By Matthew Spieler
With new innovations allowing manufacturers to create more technologically advanced products, adhesives makers have had to keep up and develop glues that not only have to anchor the floor covering to the subfloor, they must meet a growing list of environmental and other regulations.

Fortunately, adhesives manufacturers have not only kept up with the changes, they have been leaders in producing environmentally friendly glues.

“We offer over 80 products,” said Greg Wood, president of Advanced Adhesive Technologies (AAT), “and over 98% are environmentally friendly. With today’s technology, there’s no reason not to produce products that have minimal environmental impact.”

As part of its 20th anniversary, AAT has launched a selection of adhesives marketed to professional contractors—Problem Solver, a line of high-performance adhesives and seam tape that confidently offers professional installers “the right product for the job in one easy-to-use resource.”

Wood said the initial Problem Solver line features 10 products selected for their performance and overall effectiveness, including adhesives for carpet tile, wood flooring, luxury vinyl tile, VCT, sheet vinyl, cove base and carpet pad included, as well as one heavy duty seam tape.

He described the brand as “tools that flooring professionals need every day. When a flooring professional chooses any Problem Solver product, they know they’re getting a professional-grade product.”

At W.F. Taylor, an alliance with Koester America (FCNews, Oct. 16/23) has produced the 1410 Platinum MAC (Moisture Alkali Control) System.

The Greengard glue needs just one application to protect finished flooring from moisture and alkalinity, and its advanced formula allows installation over uncured new concrete, said Gary Liddington, business manager, manufacturing brands.

He said 1410 reduces moisture “to acceptable levels,” remedies high alkalinity up to pH 14 and can be used as a primer for concrete surfaces.

Platinum 1410 “provides for a long-term installation,” Liddington said, “and gives peace of mind” as the system is warranted for 10 years.

Sonny Callaham, ParaChem’s flooring specialist, said the company added FTS 450, Fusion Tile Set Ceramic Mastic to its successful Fusion lineup.

“With the outstanding response from our Fusion I and Fusion II Multi-Purpose Adhesives we know FTS 450 will follow in their footsteps,” he said.

FTS 450 can be used in a number of different applications, Callaham noted, and is approved for vitreous/non-vitreous ceramic wall and floor tile. “It has an aggressive wet suction, allowing installers to work at their pace and not worry about slippage. Tiles may be installed bottom up or top down.”

Finally, XL Brands has launched the Green Label Plus certified Quantum spray system as well as Evolution MS 2200.

Quantum is a patented hybrid technology based on XL’s Jet-Spread line of spray adhesives. “It’s an easy to use, self contained, solvent free, pre-pressurized canister of adhesive utilizing a hose and spray wand assembly. Quantum keeps the installer on his feet, not his knees,” said Dena Withrow, XL’s marketing coordinator.

MS 2200 is an advanced hybrid formula offering the benefits of both acrylic and urethane technology, she noted. The vapor seal system is designed for treating green slabs commonly found in fast track construction that could cause a delay in installations. It can be used for preparing the surface for a variety of installations that would not be acceptable due to high moisture and pH. Adhesives and floor coverings are also protected from high pH and associated alkaline conditions.