A Guide to Choosing Various Adhesives for Home Decoration

Adhesives are substances that bond surfaces together and play an irreplaceable role in home renovation. However, adhesives are also one of the major sources of indoor air pollution in home decoration. Many adhesives contain trace amounts of toxic substances such as formaldehyde and benzene, and low-quality adhesives often have even higher concentrations of these harmful chemicals. Therefore, it is advisable for homeowners not to ignore adhesives during renovation and simply leave their selection up to the renovation team. It’s best to gain some knowledge about commonly used adhesives in home decoration, which will help ensure that your home renovation is environmentally friendly and healthy.

 

I. Things to Know When Selecting and Using Home Decoration Silicone Sealant

  When it comes to the most commonly used adhesive in home decoration, glass sealant is undoubtedly the top choice. Glass sealant plays a crucial role throughout the entire renovation process, with its greatest demand occurring during the installation phase. While other adhesives are typically selected by the construction team, glass sealant is usually purchased directly by homeowners. As a result, homeowners can more easily assess its quality. Therefore, it’s essential that homeowners have a good understanding of how to select and use glass sealant properly.

 

  1. Things to Know About Silicone Sealant Classification

  Glass sealant is a commonly used household adhesive—a material designed to bond and seal various types of glass and other substrates. Its main components include sodium silicate, acetic acid, and organic silicone. There are many different types of glass sealants available on the market, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between them. So, let’s start by learning about glass sealants and their classifications.

  Glass sealants can be categorized into two types based on their product packaging: single-component and two-component. Single-component glass sealants cure solely by reacting with moisture in the air upon contact, whereas two-component sealants require mixing the two components together to initiate curing. In home decoration, single-component glass sealants are more commonly used. Additionally, glass sealants can also be classified according to their chemical properties into acidic and neutral types. Acidic sealants have stronger adhesion but are also more corrosive. Therefore, in home decoration, neutral glass sealants—characterized by weaker corrosivity and moderate adhesion—are more frequently employed.

 

  2. Things to Know When Choosing Silicone Sealant

  In home renovation, silicone sealant primarily serves to bond and seal. However, if you use low-quality silicone sealant, its lifespan will certainly be short, and it will contain more toxic substances. Over time, it’s prone to cracking and mold growth. Therefore, homeowners should be careful when selecting silicone sealant and avoid purchasing low-priced products. It’s best to opt for branded silicone sealant products whenever possible.

  In addition, when making your purchase, be sure to carefully check whether the packaging of the silicone sealant product clearly displays the product name, manufacturer’s name, specifications, place of origin, color, and date of manufacture; whether it includes a certificate of conformity, a warranty certificate, and a product inspection report; whether the instructions on the tube—covering intended uses, application methods, and precautions—are clear and complete; and whether the net content is accurate. The manufacturer is required to indicate the specification model and net content on the packaging bottle.

 

  3. Notes on Using Glass Sealant

  Most silicone sealants come with packaging that specifies the materials they are suitable for bonding. Some even indicate the exact bonding strengths when used to bond different materials. When purchasing silicone sealant, consumers would do well to carefully read the instructions for use. There are also several things to keep in mind when using silicone sealant; otherwise, the sealant’s service life could be affected.

  Applying silicone sealant also involves specific methods and steps. When applying the sealant, first remove any contaminants such as moisture, grease, and dust from the joint surface to ensure it is thoroughly clean and dry. Next, cut open the nozzle of the sealant tube, attach a pointed applicator tip, and then adjust the sealant according to the size of the gap to be filled. Cut at a 45° angle. Next, attach the caulking gun and, maintaining the 45° angle, apply the sealant along the joint, ensuring that the sealant makes close contact with the substrate surface. If the joint width exceeds 15 millimeters, apply the sealant repeatedly in multiple passes.

 

II. Classification and Selection of Woodworking Adhesives for Home Decoration

  Nowadays, in home decoration projects, carpentry work often relies on joining sheet materials rather than solid wood blocks. To connect these sheet materials, large amounts of adhesives are frequently required. It’s recommended that homeowners whose homes involve extensive carpentry work take the time to thoroughly understand the types of adhesives being used before construction begins, so as to avoid using low-quality adhesives that could lead to serious indoor air pollution. Let’s take a look at some of the adhesives commonly used during carpentry work.

 

  White latex

1. Introduction to White Latex Glue

One type of glue commonly used in woodworking is white latex glue. It’s a milky-white, thick liquid produced by synthesizing vinyl acetate from acetic acid and ethylene, followed by emulsion polymerization. White latex glue cures at room temperature, sets relatively quickly, and exhibits high bonding strength. The adhesive layer formed by this glue boasts excellent toughness and durability and is resistant to aging. White latex glue is primarily suitable for bonding wooden furring strips and wooden substrate boards, as well as finished wood surface panels. In addition, it’s also ideal for adhering wall wallpapers and applying base coats to walls, enhancing their adhesive strength.

 

2. Selecting White Latex Glue

Since white glue is a petroleum-derived product, its cost fluctuates with oil prices. To cut costs, counterfeiters often mix substances like starch into genuine products, and there are many such fake white glue products on the market. Therefore, we recommend that homeowners be sure to purchase products from well-known brands and carefully check for proper documentation when making their selection. In addition, when buying white glue, pay close attention to its quality: you can smell it to see if it has a pungent odor; also, check whether the glue body is uniform, free of layering or sedimentation; and whether the cured glue film is transparent.

 

3. Notes on Using White Glue

When using white latex glue, be sure to maintain the application temperature between 7°C and 95°C. Depending on the intended use, white latex glue can be diluted with water; however, before diluting, first heat the glue to above 30°C and then gradually add it to water heated to over 30°C, stirring thoroughly until well mixed. Do not dilute with cold water below 10°C. In general, white latex glue is safe, but it must not be swallowed or allowed to come into contact with the eyes. If it accidentally gets into your mouth or eyes, immediately rinse thoroughly with plenty of clean water.

 

All-purpose glue

All-purpose glue, also known as 309 glue, is often used in woodworking projects. The solvent in all-purpose glue typically consists of xylene (nitro thinner), which contains large amounts of toxic substances such as benzene. Therefore, in woodworking operations, it’s best to avoid using all-purpose glue whenever possible.

All-purpose glue is primarily used for bonding finished wood veneer panels. It features high bonding strength, long service life, and is resistant to delamination. When using all-purpose glue, both surfaces to be joined must be coated with glue. After allowing the glued surfaces to sit for ten to twenty minutes—until they no longer feel sticky to the touch—join them together.

 

Floor adhesive

When laying mosaic tiles, cork flooring, or composite flooring, you can use the direct-glue installation method to bond the floor directly onto the cement floor. The adhesive used in this process is referred to as flooring adhesive. Using flooring adhesive for installation is highly convenient and quick. However, compared to the joist installation method or the floating installation method, this approach involves the use of adhesives, which results in relatively higher levels of pollution. Therefore, it’s recommended that when purchasing flooring, you opt for flooring that doesn’t require glue, thereby minimizing your reliance on adhesive-based installation methods whenever possible.

Floor adhesive is primarily suitable for wooden floorboards. It has a relatively short curing time—typically setting within 1 to 3 hours. It boasts high bonding strength and a long service life. When purchasing, be sure to check the product’s environmental friendliness to avoid selecting inferior items. When using floor adhesive, make sure the floor surface is thoroughly dry, clean, and smooth.

 

III. Selecting Wallpaper Adhesive

Wallpaper, with its rich textures and patterns, is beloved by many households and has become one of the key wall finishing materials. To apply wallpaper to walls, adhesive is essential. Today, let’s join us as we explore the various types of adhesives available for wallpaper installation and learn how to choose the most environmentally friendly wallpaper adhesive.

 

1. Introduction to Wall Base Adhesive

Before wallpapering, the wall surface’s base layer needs to be treated with putty and other preparatory steps. During the application of wall putty in renovation projects, in addition to adding white latex glue, it is also essential to incorporate other adhesives with longer fibers to enhance its strength. Typically, two types are commonly used: 107 glue and cooked glue powder.

 

Wall base adhesive

107 Adhesive: Slow to set, not used alone, low bonding strength, exhibits shrinkage; fibers are relatively long; flame-retardant; soluble in water.

 

PVC powder: slow to set, not used alone; low bonding strength, with shrinkage; longer fiber than 107 glue; flame-retardant; soluble in water.

Due to its severely excessive formaldehyde content, 107 glue was listed by the Ministry of Construction in July 2001 as a building material product to be phased out and prohibited from use. However, it is still being sold on the market. In home decoration, it’s best to avoid using 107 glue altogether and instead opt for pre-mixed adhesive powder.

 

2. The three common types of wallpaper adhesive

Starch glue

Starch glue is typically a two-component product. The package includes a box of starch and a separate adhesive paste. To use it, first pour the starch powder into a container filled with water—ideally leaving some water aside—and gradually add water while stirring until you achieve a consistency similar to rice paste. Then, add the adhesive paste and mix thoroughly to enhance the glue’s viscosity.

The adhesive powder component of starch-based adhesives is generally relatively environmentally friendly, but it’s much more difficult to ensure the environmental friendliness of the adhesive paste itself. Therefore, when purchasing starch-based adhesives, you should pay close attention to the environmental performance of the adhesive paste and check whether the paste has a product testing certificate or other relevant documentation.

 

Glutinous Rice Glue

Glutinous rice glue is a high-performance adhesive specifically designed for wallpaper applications. It first gained popularity in Japan and subsequently spread to other regions, which is why it’s also known in the industry as “Japanese glue.” Glutinous rice glue is made from pure, natural edible starch and high-performance plant-based materials, using cutting-edge formulations and technologies pioneered by Japan’s adhesive industry. As a convenient, all-natural plant-based adhesive, glutinous rice glue requires only the addition of water and thorough mixing before use—no separate addition of thickening agents or adhesives is necessary.

When purchasing imported glutinous rice glue, be cautious, as the product packaging instructions and other documentation are often in Japanese. To avoid being deceived and buying counterfeit products, it’s best to ask to see the product’s customs declaration, certificate of origin, Chinese labeling, and environmental testing report.

 

Bottled adhesive

Bulk adhesives are typically packaged in plastic drums, with the adhesive itself directly contained within the drum, allowing the state of the adhesive to be readily observed. Most of these adhesives are imported from Europe and the U.S. Bulk adhesives offer significant advantages in terms of environmental performance and bonding strength; however, they also tend to be relatively more expensive. When purchasing these imported adhesives, it’s equally important to carefully review relevant documents such as the product’s import customs declaration, certificate of origin, and environmental testing report.

 

IV. Other Types of Adhesives You Should Know

The preceding section mainly discussed three common types of adhesives used in installation: glass sealant, woodworking glue, and wallpaper adhesive. However, in home decoration projects, there are many other applications that require various other types of adhesives—so numerous that it’s impractical to go into detailed descriptions of each one. Nevertheless, let’s take a brief look at some of the other adhesives commonly used in home decoration projects.

 

1. Stone adhesive

Stone adhesive is suitable for bonding marble and granite slabs to wall surfaces. Using stone adhesive to install natural stone on walls is simple and convenient, with easy application that eliminates the complicated procedures involved in dry-hanging stone installations.

The stone adhesives available on the market include marble adhesive. AB glue, silicone sealant, and others. Among these, marble adhesive is relatively commonly used. It is a paste-like, viscous adhesive formulated based on epoxy resin and various other synthetic polymer materials. It is suitable for bonding marble, granite, mosaics, ceramic tiles, and other materials to cement-based substrates.

 

2. Tile adhesive

Tile adhesive, also known as ceramic tile bonding agent, is primarily used for adhering tiles, facing bricks, floor tiles, and other similar materials. Its key features include high bonding strength, excellent resistance to water, freeze-thaw cycles, and aging, as well as ease of application. In home decoration, simple cement mortar is typically used instead of tile adhesive—mainly because tile adhesive has relatively poorer environmental performance.

 

3. Specialized PVC adhesive

Suitable for bonding PVC pipes and fittings. Specifically designed for PVC, it cures quickly; boasts high adhesion and long service life; exhibits slight expansion but lacks elasticity; offers excellent waterproof performance; is flammable and slightly toxic.

 

4. Electrical-specific adhesive

Suitable for bonding plastic conduit and fittings, as well as for insulating and sealing applications. Specifically designed for electrical work, it features rapid curing, high adhesive strength, long service life, no expansion, no elasticity, excellent insulating and sealing performance, and flame retardancy.