There are thousands and thousands of highly impressive adhesives on the market today, and it can be tough to find the right one for your specific job. Today, we want to spotlight some of the most difficult substrates to adhere securely: natural stone. Natural and engineered stone can be finicky, as they are simultaneously tough and fragile substrates. They require a strong, yet gentle adhesive to hold tight to the stone without harming its delicate structure.

Natural stone is difficult to bond particularly because it is porous. Porous is absorbent and any adhesive needs to withstand the nature of the stone.  The mineral in stone is silica dioxide which makes the tough challenge. The best type of adhesive is epoxy, a complex blend of resins and hardeners.  Epoxy is a structural glue when cured; this adhesive is as strong as the stone itself.  What makes this two-component epoxy adhesive work is that it must be mixed in exact ratios.

Permabond ET510

Permabond is a widely versatile epoxy adhesive that is effective for many applications including natural and engineered stone. Epoxies are known for their versatility, so it’s no surprise that an epoxy would be perfect for a surface as delicate as stone.

Permabond ET510 is a two-part mixable epoxy adhesive with good chemical and environmental resistance. This makes it an ideal candidate for natural stone tile on patio floors as well as kitchen countertop adhesion.

Chem-Set Stone Tac

One of the biggest headaches in working with natural stone is chip and crack repair. Many accelerators cause “green bloom”, which is a discoloration of the stone around the chipped or cracked area. However, Chem-Set’s new Stone Tac accelerator is specially formulated to evaporate faster and contains ingredients that are safer for use on stone, both of which drastically reduces the risk of discoloration around the area.

Chem-Set 633LV Rodding Epoxy

Sometimes, natural or engineered stone can use a little backbone reinforcement. That’s where the Chem-Set 633LV Rodding Epoxy comes into play! This low-viscosity epoxy is designed to embed fiberglass or steel rods into countertops, providing extra strength and durability for prolonged use.

Strengthening natural stone with composite rods is a great way to reduce or eliminate breakage, which in turn reduces labor and waste costs.

Natural and engineered stone is a tough surface to adhere properly. Fortunately, the experts at Chemical Concepts are here to help you! Give us a call, toll-free, at 1-800-220-1966 or send us an email at [email protected]. We look forward to working with you!