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Tiling internal walls demands an adhesive that holds its position without question. RLA Polymastic delivers this confidence. It is the D1TE-classified, pre-mixed acrylic adhesive designed for porous ceramic, mosaic, and even large format tiles. No slump, excellent workability, and a reliable bond, right from the pail.
RLA Polymastic is formulated to simplify internal wall tiling. It is a pre-mixed, white acrylic adhesive that eliminates on-site mixing, ensuring consistent workability from start to finish. This formulation focuses on delivering superior non-slump properties, crucial for holding ceramic, mosaic, and specified large format tiles securely on vertical surfaces. Its flexibility accommodates minor substrate movement, maintaining bond integrity in internal applications.
The D1TE classification of RLA Polymastic confirms its reduced slip and extended open time. This means less tile sag during installation and more time to precisely adjust each tile. With an open time of 30 minutes, installers can efficiently lay tiles within their working rhythm. A drying time of 40 minutes before skinning offers a solid window for placement, leading to reliable grouting in 24 hours.
Working with RLA Polymastic is straightforward. Apply it directly from the pail with a notched trowel, covering roughly 1m² at a time to prevent premature skinning. For tiles over 300 x 300mm, back-buttering ensures full adhesive coverage and reduces slip. Once placed, press tiles into the wet bed with a sliding action to eliminate voids. Any wet excess cleans up easily with a damp cloth, and tools rinse with water, streamlining the job site.
RLA Polymastic excels in diverse internal wall tiling scenarios. It provides a secure, flexible bond for porous ceramic and mosaic tiles in bathrooms, laundries, and kitchens. Its superior non-slump properties are particularly valuable when fixing large format wall tiles to common internal substrates like plasterboard, concrete, or rendered surfaces. For internal wet areas, it can bond over RLA wet area membranes, though careful consideration of tile porosity and extended drying times is essential.
RLA Polymastic is an internal wall adhesive with specific boundaries.
While both RLA Polymastic and RLA MS Pro Sealant offer reliable adhesion, they serve distinct purposes on a project. RLA Polymastic is a pre-mixed, acrylic adhesive purpose-built for bonding ceramic and mosaic tiles to internal walls. It offers superior non-slump properties for vertical applications and eliminates the need for mixing. In contrast, RLA MS Pro Sealant is a high-performance MS polymer sealant and adhesive designed for flexible joint sealing and bonding across a broader range of substrates and applications, including those requiring weather resistance or higher movement capability. Choose Polymastic for your internal wall tiling jobs where convenience and specific tile bonding characteristics are paramount.
No, RLA Polymastic is not suitable for floor tiling applications. It is specifically formulated and classified for internal wall use only, providing essential non-slump properties for vertical surfaces.
Yes, Polymastic is designed for large format wall tiling. For tiles larger than 300x300mm, back-buttering is required in addition to trowelling adhesive onto the wall to ensure full coverage and bond strength.
Polymastic has limited suitability over approved waterproof membranes. Avoid using large or low porosity tiles over these surfaces and allow significantly longer drying times to ensure proper cure and adhesion.
Grouting can commence after the adhesive has cured for 24 hours at 23ºC. Ensure tiles are well fixed and will not be displaced during the grouting process.
| Application | Key benefit | Primary trades |
|---|---|---|
| Internal wall tiling | D1TE classification provides high grab and reduced slump for vertical surfaces. | Tilers, Builders, Renovators |
| Large format wall tiles | Flexible and non-slump properties maintain tile position, reducing lippage and movement during cure. | Tilers, Architects, Designers |
| Porous ceramic and mosaic tiles | Specifically formulated for reliable bonding to porous tiles. | Tilers, Interior Designers |
Ensure substrates are clean, sound and dry. Cure render ≥7 days; mechanically abrade dense/burnished concrete surfaces.
Use an appropriate notched trowel (6 mm typical). Spread no more than ~1 m² at a time to prevent skinning.
Press tiles into the wet bed with a sliding action for full coverage. Back-butter tiles >300×300 mm or with lugs/grooves.
Do not disturb tiling for ~24 hours at ~20–23 °C. Commence grouting when tiles are firm and not displaced by tooling.
Wear safety glasses with side shields or chemical goggles. Use general protective gloves, such as lightweight rubber gloves. Overalls are recommended. For prolonged exposure or poor ventilation, use a Type A-P Filter respirator.
Use in a well-ventilated area to minimise exposure. Engineering controls should be prioritised to remove hazards at the source.
Store in original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry area at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and cold floors. Shelf life is 12 months. Recycle containers where possible or dispose of residue at an approved site according to State Land Waste Authority guidelines.
Proper substrate preparation is critical for the long-term performance of any tiling system. This guide covers specific requirements for common internal wall substrates.
Surface prep: Steel-trowelled, burnished, and dense concrete surfaces must be mechanically abraded to roughen them and create a key. All surfaces must be clean, sound, dry, and free from contaminants.
Primer: Optional. Highly porous concrete surfaces require priming with RLA POROUS PRIMER at 1 litre/8m² per coat, allowing it to dry before adhesive application.
Surface prep: Rendered surfaces must be allowed to cure for at least 7 days. Ensure surfaces are clean, sound, dry, and free from contaminants.
Primer: Optional. Highly porous render surfaces require priming with RLA POROUS PRIMER at 1 litre/8m² per coat, allowing it to dry before adhesive application.
Surface prep: Ensure surfaces are clean, sound, dry, and free from contaminants. All installations must follow manufacturer recommendations and relevant building codes.
Primer: Optional. Highly porous surfaces require priming with RLA POROUS PRIMER at 1 litre/8m² per coat, allowing it to dry before adhesive application.
Surface prep: Ensure surfaces are clean, sound, dry, and free from contaminants. All installations must follow manufacturer recommendations and relevant building codes.
Primer: Not required for typical plasterboard, unless unusually porous. Always check for excessive porosity.
Surface prep: Ensure the membrane is fully cured and free from any contaminants. Adhere to the membrane manufacturer's guidelines for tiling over the system.
Primer: Not required. However, note the limited suitability for Polymastic over membranes, particularly with large or low porosity tiles. Expect significantly longer drying times.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White paste |
| Physical State | Non Slump Paste |
| Relative Density (Water = 1) | 1.6 |
| pH (as supplied) | 8.5 |
| Initial Boiling Point and Boiling Range | <100 °C |
| Solubility in Water | Miscible |
| Open Time | 30 minutes |
| Drying Time | 40 minutes |
| Ready for Grouting | 24 hours |
| Classification | D1TE |
| Coverage | 9m² using a 6mm notch (per 4 litre pail) |
| Shelf Life | 12 months |
Here are some common examples on where RLA Polymastic used by our customers.
