TecTips #598
Hot Weather Advisory From Laticrete International
During the hot summer months all mortars and grouts:
Cure faster.
Have shorter pot life.
Have less open time.
As a rule of thumb, for every 18°F (10°C) temperature increase, all cementitious and epoxy mortars and grouts:
Will cure twice as fast.
When low humidity accompanies hot weather cement based mortars and grouts:
Dry out faster.
Have even shorter open time.
Can become weak and powdery.
Epoxy systems are not affected by humidity.
Cement-based Mortars:
Use a latex admix.
Latex forms a film, slowing down water evaporation and maximizing cure.
Use a "long open time" thinset such as LATICRETE Floor N' Wall Thinset with LATICRETE 3701.
Use LATICRETE Floor N' Wall Thinset with LATICRETE 4237 for extremely hot, dry conditions.
Pre-wet slab with clean, cool water.
Cement-Based Grouts:
Use LATICRETE 1776 Grout Admix Plus.
For extreme conditions, over 85°F (30°C)--
Pre-wet tile and joints with water (remove any standing water).
Use LATICRETE 3701 as grout admix.
Caution--LATICRETE 3701 may make grout sticky.
Clean the grout as soon as initial set occurs.
Damp cure the grout installation.
Epoxies:
Do not use epoxies in temperature over 90°F (32°C).
Pour the epoxy out of the bucket and spread immediately.
Use more Part C Filler Powder.
Use Part D Non-Sag Additive.
WAIVER OF GUARANTEE: Because site conditions, material and other circumstances vary, ConestogaTile cannot guarantee satisfactory results of the above recommendations. TecTips represents what ConestogaTile considers the best recommendations at the time of publication.
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