By Mike Micalizzi
Thin-set mortars today are more engineered than ever before. To meet new building construction needs and better adhere the new styles of tile and stone, high-performance characteristics have been developed that are nothing like what your dad used to use. For those who have been in the business 20 to 30 years, times have changed.

Green building principles— which emphasize the use of recycled materials, use of regional materials and provision for a cleaner jobsite environment— are of particular importance to contractors, architects and property owners. Mapei’s R&D team works continuously to provide innovative new products that meet these needs.

Ultralite Mortar is an example of a new lightweight technology product that provides the same tile-setting coverage as traditional thin-sets but weighs only half as much. With today’s high gas costs, carrying half the weight makes a lot of sense. In addition, more than 20% of the raw materials used to manufacture Ultralite come from postconsumer recycled material that contributes to its lighter weight. The formulation was also developed with non-sag characteristics, making it a great mortar to use for tile and stone on walls.

Another recent Mapei innovation involves dust-free technology. When incorporated into mortars such as Ultraflex 2, dust-free technology produces up to 90% fewer particulates in the air during pouring, mixing and installation. The result is a much cleaner jobsite for installers and, subsequently, for the new property owners.

In addition to zero levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in cement-based mortars, Ultraflex 2 helps contribute to valuable LEED points in the area of “EQ Credit 3.2: Construction IAQ Management Plan: Before Occupancy.” Plus, Ultraflex 2 is manufactured from locally available materials, often providing contractors with a LEED contribution for “MR Credit 5.1 and 5.2: Regional Materials”—materials manufactured within 500 miles of the jobsite.

Mapei also has a wide selection of mortars developed to provide optimal performance in specific applications. Adesilex P10 mortar has an extended open time, allowing installers to place tile perfectly, and a non-sag quality that produces superior adhesion on walls. Its bright white color also makes it an ideal choice for glass tile installations.

Rapid-setting mortars such as Ultracontact RS and Granirapid enable tile to be set in heavily trafficked areas such as malls and airports and to grout within four hours. The Granirapid and Kerabond/Keralastic mortar systems will also perform well in areas requiring great deformability of the mortar, such as higher levels of multi-story buildings.

Learning specific performance characteristics can help installers do their best work.

Mike Micalizzi is the technical services manager for Mapei.