Technical / Finishing

Why Tiles Pop: Understanding EN 12004 Adhesive Standards

The trend in Maltese design is "Bigger is Better." We are seeing 120cm x 120cm Gres Porcelain everywhere. But we are also seeing massive failures where tiles detach (pop) from the screed.

The Culprit: Thermal Shock & "C1" Glue

Porcelain tiles do not absorb water. Standard "C1" cement glue relies on mechanical grip (water absorption) to stick. If you use C1 glue on Porcelain, it will fail.

The ZNR Guide to Adhesive Codes

Code	Meaning	ZNR Product
C2	Improved Cementitious (High Bond)	Granite & Marble Flex
T	Thixotropic (No Vertical Slip)	Tilebond Flex
E	Extended Open Time (Slow Dry)	Tilebond Flex
S1	Deformable (Flexible)	Ultra Flex S1

The Rule:

For any tile larger than 60x60cm, or for any outdoor terrace (which expands in the sun), you MUST use a C2TE S1 adhesive like ZNR Ultra Flex.

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