How to remove floor tile adhesive?

There are multiple ways to remove floor tile adhesive following the removal of tiles from your floor. Smaller amounts of tile adhesive can be chipped away using a hammer and chisel, though this may not be possible for larger installations. Larger areas of hardened tile adhesive may have to be broken up with an SDS drill before then using a hammer and chisel to remove remaining glue. An electric hammer and chisel can be used to minimise work time and effort.

How to apply tile adhesive floor?

Once your tile adhesive is mixed to an acceptable consistency, it’s ready to apply. Spread your adhesive out on the floor using a notched trowel, and use the edge of the trowel to create lines of raised ‘ribs’ of adhesive on the floor. We also recommend applying a thin layer of adhesive to the back of your floor tile to help create a stronger bond. Apply a small amount of pressure on your tile and wiggle it around to minimise the amount of air behind the tile. Once level, you can apply another tile, using spacers to separate them.

How to mix floor tile adhesive?

Mixing your floor tile adhesive depends on the type of floor tile adhesive used. Most powdered adhesives can be mixed with water by hand, using a bucket, adhesive mix, a mixing paddle and a trowel. We always recommend wearing appropriate protective eyewear. To mix, begin with your required amount of water in a bucket and gradually add your adhesive whilst stirring. Mix until you have a smooth peanut butter-like consistency with no powder or lumps – the mix is ready to apply.

How to remove tile adhesive from wood floor?

When removing tile adhesive from a wood floor or subfloor, there are plenty of methods you can use. For smaller or thinner areas of tile adhesive, your tile adhesive can be removed using hand tools. We recommend using a floor scraper or a specialist grout removal tool when removing floor or ceramic tile adhesive from plywood flooring. For larger adhesive removals, a more powerful tool like an electric chisel or angle grinder can be used.

How thick should floor tile adhesive be?

We recommend that floor tile adhesive should be a minimum thickness of 3mm. This thickness is based on an average sized tile of 300mm x 300mm. The required thickness will change depending on whether using mosaic tiles but typically a floor tile adhesive should be a minimum of 3mm depth.

Can I use tile adhesive to level floor?

Whilst tile adhesive can be used sporadically to help level a floor, we always recommend using a dedicated floor levelling compound beforehand. Levelling a floor with tile adhesive alone can quickly get messy, and is less likely to be successful than a dedicated floor leveller like UltraTile’s ProLevel range. If you have already levelled your floor and have discovered an area that is not level with the rest of the floor, however, there is no reason why tile adhesive cannot be used as a spot leveller.

Can you use wall tile adhesive on floors?

We recommend only using wall tile adhesive on floors if the adhesive is clearly labelled as multi-use, such as UltraTile ProSS Flex. Wall tile adhesive and floor tile adhesive have different characteristics which make them suitable for their respective applications. Wall tile adhesives do not have any load bearing capacity making them unsuitable for floor applications. For best results, always use the proper adhesive for your project.

How much floor tile adhesive?

The amount of floor tile adhesive you will need for your project will depend on your substrate, the location, and the thickness of your adhesive. One 20kg bag of UltraTile ProSS Flex wall and floor tile adhesive will cover approx. 4sqm of tiles with a thickness of 3mm. Our product pages also have calculators to estimate the amount of product needed.

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Tile Adhesives

Discover the extensive UltraTile range of ready-mixed tile adhesives, powdered tile cement and more, for both wall and floor tile applications.

Browse the UltraTile range of tile adhesives

The ultimate partner to any tiling job, our range of tile adhesives and tile cement offers the perfect pairing for any type of tile, any type of substrate and any area of application.

Whether you’re looking for tile cement for your walls or floors, UltraTile has you covered.

ProEco Gel: Thixotropic Flexible Tile Adhesive

ProEco Gel is an S1, thixotropic, flexible gel adhesive for areas prone to movement or vibration

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ProSuper Grip: High Grab Acrylic Wall Tile Adhesive

A non-slip, high grab adhesive which allows the speedy application of wall tiles.

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ProSuper White: Highly Flexible Acrylic Wall Tile Adhesive

Specially formulated to provide increased water resistance, ideal for power showers & bathrooms.

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ProFlex SP: Rapid Set Flexible Tile Adhesive

A single part, rapid setting, flexible adhesive for wall and floor tiles.

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ProFlex SPES: Standard Set Flexible Tile Adhesive

A single part, standard setting, flexible adhesive with extended workability and enhanced adhesion.

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ProFlex S2: Fibre Reinforced Flexible Tile Adhesive

A single part, rapid setting, flexible, fibre reinforced adhesive for wall and floor tiles.

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ProRapid RS: Flexible Rapid Set Tile Adhesive

Formulated with enhanced adhesion and flexibility for use with ceramic, porcelain and natural stone.

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ProSS Flex: Flexible Standard Set Tile Adhesive

A single part, standard set, flexible adhesive for wall and floor tiles.

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ProGrip FX: Fibre Reinforced Semi-rapid Tile Adhesive

A single part, semi-rapid setting flexible adhesive, ideal for fitting large format tiles.

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Our adhesive range includes several different variants of tile adhesive and tile cement, each of which are formulated to support you in different job applications.

For example, our ProSuper White adhesive is formulated to provide additional water resistance, making it perfectly suited for bathroom and shower applications.

Meanwhile, ProRapid RS is a versatile adhesive perfect for time-sensitive jobs with a range of tiles, and is capable of accommodating light foot traffic within 3 hours of installation, depending on temperature and substrate.

For applications where slight vibration or movement may occur, try ProFlex SPES, formulated with extended workability and flexibility.

Unsure which is right for your project? Our expert team are on hand to help. Give us a call on 01827 254 400 or enquire now at the bottom of this page.

UltraTile’s extensive range of tile adhesives means that application techniques can vary. This also means that bed thickness and set time will vary from product to product.

Below, we have provided a step-by-step guide to applying ProFlex SPES, one of our most-popular tile adhesives. Always consult your product’s technical datasheet for a specific application guide.

Step 1:
Apply adhesive to the surface by use of a notched trowel. Bed thickness is a minimum of 3mm up to a maximum of 20mm, achieved by using a 6mm by 6mm notched trowel.

Step 2:
Bed tiles in firmly with a slight twisting action. Clean off excess adhesive from the tile face with a damp cloth and rake excess from the grout lines before it sets.

Step 3:
Leave for a minimum of 18 hours before grouting (on impervious or sealed surfaces a longer amount of time will be required).

Step 4:
Do not apply more than 1m² of adhesive before tiling commences, as skinning may occur. If skinning does occur, your bond can be negatively affected.

Instarmac’s range of tile adhesives and tile cements carry a range of benefits, including:

High grab – our tile adhesives provide exceptional grip.
Non-slip – our tile cements are all non-slip, providing maximum adhesion on walls and ceilings.
Material-specific – find the perfect formulation to deliver best performance with your chosen tile material.
Flexible – choose between flexible and non-flexible adhesives.

Tile adhesive videos

Find out more about our tile adhesive products, their performance and the best way to fix your tiles with our videos below.

How flexible is ProFlex S2 tile adhesive?

Think you know everything there is to know about ProFlex S2 tile adhesive? Think again! The flexible properties of ProFlex S2 are outstanding as demonstrated in this video.

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Have you got what it takes to be an UltraTiler?

By collecting brand engagement points through various activities such as purchasing UltraTile products, attending training sessions, participating in market research, and sharing your exceptional work on social media, as a top-tier tiler you can earn your way into the respected ranks of the UltraTiler club.

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More in the UltraTile range

The UltraTile range includes everything you need for tile installation, from adhesives to grouts, silicones and levellers.

Outdoor & Exterior Tile Adhesives

Shower & Bathroom Tile Sealants

Tile and Stone Cleaning Range

Tiling Ancillaries

Tile adhesive FAQs

How to remove floor tile adhesive?

There are multiple ways to remove floor tile adhesive following the removal of tiles from your floor. Smaller amounts of tile adhesive can be chipped away using a hammer and chisel, though this may not be possible for larger installations. Larger areas of hardened tile adhesive may have to be broken up with an SDS drill before then using a hammer and chisel to remove remaining glue. An electric hammer and chisel can be used to minimise work time and effort.
How to apply tile adhesive to floor?

Once your tile adhesive is mixed to an acceptable consistency, it’s ready to apply. Spread your adhesive out on the floor using a notched trowel, and use the edge of the trowel to create lines of raised ‘ribs’ of adhesive on the floor. We also recommend applying a thin layer of adhesive to the back of your floor tile to help create a stronger bond. Apply a small amount of pressure on your tile and wiggle it around to minimise the amount of air behind the tile. Once level, you can apply another tile, using spacers to separate them.
How to mix floor tile adhesive?

Mixing your floor tile adhesive depends on the type of floor tile adhesive used. Most powdered adhesives can be mixed with water by hand, using a bucket, adhesive mix, a mixing paddle and a trowel. We always recommend wearing appropriate protective eyewear. To mix, begin with your required amount of water in a bucket and gradually add your adhesive whilst stirring. Mix until you have a smooth peanut butter-like consistency with no powder or lumps – the mix is ready to apply.
How to remove tile adhesive from wood floor?

When removing tile adhesive from a wood floor or subfloor, there are plenty of methods you can use. For smaller or thinner areas of tile adhesive, your tile adhesive can be removed using hand tools. We recommend using a floor scraper or a specialist grout removal tool when removing floor or ceramic tile adhesive from plywood flooring. For larger adhesive removals, a more powerful tool like an electric chisel or angle grinder can be used.
How thick should floor tile adhesive be?

We recommend that floor tile adhesive should be a minimum thickness of 3mm. This thickness is based on an average sized tile of 300mm x 300mm. The required thickness will change depending on whether using mosaic tiles but typically a floor tile adhesive should be a minimum of 3mm depth.
Can I use tile adhesive to level floor?

Whilst tile adhesive can be used sporadically to help level a floor, we always recommend using a dedicated floor levelling compound beforehand. Levelling a floor with tile adhesive alone can quickly get messy, and is less likely to be successful than a dedicated floor leveller like UltraTile’s ProLevel range. If you have already levelled your floor and have discovered an area that is not level with the rest of the floor, however, there is no reason why tile adhesive cannot be used as a spot leveller.
Can you use wall tile adhesive on floors?

We recommend only using wall tile adhesive on floors if the adhesive is clearly labelled as multi-use, such as UltraTile ProSS Flex. Wall tile adhesive and floor tile adhesive have different characteristics which make them suitable for their respective applications. Wall tile adhesives do not have any load bearing capacity making them unsuitable for floor applications. For best results, always use the proper adhesive for your project.
How much floor tile adhesive?

The amount of floor tile adhesive you will need for your project will depend on your substrate, the location, and the thickness of your adhesive. One 20kg bag of UltraTile ProSS Flex wall and floor tile adhesive will cover approx. 4sqm of tiles with a thickness of 3mm. Our product pages also have calculators to estimate the amount of product needed.

Enquire Now

Call Us Call 01827 254 400

Head Office

Danny Morson Way
Birch Coppice Business Park
Dordon, Tamworth B78 1SE

UK Tel: +44 (0) 1827 254 400

Tile Adhesives

Browse the UltraTile range of tile adhesives

Finding the perfect tile adhesive for your job

Step-by-step guide to using tile adhesive

Benefits of using quality tile adhesive

Tile adhesive videos

How flexible is ProFlex S2 tile adhesive?

Have you got what it takes to be an UltraTiler?

More in the UltraTile range

Tile adhesive FAQs