MAPEI Keraflex SG Large-and-Heavy-Tile Mortar with Polymer 44 lb. - White

Keraflex SG is a standard-grade, versatile, large-and-heavy-tile mortar and thin-set mortar for tile and stone installations on floors, walls and countertops. It is formulated as nonsag for walls and nonslump for floors. Keraflex SG is a polymer-modified mortar formulated with Easy Glide Technology for ease of application and offers good adhesion to substrates and tile. It can also be used as a mortar over uncoupling, crack-isolation, sound-reduction and waterproofing membranes.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS
▪ High-Transfer Technology for superior mortar-wetting properties
▪ Extra smooth, creamy consistency for ease of application
▪ Easy mixing, handling and troweling properties
▪ Ideal for edge-leveling clip applications
▪ Nonsag formula for large-format and heavy tile/stone in wall applications
▪ Nonslump formula for large-format and heavy tile/stone in floor applications
▪ For bond coats up to 1/2 in. (12 mm) in embedded thickness
▪ Polymer-enriched for good performance
▪ For use over plywood and a variety of membranes

WHERE TO USE
▪ Most interior/exterior residential installations on floors, walls and countertops in dry and wet areas
▪ Most interior/exterior commercial installations on oors and countertops
▪ Most interior commercial installations on walls
▪ For use in tub surrounds and showers
▪ For use over exterior-grade plywood
▪ Installation of ceramic and porcelain tile, manufactured stone, quarry tile, pavers and Saltillo tile, as well as most types of marble, granite and natural stone

LIMITATIONS
▪ Install only at temperatures between 40°F and 95°F (4°C and 35°C).
▪ Do not use for moisture-sensitive stone (green marble; some limestone and granite), agglomerate tiles, or resin-backed tiles. Instead, use suitable epoxy or urethane adhesives. 
▪ Do not use over dimensionally unstable substrates such as hardwood flooring, oriented strand board (OSB), substrates containing asbestos, or metal.
▪ To use directly over gypsum-based patching or leveling substrates, apply a suitable sealer/primer before use.
▪ For light-colored and translucent natural stone, a white mortar is recommended.
▪ Do not use for transparent or translucent glass tile.
▪ Installations of tile over nonporous surfaces, such as waterproofing membranes and existing tile, may require extended setting/curing times.
▪ Use with dimensionally weak stone (limestone and travertine) is limited to thin-set applications only.
▪ Do not use for installations subject to water immersion, such as pools and spas.
▪ Do not use for exterior commercial building facades, such as shopping malls, office buildings and high-rise residential buildings.
▪ Large-and-heavy-tile mortars are not designed to correct uneven floors. Substrates must be at and level before the installation of large-format tile.
▪ Use a MAPEI mortar with a liquid latex additive for areas subject to severe freeze/thaw conditions, for the best performance.

SUITABLE SUBSTRATES
▪ Concrete (cured at least 28 days)
▪ Masonry cement block, brick, cement mortar beds, render coats and leveling coats
▪ Cement backer units (CBUs) – see the manufacturer’s installation guidelines
▪ Gypsum wallboard and plaster – interior walls in dry areas only (priming may be required)
▪ Plywood underlayments must be a Group 1 exterior-grade plywood CC-plugged or better, conforming to APA classification and U.S. Product Standard PS 1-95 or a “SELECT” or (SEL-TF) CANPLY classified exterior-grade plywood conforming to CSA-0121 standard for Douglas r for direct-bond applications (interior, residential and light commercial floors and countertops in dry conditions only).
▪ MAPEI waterproofing, crack-isolation, sound-reduction, heat and uncoupling membranes over recommended substrates

SURFACE PREPARATION
▪ All substrates should be structurally sound, stable, dry, clean and free of any substance or condition that may reduce or prevent proper adhesion.

MIXING
Before product use, take appropriate safety precautions.
1. Pour clean, potable water into a clean mixing container.
2. For nonsag/nonslump applications: Use about 5.3 to 5.9 U.S. qts. (5.02 to 5.58 L) of water.
For MAPEI membranes: Use about 5.9 to 6.4 U.S. qts. (5.58 to 6.06 L) of water.
3. Gradually add 44 lbs. (20 kg) of powder while slowly mixing.
4.Use a low-speed mixing drill (at about 300 rpm), with an angled cross-blade mixer or spiral mixer. Mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes a smooth, homogenous, lump-free paste. Avoid prolonged mixing.
5. Let the mixture stand (“slake”) for 5 minutes.
6. Remix.
7. If the mixture becomes heavy or stiff, remix without adding more liquid.

PRODUCT APPLICATION
Read all installation instructions thoroughly before installation.
1. Choose a notched trowel (see the “Approximate Coverage” chart below) with sufficient depth to achieve more than 80% mortar contact to both the tile and substrate for all interior applications, and more than 95% for exterior installations and wet applications. It may be necessary to back-butter the tile in order to meet
these requirements.
2. With pressure, apply a coat of mortar by using the trowel’s at side to key the mortar into the substrate.
3. Apply additional mortar, combing it in a single direction parallel to the tile’s shortest dimension with the trowel’s notched side.
4. Spread only as much mortar as can be tiled before the product skins over. Open time can vary with jobsite conditions.
5. Place tiles firmly into the wet mortar. Push the tiles back and forth in a direction perpendicular to trowel lines, to collapse the mortar ridges and to help achieve maximum coverage. Ensure proper contact between the mortar, tile and substrate by periodically lifting a few tiles to check for acceptable coverage.
6. Remove excess mortar from the joint areas so that at least 2/3 of the tile depth is available for grouting.

EXPANSION AND CONTROL JOINTS
▪ Provide for expansion and control joints as specified per TCNA Method EJ171, or TTMAC Specification Guide 09 30 00, Detail 301MJ. Do not cover any expansion joints with mortar.
▪ When necessary, cut tiles along both edges of the expansion joints. Do not allow tile and mortar to overlap the joints.
▪ Protect tilework with metal strips (edge metal) along both edges of structural building expansion joints.
▪ Install the specified compressible backer rod and sealant into all expansion and control joints.

CLEANUP
▪ Use water only to clean tools and tile while the mortar is fresh.

PROTECTION
▪ Do not disturb the installation, allow light traffic or grout any tiles for at least 24 to 48 hours.
▪ Protect the installation from general traffic for at least 72 hours and from heavy traffic for at least 7 days.
▪ Protect the installation from rain for 72 hours and from freezing for 21 days