FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesAt the Hardware StoreChe adesivo uso per attaccare le piastrelle?
B1

Che adesivo uso per attaccare le piastrelle?

Which adhesive do I use for laying tiles?

Pronunciation

pyas-TREL-le — stress the second syllable; double 'l' and double 'r' (in adesivo 'ad-e-SI-vo') both held.

When to use it

Use this when planning a tiling project — kitchen backsplash, bathroom walls, or floor. The adhesive choice depends on the substrate, the tile size and weight, and whether the surface will be wet.

What it means

Colla per piastrelle (tile adhesive, colloquially called 'adesivo') comes in different types: normale (standard, for most interior tiles), migliorata (improved — C2, for large-format tiles), and flessibile (flexible — for floors and areas subject to movement or vibration). For wet areas, use a waterproof adhesive. Two-component epoxy adhesive is used for acid-resistant applications.

Variations

Colla flessibile per pavimento riscaldato.

Flexible adhesive for underfloor heating.

Flexible adhesive is essential over underfloor heating systems to accommodate thermal expansion.

Quanta colla mi serve per 5 metri quadri?

How much adhesive do I need for 5 square metres?

Coverage depends on tile size and adhesive type; typically 3-5 kg/m² for standard tiles.

Uso il notch da 6 o da 10 per le piastrelle da 60x60?

Do I use a 6mm or 10mm notch trowel for 60x60 tiles?

Notch (dente) size depends on tile format; larger tiles need larger notch trowels.

Mini Dialogue

— Devo mettere piastrelle 60x60 in cucina. Che colla uso? — Per le piastrelle grandi serve colla C2 migliorata o flessibile. Che pavimento c'è sotto? — Calcestruzzo, bello piano. — Allora C2 flessibile. La spargo anche sul retro della piastrella — doppia incollatura.

— I need to lay 60x60 tiles in the kitchen. Which adhesive do I use? — For large tiles you need improved C2 or flexible adhesive. What's under the floor? — Concrete, nice and flat. — Then C2 flexible. Spread it on the back of the tile too — double bonding.

Cultural Note

Italy is one of the world's largest tile producers — Emilia-Romagna, particularly the area around Sassuolo ('the tiling capital of the world'), produces about 40% of Europe's ceramic tiles. As a result, Italians have highly developed expertise in tile installation, and Italian ferramenta stock products and knowledge that reflect this mastery.