification C2TE-S1. This means it is an improved cementitious adhesive with reduced tile slip, an extended open time and S1 deformability. Its flexible characteristics allow the cured adhesive to tolerate limited movement and thermal stress, making it suitable for correctly prepared heated subfloors and tile backer boards.
Easi-Flex S1 develops a high-strength, water-resistant bond and can be used in areas that are frequently wet or fully immersed, provided the substrate and the complete installation system are suitable. Its standard-setting formulation provides a working pot life of approximately three to four hours in ideal conditions, giving the installer additional time for setting out, cutting and adjusting tiles.
Suitable for Wall and Floor Tiles
Palace Easi-Flex S1 Grey can be used to fix a broad selection of tiles, including:
- Ceramic wall and floor tiles
- Porcelain tiles
- Vitrified tiles
- Tile mosaics
- Compatible natural stone
- Suitable interior and exterior tiles
The grey formulation is particularly suited to standard ceramic and porcelain installations and darker tiles or natural stone. When fixing light-coloured or potentially translucent stone, including some marble and travertine, the white version of Easi-Flex is normally preferred to reduce the risk of the adhesive affecting the finished appearance.
Natural stone varies in porosity, composition and sensitivity to moisture. Confirm compatibility with the tile supplier and carry out a test before fixing natural stone with the grey adhesive.
What Does C2TE-S1 Mean?
The C2TE-S1 classification provides useful information about the adhesive’s tested performance:
- C: Cementitious adhesive supplied as a dry powder for mixing with water.
- 2: Improved adhesion performance compared with a standard C1 adhesive.
- T: Reduced slip, helping tiles remain in position during wall installations.
- E: Extended open time, giving the installer longer to place tiles after spreading the adhesive.
- S1: Deformable adhesive capable of tolerating limited movement and thermal stress.
S1 flexibility is particularly beneficial where slight movement or vibration may occur. It does not compensate for an unstable background, excessive deflection or missing movement joints. The supporting structure must remain rigid, sound and suitable for tiling.
Suitable for Underfloor Heating
Easi-Flex S1 is recommended for correctly prepared subfloors incorporating underfloor heating. Its polymer-modified formulation provides the deformability needed to accommodate the limited expansion and contraction created as the floor heats and cools.
The heating system must be commissioned, switched off and allowed to cool before tiling in accordance with the system manufacturer’s guidance. After installation, allow at least 28 days before switching the heating back on. Increase the temperature gradually rather than immediately setting the system to its maximum output.
Movement joints must be included where required and carried through the tiled finish. The adhesive must not be used to bridge structural joints.
Surface Preparation
The substrate must be clean, firm, stable and capable of supporting the combined weight of the tiles and adhesive. Remove dust, dirt, grease, oil, laitance, loose coatings and any other contamination that could interfere with adhesion.
Worn or porous surfaces should be treated with Palace Tilers Primer diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Bare gypsum plaster and anhydrite or calcium-sulphate screeds require suitable priming before any cement-based adhesive is applied.
The adhesive may be applied to dry or damp cement-based surfaces, although moisture-sensitive substrates and tiles must be dry and remain dry after fixing.
Uneven surfaces should be levelled using an appropriate wall or floor levelling compound rather than attempting to correct substantial variations with excessive adhesive. Allow levelling products to cure before beginning the tile installation.
Timber Floors and Backer Boards
Easi-Flex S1 can be applied to tile backer boards installed over a suitably rigid and well-supported structure. The manufacturer’s guidance refers to properly braced 15mm waterproof plywood fixed at maximum 300mm centres to supporting battens, although a suitable flooring-grade tile backer board will often provide a more dependable modern tiling background.
Do not apply Easi-Flex directly onto tongue-and-groove floorboards or floating plywood floors. Excessive movement or deflection within a timber floor can cause tiles or grout joints to crack regardless of the adhesive’s flexibility.
Always follow the backer-board manufacturer’s installation and fixing requirements.
Mixing Instructions
Pour clean water into a clean mixing container and gradually add the Easi-Flex powder while mixing mechanically with a suitable drill and paddle. Approximately five litres of water is required for one 20kg bag, equivalent to roughly one part water to three parts powder by volume.
Mix thoroughly until a smooth, slump-free and easily worked consistency is achieved. Small adjustments can be made with water or powder during the initial mixing stage.
Once the adhesive begins to lose workability, it must be discarded. Do not add more water to refresh or extend the life of a stiffening mix, as this can affect its strength and setting performance.
At approximately 20°C, the mixed adhesive has a working pot life of around three to four hours. Higher temperatures will reduce the working time, while cooler conditions may extend it.
Application
Spread the adhesive onto the prepared substrate using a suitable notched trowel. Apply only as much as can be covered while the adhesive remains fresh and within its open time.
Typical trowel sizes include:
- 3mm notches for mosaics and thin, flat-backed wall tiles
- 5mm notches for general wall tiling
- 10mm notches for floor tiles and heavier applications
Press tiles firmly into the ribbed adhesive bed using a twisting and sliding action. Periodically lift a tile to confirm adequate adhesive contact. Floor tiles, exterior tiles, large-format tiles and installations exposed to moisture generally require complete adhesive coverage with no significant voids.
The mean finished adhesive-bed depth should be no greater than approximately 6mm. Remove adhesive from tile faces and joints before it hardens.
Setting Time and Grouting
Under normal conditions, Easi-Flex S1 begins setting after approximately 16–24 hours and is usually ready for grouting after around 24 hours. Lower temperatures, low-porosity tiles, dense substrates or thicker adhesive beds will increase the setting time.
Do not grout, walk on or expose the tiled area to water until the adhesive has developed sufficient strength. External and wet-area installations may require additional curing time.
Coverage
Coverage depends on the tile, trowel size, bed depth and condition of the substrate. As a general guide:
- Floor tiling: Approximately 4kg per m², providing around 5m² from a 20kg bag
- Wall tiling: Approximately 2.5kg per m², providing around 8m² from a 20kg bag
Uneven backgrounds, large-format tiles and applications requiring back-buttering will use more adhesive.
Key Benefits
- BS EN 12004 C2TE-S1 classification
- Flexible, polymer-modified cementitious formula
- Suitable for wall and floor tiles
- For interior and exterior applications
- Fixes ceramic, porcelain and vitrified tiles
- Suitable for mosaics and compatible natural stone
- Recommended for correctly prepared heated floors
- Extended open time and reduced tile slip
- High-strength, water-resistant bond
- Approximately 3–4 hours of working pot life
- Normally ready to grout after 24 hours
Product Information
- Brand: Palace Chemicals
- Product: Easi-Flex S1
- Colour: Grey
- Pack size: 20kg
- Classification: BS EN 12004 C2TE-S1
- Type: Flexible standard-setting tile adhesive
- Application: Interior and exterior walls and floors
- Mixing water: Approximately 5 litres per 20kg bag
- Working pot life: Approximately 3–4 hours at 20°C
- Time before grouting: Approximately 24 hours
- Mean bed depth: Up to approximately 6mm
- Recommended application temperature: +5°C to +25°C
- Shelf life: At least 12 months in dry, unopened storage
Store the unopened bag off the ground in dry conditions and protect it from moisture. Wear suitable gloves, protective clothing and eye protection when mixing and applying the adhesive. Avoid inhaling airborne cement dust.
Always follow the current Palace Chemicals technical and safety data sheets and the relevant requirements of BS 5385.
