By Louis Iannaco
The best adhesive producers in the flooring industry not only provide the most effective, innovative and environmentally friendly products, they also place a premium on excellent service and customer relations. The following includes several of this category’s top players, their products and why so many industry professionals have stuck with them through the years.

Ardex/ W.W. Henry Co.

A key glue in the Henry product line include the Henry 1171N SureLock Wood Flooring Adhesive—an innovative hybrid that combines acrylic and urethane technologies for the installation of solid wood, engineered wood plank and parquet floors. Henry 1171N is extremely moisture resistant and has excellent bond strength, noted Russ Gaetano, marketing communications manager, Ardex Engineered Cements/The W.W. Henry Co.

“This new generation wood adhesive builds strength early and has immediate grab to reduce cupping, peaking and end-lifting,” he said. “It is significantly easier to trowel than moisture-cured urethanes, as well as other acrylic with urethane wood adhesives on the market. In addition to being easier to work with, Henry 1171N is less expensive and easier to clean from the floor surface, saving the installer valuable time and money.” It is backed by Henry’s best 10-year warranty.

Other premium Henry products include the Henry 640 VinylLock Pressure Sensitive Vinyl Flooring Adhesive with Henry Greenline Environmental Technology, a versatile adhesive that can be used as either a pressure sensitive or a wet-set glue. Also, the Henry 422 Premium Vinyl Back Flooring Adhesive is another reliable product, according to Gaetano, that features a very strong bond and an extended working time. It is non-staining and has plasticizer resistance for long-term bond integrity. It is also backed by Henry’s best 10-year warranty.

“Henry has been a trusted brand of high-performance flooring adhesives for more than 70 years,” Gaetano said. “We offer a comprehensive, premium line of adhesive products for all types of flooring. As an industry leader and one of the largest global manufacturers of flooring adhesives, The W.W. Henry Company has been considered a valued partner for commercial and residential flooring professionals, because of our commitment to the growth and profitability of our customers’ businesses. This is demonstrated through the continued development of innovative and environmentally sensitive products, coupled with a commitment to customer service and support.”

For more information, call 724.203.5353.

DriTac Flooring Products

DriTac 7500 Eco-Urethane, a moisture-cure urethane adhesive, offers zero VOCs and zero solvents, which makes this adhesive a very unique and innovative product that has become the premier wood flooring adhesive in the market today, noted John Lio, DriTac’s marketing manager.

DriTac 7500 Eco-Urethane is formulated to be easy to spread. It contains no water and provides a permanent bond for a wide- range of wood flooring products, including: bamboo, exotic woods, multi-ply engineered plank, solid wood planks, acrylic impregnated wood, plain-back parquet and plywood.

Available in 2- and 4-gallon containers, DriTac 7500 Eco-Urethane is suitable for above, on or below grade installations, provides superior coverage, is freeze-thaw stable, non-slumping and remains elastomeric, allowing for normal expansion and contraction of wood flooring.

With its solvent-free and zero VOC formulation, DriTac 7500 Eco-Urethane is recommended as the adhesive of choice for all “green” wood flooring building projects, he noted.

DriTac Flooring Products is one of the most experienced adhesive manufacturer in the wood flooring industry, Lio said. “With over 50 years of experience, DriTac knows what it takes to satisfy our customers and provide them with high-quality, professional-grade, easy-to-use products. DriTac is the only adhesive manufacturer in the wood flooring industry that is solely dedicated to environmentally friendly adhesives for wood flooring, which gives us a distinct advantage over all of our competitors.

“We are also the only adhesive manufacturer in the wood industry that offers a complete line of ‘green’ adhesives and installation products for wood flooring installations,” he concluded. “This includes three adhesives, a concrete moisture sealer, an engineered repair kit and a urethane adhesive remover.”

For more information, call 800.394.9310.

Mapei

Since the 1980s Mapei has manufactured the Ultrabond ECO line of floor covering adhesives for carpet, vinyl and wood. All Ultrabond ECO-branded products meet strict standards for VOC compliance, which helps contribute to valuable LEED rating points in green building construction, noted Jeff Leone, Mapei’s director of strategic marketing.

“For fast-track construction projects, we offer Mapelastic 400, a thin liquid rubber membrane that provides a fast-drying waterproofing system for commercial and residential bathrooms, showers, kitchens and locker rooms,” he said. Tile or stone can be installed over Mapelastic 400 in as little as one to three hours after its application.

“And, the industry’s best sanded grout—Ultracolor—has now added DropEffect Technology, which reduces surface absorption for added protection against water, dirt and grime penetration into grout joints,” he explained. “Just like the original Ultracolor, Ultracolor Plus is also efflorescence-free for superior color consistency.

He added that Mapei’s reputation is built on a global network of research that allows it to address customers’ needs locally with innovative new products. “We have developed a complete line of installation products for all types of flooring, including tile and stone, carpet, vinyl and wood, as well as providing a complete line of patches and levelers to prepare the surface. These product lines provide a total solution for customers from a single source.”

For more information, call 954.246.8799.

Stauf Adhesives

Stauf has two unique products that differentiate it from all other suppliers, according to Frank Potter, director of operations. “First is our WFR-930 Solva-Mastic adhesive, an alcohol-based adhesive that has all the positive attributes of the ‘retired’ chlorinated solvent adhesives but none of the health and environmental issues. WFR-930 offers quick grab, easy spread, easy clean-up, strong holding power, and will virtually eliminate hollow spots. It meets standards such as the California Air Quality codes and is environmentally conscious. It will not etch the finish. It has no carcinogens, VOCs or water.”

Second is Stauf’s SMP-960 One-Step, a MS Polymer adhesive that is really a sound or moisture system solution for wood floors. “In one application,” he said, “the installer can apply a sound barrier that meets STC and IIC decibel ratings of 72 and 74. At the same time, the installer is putting down a moisture abatement system that will protect against moisture using the Calcium Chloride test. The adhesive being applied in that same step spreads easily and can be cleaned easily with Acetone or Mineral Spirits. It will not etch the finish.”

Stauf is a 180-year-old company with “a commitment to quality, engineering and environment that is that old, too,” Potter said. “As a family-owned firm, we put our reputation into every pail. We rarely have a complaint and our customers and installers brag of the problem-free experience they have with Stauf products. In addition, our commitment to research and engineering has allowed us to be an industry leader in the introduction of new product and in solutions to environmental and health issues. Such was the case with WFR-930, which replaced dangerous chlorinated solvent adhesives.”

Finally, Stauf was instrumental in the formation of the industry association in Germany which, Potter concluded, “established health and environmental standards for adhesive products. All of our adhesive products are safe and environmentally supportive. We are proud of that record.”

For more information, call 901.820.0007.

W.F. Taylor

“Our top selling products are Wood Flooring Adhesive and Premium Grade commercial carpet adhesives,” said Barry Wright, executive vice president. “W.F. Taylor has distinguished itself by developing a new-patented chemistry we call Meta-tec. Products based on our Meta-tec chemistry exhibit improvements in bond strength and water resistance that cannot be accomplished through conventional adhesive formulating techniques.

“Taylor is recognized as the top adhesive producer for quality Premium Grade commercial carpet adhesives for high-performance work where installation success and performance warranty is critical,” he explained. “That covers just about every commercial flooring installation in today’s world. It is our long-term performance and customer service record that is well known in the industry.”

As to why Taylor is looked upon as being one of the best adhesive producers in the industry, noted Wright, “customer service, reliability, pricing, consistency, customer commitment— these are all important factors that any industry professional should consider.

Above all, however, environmental commitment should be the number one preference. Taylor was the first flooring adhesive manufacturer to realize that VOCs in indoor environments would be the big issue it has become.

“We launched our Envirotec line of adhesives based on solvent- free, low-VOC technology in 1990 when many in the industry thought it was a novelty line,” he concluded. “Envirotec became Taylor’s biggest seller within three years of introduction while competing with other manufacturer’s solvent-containing technology because they didn’t have the low-VOC technology.

“From those beginnings,” Wright concluded, “Taylor has continued to provide and perfect low VOC chemistry. All new product development calls for that criteria. The patented Metatec chemistry increases that commitment to the environment by utilizing more nonpetroleum, bio-resource renewable materials. Most products in our line carry GreenGuard and CRI Green Label Plus approvals.”

For more information, call 951.360.6677.

XL Brands

This year, XL Brands celebrated its 30th anniversary, and has introduced a line of “high-moisture, high-pH resistant adhesive systems,” said Joe Tuttolomondo, the company’s vice president/general manager. “The Dyna-Mix product line is the first of its kind and is available in both pail and spray application. With no costly sealers required, these products will significantly reduce the time and expense associated with the traditional sealer-type moisture reduction systems.

“XL Brands also manufactures the most widely accepted spray adhesive system in the industry,” he added. “This system is extremely economical for the end-user, and is also environmentally friendly both in packaging/recyclability and indoor air quality.” In addition, XL Brands continues to offer enhanced solutions to the changing and challenging backing systems in both the soft and hard surface arena.

Over the years, XL Brands has been committed not only to responsive customer service, but also to being the innovative leader in the industry, noted Wright. “Offering differentiating and novel adhesive systems that bring value to every facet of the mill— manufacturing, distribution, dealer and installation community—is the true factor separating XL Brands from the rest. Our company is completely focused on innovation and technology to bring these new and novel products to the flooring industry.

“Over the past several years,” he concluded, “we have significantly increased the size of our lab staff, lab equipment and the lab facility itself to help us to stay on the cutting edge of technology going forward. We are always conscious as to market needs and tailor our technologies to those requests. Our continued mission is true emphasis on product quality, research and development, environmental sustainability, and customer solutions.

For more information, call 800.367.4583.