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Tiling & finishing

Tiling: tile adhesive & grout

CE075 is a C1 cement–polymer tile adhesive for indoor use; CE200 is a CG1 cement-based grout. Each has its own water ratio and method and they are not interchangeable.

2 system materials10 stepsTiling & finishing
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Public technical guidance

This page is selection and sequencing guidance, not a project method statement. The current product TDS, approved design, site assessment and trial application take precedence; structural anchors, cracks, water-retaining structures and other safety-critical work require qualified technical review.

Applicable for

  • Indoor bonding of ceramic and porcelain tiles with water absorption above 0.5%, and natural stone
  • Indoor wall and floor tiling on dry cementitious substrates
  • Mineral-fibre panels within the TDS limits
  • CE200 grouting for suitable ceramic, granite and mosaic tile joints
  • Outdoor, pool, large-format or heavy-stone work requires a separately assessed product/performance class

Bestmix material system

BestTile CE075
Material 1

BestTile CE075

One-component C1 cement–polymer tile adhesive under TCVN 7899-1/ISO 13007-1

Consumption: 1.65 kg/m²/mm; mix with 20 – 22% water (5.0 – 5.5 L/25 kg)
BestJoint CE200
Material 2

BestJoint CE200

One-component CG1 cement-based tile grout under TCVN 7899-3/ISO 13007-3

Consumption: Mixing ratio 30 – 35% water (1.5 – 1.75 L water / 5 kg powder); consumption varies with joint width and depth

Substrate requirements

  • Substrate dry, hard, flat and free of dust, dirt and grease
  • Highly absorbent substrates: dampen at least 5 minutes before tiling
  • Newly rendered mortar: let the base fully cure — on average 7 days per 1cm of thickness — before tiling
  • Use CE075 only for tiles and stone within its TDS; natural stone is limited to 45 kg/m² and low-absorption or special tiles require a higher-performance adhesive
  • Grout only after tiles have been laid at least 24 hours, with the surface clean, dry and free of dust, contaminants and grease
  • Clean out the joints with a knife and remove any leftover tile adhesive before grouting

Step-by-step procedure

  1. 1

    Mix BestTile CE075 adhesive

    Add 20 – 22% clean water, slowly add powder and mix at 300 – 400 rpm for 2 – 5 minutes until uniform; rest about 2 minutes and remix. Use within 60 minutes and add no cement or other material.

  2. 2

    Trowel adhesive onto floor/wall

    Spread an even layer of tile adhesive onto the floor or wall with a trowel.

  3. 3

    Comb the notched lines

    Hold a notched trowel at 60° to the floor (wall) and pull evenly to form combed ridges in the adhesive.

  4. 4

    Lay the tiles

    Set and slide each tile perpendicular to the combed lines. For tiles larger than 25×25cm (10"×10"), back-butter a thin layer of adhesive so it fully covers, avoiding voids that cause cracking and water ingress.

  5. 5

    Set joints & bed the tile

    Use tile spacers to create a joint of at least 1.5mm; tap gently by hand or rubber mallet, adjust the tile into place and ensure the adhesive fully covers the tile back.

  6. 6

    Clean excess & let cure

    Clean excess while soft. Spread only an area that can be tiled in time, no more than about 1 m² per pass; adjust each tile within 20 minutes of placement. Grout only after the adhesive reaches the TDS waiting time under substrate conditions.

  7. 7

    Mix BestJoint CE200 grout

    Add clean water first, then slowly add powder at 30 – 35 parts water / 100 parts powder (about 1.5 – 1.75 L water per 5 kg); stir at 300 – 400 rpm until uniform, rest 3 – 4 minutes and re-mix once more.

  8. 8

    Fill the joints

    Use a grout float or plastic trowel to pack BestJoint CE200 fully into the whole volume of the joints or corners to be filled.

  9. 9

    Tool & smooth the joints

    After 5 – 10 minutes when the grout firms up, run a jointing ball to smooth the lines; if the grout is dry, dip the ball in water for easier tooling.

  10. 10

    Clean & finish

    After 10 – 15 minutes, wipe off the excess in a circular (spiral) motion with a damp cloth or sponge; after 1 – 2 hours, buff dry with a clean cloth or sponge. Use all grout within 60 minutes of mixing.

Total consumption

BestTile CE075 is about 1.65 kg/m²/mm mixed with 20 – 22% water; BestJoint CE200 mixes with 30 – 35% water and uses its tile-size/joint-width/depth table. Actual use depends on back coverage and waste.

Common questions

Which product is for laying tiles and which is for grouting?

Use BestTile CE075 for indoor C1-scope tiles and BestJoint CE200 as CG1 grout. Do not substitute CE075 for CE200 unless the TDS or approved project documents allow it.

What is the water ratio for the adhesive and the grout?

BestTile CE075: 20 – 22% water (5.0 – 5.5 L per 25 kg powder). BestJoint CE200: 30 – 35% water (1.5 – 1.75 L per 5 kg powder). Use only clean water and do not add any other material.

How long after tiling can I grout?

Grout only after the adhesive reaches its TDS waiting time and the tilework is stable, clean and dry; where tiles were bedded in cement slurry or sand–cement mortar, the CE200 TDS requires at least 7 days.

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