Advances in tile-setting technol- ogy are finally tackling the tough- est surfaces. Recent introductions of advanced primer technology spe- cifically target the preparation of challenging substrates. In the past, removing or remediating these tough substrates took an installer or a specialist a great deal of time and cost owners a great deal of money. Manufacturers developed the new water-based primers to significantly reduce the work involved with prep- ping difficult substrates for tile instal- lation. Now tough-to-bond-to sur- faces such as metal, glazed ceramic tile, well- bonded epoxy coatings, gypsum-based underlayments and concrete treated with silicate or acrylic resin curing compounds, can be readied for a tile installation with the simple application of these just- developed multipurpose primers. Comparison of the old methodology versus application of the new prim- ers for challenging substrates, high- lights the incredible efficiency gains for tile installation today. Challenging substrates for tile installations Metal ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Metal subfloors have been a dif- ficult starting point for a tile instal- lation. Contractors deal with metal substrates frequently for staircases and metal decking found in commer- New primers make old methods obsolete for tough substrates Sponsored by TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– By Tom Plaskota, TEC® Technical Support Manager, HB Fuller Construction Products High-performance primers now provide an efficient, effective alternative to many difficult substrate preparation tasks. For porous surfaces where primer dilution is required, application by push broom instead of a paint roller ensures proper penetration into the substrate. 46 TileLetter | September 2017