If you are laying a tile floor but the subfloor is not perfectly level then you may well be wondering if you can use the adhesive itself to level up your floor, well let’s have a look.
Can I Use Tile Adhesive to Level a Floor?
Yes, you can use tile adhesive to level a floor. There are general tile adhesives that can be used anywhere from 1mm to 12mm thick. If the difference in the level of your fall falls within these margins then you can easily level it using just the adhesive.
What adhesive to use?
I would recommend the Pro Rapid tile adhesive below. This is a rapid set adhesive that can be used from 1mm to 12mm thick. This is really useful for levelling a floor as it can be either thin or thick. Obviously, you don’t want one that can only be used thick or equally one that can only be used thin.
There are plenty of adhesives available that can go thicker than this. So if your difference is more than 11mm then look for a “thick bed” tile adhesive. The reason I have recommended the adhesive above is that it can also go very thin, a lot thinner than a lot of the thick bed adhesives.
Thick bed adhesives can also get expensive, but it is always worth shopping around to get the right adhesive for you.
Self Levelling Compound
This would be the best way to level the floor. After all, this is what this product is created for, tile adhesive is not meant to be used as a level but it can be made to do it.
If you want the job done correctly then use a levelling compound before laying the tiles on top.
Rapid Set Adhesive
It is important that you choose a rapid set adhesive if you are planning on using it to level your subfloor. If you choose a regular setting adhesive then you will face a lot of problems with the tiles sinking down into the adhesive as it sets. Rapid set adhesives set too quickly for this to become a problem.
How thick can I go?
Well, we have a full article on this here: How Thick Can I Lay Floor Tile Adhesive? but for those of you wanting a quick answer, there are adhesives that go up to 25mm thick.
Can I Use Tile Adhesive to Level a Floor?