Morecambe & Wise, Mitchell & Webb, Little & Large, French & Saunders, Reeves & Mortimer. To this list of famous double acts, you can add tiles and tile adhesive. Why? You cant have one without the other. It just doesn't work.

Whether you are tiling the bathroom, hallway, kitchen or living room, you will need tile adhesive. But with so many types of adhesives on the market, which is the best for budding DIY tilers like yourselves? Read on to discover everything you need to know about tile adhesive and which tile adhesive is right for you.

And, if you do have any further questions, whether its about adhesives or anything else to do with tiling, feel free to contact the Tile Warehouse team. Wed love to hear from you.

Homestone Pearl Tiles 60x60cm

Choosing the most suitable tile adhesive

Tiles are made from many different materials including ceramic, porcelain, glass, cement, marble and natural stone. They're also available in many different finishes, so its really important to match the tile adhesive to the tiles you're working with in your home.

Check out the types of tile adhesive below and the product is most suitable for you and your tiling project.

Ready Mixed Tile Adhesive

Ready Mixed adhesives, as the name suggests, are ready to use straight from the tub. Although ready mixed tile adhesives save time because you do not need to make-up the adhesive yourself, and can be used on cement board, plaster and plasterboards, they do have their limitations.

Firstly, they shouldn't be used when installing porcelain tiles (due to their non-porous surface). And, secondly, they should only be used to fix small format, ceramic tiles to a wall in areas like splashbacks. This is because they dry slower than powder-based adhesives which makes them unsuitable for areas like floors which require a greater amount of water evaporation.

Standard Set Tile Adhesive

Standard Set adhesives are a type of adhesive that comes in powder format. They should be mixed with water for at least 20 mins to produce the correct form. Suitable for most tiling jobs and types of tiles, including fixing ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles, as well as larger XL type tiles, to solid floors and walls, Standard Set adhesives can also be used in wet areas like showers and wet rooms as well as for tiling over underfloor heating. Standard Set adhesives can also be used in the garden for laying outdoor tiles.

Rapid Set Tile Adhesive

And, last, but by no means least, there is Rapid Set adhesives. These adhesives come with a latex additive, giving it greater flexibility as well as strength over the Standard Set cement-based adhesive.  This makes them ideal for tiling over plywood (and other wooden) surfaces that are subject to movement as well as to fix specific porcelain and natural stone tiles which may require more grip.

The difference between Grey and White Tile Adhesive

Wraystone Grey Tiles 31x60cm

To add an extra layer of complexity, there are also different coloured adhesives grey and white. This is to do with the colour of the tile as well as the colour of the grout.

If you are planning on fitting a lighter coloured tile or using a light-coloured grout such as cream or white, then a white adhesive is advisable. Alternatively, use a grey adhesive if you are intending to use a grey or darker coloured grout.

Why? Adhesive can squeeze up through the tile joints during installation and this can affect the colour of the grout through staining. Plus, some natural tiles can be semi-translucent, and if a non-white adhesive was used, like grey, this could cause shadowing, changing the appearance of the tile.

Best Standard Set Tile Adhesive

There are lots of standard set tile adhesives on the market. To help we've come up with a rundown of the easiest to use options available.

Regenr8 Standard Set Tile Adhesive

Regenr8 Standard Set Flexible Floor and Wall Tile Adhesive

Regenr8 is an environmentally friendly standard set floor and wall tile adhesive that is suitable for any tiling project inside and outside the home whilst reducing the impact on the planet in the process.

Available in 20kg bags in both grey and white formats, Regenr8 is specially formulated from Ecosand, a composite made purely from 43% recycled waste materials rather than sand. Regenr8 also comes with a 25-year guarantee. Regenr8 has a set time of 16 hours and can be grouted after just 18 hours.

Shop Regenr8 Standard Set Tile Adhesives

Best Rapid Set Tile Adhesive

There are various rapid set tile adhesives on the market. To help we've come up with this rundown of some of the easiest to use options available.

Regenr8 Rapid Set Tile Adhesive

Regenr8 Rapid Set Tile Adhesive

Regenr8 is an environmentally friendly rapid set floor and wall tile adhesive that is suitable for any tiling project inside and outside the home, as well as wet areas, whilst reducing the impact on the planet in the process.

Available in 20kg bags in both grey and white formats, it has a set time of 2.5 hours and can be grouted after just four hours.

Shop Regenr8 Rapid Set Tile Adhesives 

Mapei Keraquick Rapid Set Adhesive 

Mapei Keraquick S1 Grey Rapid Set Adhesive (20kg)

Keraquick is a polymer modified floor and wall tile adhesive from Mapei which is ideal for ceramic, natural stone and porcelain tiles, where exceptional bonding and the need to set quickly are essential during a tiling project.

Available in 20kg bags, it can be grouted within 2-3 hours of application. 

Shop Keraquick Rapid Set Adhesive

How to use tile adhesive

Not sure on the best way to use tile adhesive? Help is at hand courtesy of Tile Warehouse and Proper DIY. Weve teamed up with the hit YouTuber to create this easy to follow practical video to show you the best way to mix as well as tiling adhesive in your home. 

Need more information?

If you have any questions regarding using tile adhesive or anything else to do with tiling in the home, then feel free to contact our Customer Services team. They will be more than happy to help.