Description

Kerakoll H40 Icon: Extra-Flexible Gel Adhesive for Demanding Substrates

Tile installations across the UAE and wider GCC region can involve substrates that move, vibrate, or expand under heat. Underfloor heating systems, OSB boards, and plywood panels can place additional stress on the adhesive layer. Kerakoll H40 Icon is designed for demanding tile installation systems where flexibility and reliable bonding are important.

The H40 Icon tile adhesive is a flexible, structural gel adhesive with both thixotropic and fluid properties. It is classified C2 TE under EN 12004, which means it meets enhanced adhesion and extended open-time requirements. This classification matters on large worksites in the Gulf where tiles may sit on a combed bed for several minutes before they are pressed and adjusted. Its extended open time gives installers additional working time when positioning tiles and natural stone. The applicable open time should be confirmed from the current technical documentation and site conditions.

 

What Makes H40 Icon Suitable for GCC Projects

The UAE climate can expose tile installation systems to high temperatures and significant temperature changes, particularly on exposed terraces and external surfaces. A cementitious adhesive that is insufficiently flexible will lose bond strength as the substrate and tile layers expand and contract at different rates.

Kerakoll H40 Icon provides the deformability required for suitable applications where temperature-related movement needs to be accommodated. Its thixotropic gel consistency helps maintain its shape during application at different layer thicknesses. For wall tiling in hotel bathrooms, residential towers, or commercial interiors across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, and Muscat, this thixotropic behaviour can help maintain tile position and alignment during installation.

H40 Icon can be used for suitable renovation and tile-on-tile applications where the existing surface meets the manufacturer’s requirements. The existing installation should be sound, stable, clean, and properly prepared before application.

 

Compatible Substrates and Tile Types

This adhesive performs reliably across the substrates most commonly found in UAE construction:

• Cement-based and anhydrite screeds.
• Compatible waterproofing systems, subject to the membrane manufacturer’s requirements.
• Underfloor heating systems, both hydronic and electric.
• Concrete, aerated concrete, and blockwork.
• Plasterboard, fibre cement boards, and construction boards.
• OSB and plywood panels (with appropriate primer).
• Existing ceramic and porcelain tiles.

In terms of tile types, H40 Icon is designed for:

• Porcelain stoneware, including large-format tiles and slabs.
• Ceramic tiles and mosaics.
• Natural stone, including marble, granite, and limestone.

This range covers the full material scope of most fit-out specifications across the GCC. Its compatibility with porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone makes H40 Icon a versatile option for projects involving different tile and stone materials, subject to the specific installation requirements.

 

Application Areas

The H40 Icon tile adhesive is appropriate for internal and external use. Typical applications in the region include:

• Bathroom and wet room floors and walls.
• Balconies and terraces with direct sun exposure.
• External tile applications.
• Swimming pools and suitable waterproofing systems.
• Wet-area applications
• Commercial floor and wall applications.
• Residential renovation and overlay projects.

For projects where a waterproofing membrane is part of the system, H40 Icon should be used only with compatible waterproofing systems and according to the current Kerakoll technical documentation. The compatibility of the specific membrane should be confirmed before specification. Contractors and procurement teams sourcing a complete tile installation system from a single brand can specify Kerakoll H40 Icon alongside the waterproofing and grouting products already available through CretePro Trading. For details on Kerakoll Nanoflex and Kerakoll Green Pro, see the waterproofing page on this site.

 

Packaging and Coverage

Kerakoll H40 Icon is supplied in 20 kg bags, available in grey and white. Coverage is approximately 1.25 kg per m² per mm of adhesive thickness applied. Actual coverage varies according to adhesive-bed thickness, substrate flatness, tile format, and application method. Project coverage should be calculated using the manufacturer’s stated consumption rate.

For Kerakoll H40 Icon price information, project quantities, and lead times across the UAE and wider GCC region, contact the CretePro Trading team directly. Pricing is available on request and depends on project volume and delivery location across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

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