Sika SikaCeram-288 Flex S1
A deformable, non-slip C2TE S1 cementitious adhesive built for large-format porcelain, vitrified and natural stone on facades, wet areas, heated floors and heavy-traffic surfaces.
What is it?
A polymer-modified, one-component cementitious tile adhesive classified C2TE S1 to EN 12004-2 and Type-4 ‘T’ S1 to IS 15477-2019 — a high-adhesion, deformable, reduced-slip mortar with extended open time.
Where is it used?
Interior and exterior walls and floors: facades, balconies, terraces, bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, heated floors and industrial or heavily trafficked areas.
Why use it?
Its S1 deformability absorbs substrate movement and thermal cycling, so large porcelain and stone stay bonded where a rigid C1 adhesive would debond or crack.
How is it applied?
Mix with clean water using a slow-speed paddle, comb onto the substrate with a notched trowel to a 3-5 mm bed, back-butter large tiles for 100% contact, and bed within the open time.
About Sika SikaCeram-288 Flex S1
SikaCeram-288 Flex S1 is Sika’s high-performance flexible tile adhesive for demanding Indian projects where standard C1 mortars fall short. It is a factory-blended powder of Portland cement, graded aggregates, water-retention additives and a re-dispersible polymer that, once gauged with water, sets to a deformable bond capable of carrying ceramic, vitrified, glazed, porcelain, stoneware, terrazzo, marble and natural stone. The formulation is deliberately versatile: it works indoors and outdoors, on walls and floors, in wet and dry service, and across the difficult substrates that trip up cheaper adhesives — cementitious screed, concrete, plaster, existing ceramic tiles and, with the correct primer, calcium sulphate screeds and gypsum fibre boards.
For engineers and applicators, the practical value is deformability plus grip. The S1 class means the cured adhesive can flex up to roughly 3 mm under load without releasing the tile, which matters on facades that heat and cool, on heated floors that expand and contract, and under the large 600 x 600 mm and larger formats now standard on Indian sites. Paired with strong tensile adhesion, reduced vertical slip that holds heavy wall tiles in place without sagging, and an open time beyond 30 minutes, it gives site teams a workable window and a dependable bond. Space Arc Engineering supplies it as an authorised Sika channel partner across Delhi NCR and Pan-India, with technical support on substrate assessment, trowel selection and system build-up.
The technical insight
The performance comes from the re-dispersible polymer dispersed through the cement matrix. As the mortar cures, the polymer forms flexible films that bridge the cement hydrates, converting a brittle cementitious bond into one that can strain and recover — this is what earns the S1 transverse-deformation rating (a measured 3.02-3.05 mm against the >=2.5 mm and <5 mm requirement). That elasticity is the mechanism that keeps large, low-porosity porcelain and stone bonded through the thermal and structural movement a rigid adhesive cannot absorb. The same polymer drives adhesion into dense, non-absorbent tile backs, delivering tensile bond strengths of >=1.5 N/mm2 dry and >=1 N/mm2 after water immersion — comfortably above the 1 N/mm2 C2 threshold. Water-retention additives stop an absorbent or hot substrate from stealing the mix water too fast, preserving cement hydration for full strength gain and extending the open time past 30 minutes so tiles still key in properly. The result is a mortar engineered for adhesion (the ‘2’), thixotropy against slip (the ‘T’), a long working window (the ‘E’) and controlled flexibility (S1).
Where it is used
- Fixing large-format porcelain, vitrified and ceramic tiles on interior and exterior floors and walls
- External facade, balcony and terrace tiling exposed to thermal cycling and weathering
- Bonding non-resin natural stone, marble, terrazzo and stoneware on absorbent substrates
- Tiling over water and electric underfloor heating systems
- Wet areas — bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, fountains and leisure-centre surrounds
- Tile-over-tile renovation of existing sound interior ceramic without full removal
- Heavily trafficked and industrial floors, storage areas and commercial environments
- Fixing over calcium sulphate screeds and gypsum fibre boards after correct priming
Key advantages
- S1 deformability (measured ~3.0 mm) absorbs substrate movement, thermal cycling and heated-floor expansion
- High tensile adhesion — >=1.5 N/mm2 dry and >=1 N/mm2 after water immersion, well above the C2 minimum
- Reduced vertical slip (‘T’) holds heavy wall tiles without sagging during setting
- Extended open time beyond 30 minutes gives a realistic window on hot Indian sites
- Single-component powder — just add clean water, no separate liquid polymer to dose
- Bonds difficult non-absorbent backs including full-body porcelain and dense stone
- Suitable indoors and outdoors, wet and dry, on walls and floors from one product
- Available in grey and white in 20 kg, 25 kg and 40 kg bags to suit joint and tile colour
Limitations & considerations
- Rated for tiles up to ~32 sq ft per unit on cementitious floors; very large slabs or the most demanding movement may need an S2-class adhesive
- Not for direct application to metal, wood, or old ceramic tiles in exterior conditions
- Permanently submerged pool interiors and some heavy chemical exposures may call for an S2 or epoxy-based system
- Calcium sulphate, gypsum and anhydrite substrates require priming and must be below 0.5% moisture before tiling
- Minimum 3 mm bed and 100% back coverage are mandatory — thin or partial contact undermines the rated bond
- Application and substrate temperatures must stay between +5 C and +35 C; protect fresh work from rain and freezing
Selection & best practice
Confirm the substrate is cured (cementitious backgrounds 2-6 weeks old), structurally sound, clean and free of laitance, dust, oil or curing compounds; lightly roughen smooth surfaces and pre-dampen absorbent or hot substrates without leaving standing water. Mix with clean cold water at the specified ratio (about 0.27-0.29 by weight for grey, 0.30-0.32 for white) using a low-speed paddle under 500 rpm, let the mix mature for around 5 minutes, then re-stir briefly. Apply with the flat side of the trowel first, comb to a uniform bed with a square-notched trowel sized to the tile, and always back-butter tiles over 900 cm2 to guarantee 100% contact. Bed each tile firmly with a rubber mallet within the open time, and if a skin forms, scrape off and re-lay fresh adhesive rather than tiling over it. Allow roughly 24-36 hours before foot traffic and grouting on floors, and about 21 days before water immersion. Run a small trial on unfamiliar or non-absorbent backgrounds and always test-fit natural stone first.
Specifications
| Classification | C2TE S1 (EN 12004-2:2017); Type-4 ‘T’ S1 (IS 15477-2019) |
| Chemical base | Portland cement, selected aggregates, water-retention additives, re-dispersible polymer |
| Colour / packaging | Grey or white powder; 20 kg, 25 kg and 40 kg bags |
| Water : powder ratio | 0.27-0.29 by weight (grey); 0.30-0.32 by weight (white) |
| Consumption | 2.25-2.75 kg/m2 (3 mm bed) up to 3.50-4.00 kg/m2 (5 mm bed) dry powder |
| Tensile adhesion strength | >=1.5 N/mm2 dry; >=1 N/mm2 after water immersion; >=1.2 N/mm2 after heat ageing |
| Transverse deformation | 3.02-3.05 mm (S1: >=2.5 and <5 mm) |
| Open time / pot life | Open time >30 min; pot life >=180 min (100 g, +27 C) |
| Set-to-traffic / shelf life | Grout floors 24-36 h, walls 4-6 h; 12 months shelf life at +5 C to +35 C |
Industry use cases
High-rise facades
S1 flex and reduced slip keep large porcelain cladding bonded on balconies and elevations through daily thermal movement and monsoon exposure.
Hospitality and wet areas
Bathrooms, spas, fountains and pool surrounds get a water-resistant, high-adhesion bed under vitrified and stone finishes; permanently submerged interiors are specified separately.
Commercial and industrial floors
Heavily trafficked lobbies, showrooms, warehouses and storage areas take large-format tiles that must resist point loads and constant footfall.
Underfloor heating
Deformability accommodates the expansion and contraction cycles of water and electric heated floors without stressing the tile-adhesive interface.
Renovation and retrofit
Sound existing interior ceramic can be tiled over directly, cutting demolition, dust and downtime on occupied commercial fit-outs.
Frequently asked questions
What does C2TE S1 actually mean for my project?
Can I use it for large-format 600×600 mm and porcelain tiles?
How much adhesive will I need per square metre?
Is it suitable for swimming pools and permanently wet areas?
Can I tile over my existing tiles or gypsum surfaces?
What is the open time and how long before I can grout?
How we position Sika SikaCeram-288 Flex S1
SikaCeram-288 Flex S1 sits at the flexible, high-performance tier of Sika’s tile-fixing range — a step above standard C1 adhesives for anyone tiling large formats, facades, heated floors or wet areas. Where the very largest slabs or the most demanding movement are involved, an S2-class adhesive is the correct upgrade, and permanently submerged or chemically aggressive settings point toward an epoxy system. Complete the specification within the Sika family: prime calcium sulphate and gypsum backgrounds with SikaCeram-935 Floor Leveler Primer, re-profile uneven substrates with the SikaCeram Floor Leveler or Sika MonoTop range, seal substrate cracks with Sikadur epoxy resins, and finish joints with a matched Sika grout, adding a Sika cement- or acrylic-based waterproofing layer beneath tiles in wet zones. Within Space Arc’s wider portfolio, buyers who prefer the Fosroc system will find a directly comparable S1-class flexible adhesive in Fosroc’s Nitotile range, and Dr. Fixit and MYK Laticrete offer further tile-fixing options — our technical team can cross-match the right adhesive class to your tile size, substrate and exposure.
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Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.