TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar (487)

Identification & Functionality

Product Type

Mortar

Technologies

Ready-to-Use Products

Product Families

Ready-to-Use Products — Construction Materials

Mortar & Grouts

Features & Benefits

Ready-to-Use Product Features

Excellent Performance,

Good Sagging Resistance,

High Coverage,

Long Open Time,

Long Potlife

Key Attributes

• Ideal for all Gaged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs and LHT Installations
• Approved for indoor glass applications with intermittent water exposure (see page 2)
• Approved for setting and tiling under and over uncoupling membranes
• Extended open time and pot life
• Grout in as little as 6 hours
• Superior transfer - full coverage with minimum effort
• Non-sag for wall applications and non-slump for floor applications
• Mixes to an extremely smooth, creamy consistency providing superior handling
• Exceeds ANSI A118.4TE and A118.11 specifications
• Interior/exterior use

Applications & Uses

Markets

Building & Construction

Applications

Building & Construction — Flooring & Surfaces

Fillers, Levellers & Joints

Application Area

Ceramic Tiles

Application Method

Trowel

Compatible Substrates & Surfaces

Brick,

Ceramic,

Concrete,

Gypsum,

Masonry,

Porcelain,

Stone,

Vinyl

Substrate Preparation & Glass Tile Installation

Substrate Preparation: All substrates must be dry, structurally sound with maximum deflection per industry standards of L/360 for ceramic tile Installations and L/720 for natural stone installations; and free from oil, grease, dust, paint, sealers or concrete curing compounds. All contaminants must be removed prior to installation of tile. Surface protrusions and tile glazes shall be removed by sanding, scraping or scarifying. After preparation, remove all dust by vacuuming.

For Gaged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs installation, reference the TEC® Thin Porcelain Panel Installation Guide on tecspecialty.com.

Notes: Vinyl asbestos tile or any substrate containing asbestos must not be sanded, scored or scarified because of the potential health hazard of breathing dust. Any substrate containing asbestos must be handled in accordance with existing EPA regulations. Contact your local EPA office. Expansion joints must be provided in the tile work over all construction, control and expansion joints in the backing and where backing materials change. Follow ANSI A108.01 Section 3.7 Requirements for Expansion Joints. Maximum variations in all substrates must not exceed 1/4" in 10 ft. (6 mm in 3 m) and 1/16" in 1 ft. (1.6 mm in 0.3 m) from the required plane for tile less than 15" (381 mm) on all sides. Maximum variations in all substrates must not exceed 1/8" in 10 ft. (3 mm in 3 m) and 1/16" in 2 ft. (1.6 mm in 0.6 m) from the required plane for tile 15" (381 mm) or greater on any one side. For large non-level, interior surfaces use TEC® Level Set® 300 Self-Leveling Underlayment. For exterior surfaces or smaller areas of rough uneven substrates, use a scratch coat of TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus up to 1/4" (6 mm) thick. Allow to cure to walkable hardness before applying mortar bond coat.

Glass Tile Installation: TEC® Ultimate 6 plus, with its proprietary formulation, has been tested and approved to be used with glass tile for the following applications:

1. Indoor applications only
2. Wall applications only
3. Intermittent water exposure (not for use with submerged applications).
   ​​​​​​​Example such as:
   • Kitchen Backsplash
   • Shower wall accents

Note: When installing clear glass tile over waterproof membranes, visible mortar shadowing may occur.

The Materials approved are as follows

1. Clear Glass tiles with no backing with maximum area of 16 in²
2. 12" x 12" Matted Mosaic Tiles with clear or painted Mesh backing
3. 12" x 12" Matted Subway Tiles with Mesh backing
4. Glass tiles with painted backing up to 16 in²

^{Note: Not all coatings used to colorize the back of glass tile are compatible with Portland cement based mortars. Please check with the manufacturer to determine if it will be compatible. For any questions on this, please call our Technical Support Hotline at 1-800-832-9023 for additional support. Also, if you are looking to install a specific tile not listed in the above material list and would like to use Ultimate 6 plus Mortar, please contact our Technical Support Hotline at 800-832-9023 for additional support. In specifying a setting system for the bonding of glass tile, the following issues must be taken into consideration: Glass Tile Type: Glass tile can be manufactured in a number of different ways such as clear, translucent with a colored body, or translucent with a colored backing. Each type has a different esthetic appearance. The color and composition of the mortar can have an effect on the final appearance, especially with clear or translucent tile}

Approved Substrates

When properly prepared, suitable substrates include:

1. Cured concrete, cured mortar beds, brick and masonry (interior and exterior Installations)
2. APA Grade Trademarked Exposure 1 Plywood [Underlayment grade or better, two layers, 11⁄8" (28 mm) total minimum thickness for joists 16" (40 cm) o.c., interior floors only]
3. Gypsum wallboard (dry interior wall areas only)
4. Water resistant gypsum wallboard (i.e.: greenboard, interior walls only, dry to intermittent water exposure only)
5. Cementitious backer units (CBU) or glass mat backerboard
6. Existing ceramic tile and natural stone, provided existing flooring is well-bonded to an approved substrate
7. Vinyl composition tile, asphalt tile, linoleum or non-cushioned vinyl sheetgoods provided such surfaces are single layered, well-bonded to an approved substrate and properly prepared
8. Adhesive residue (except tacky or pressure-sensitive adhesive). Mechanically remove the adhesive to expose at least 80% of the concrete surface. Random specks of adhesive and the appearance of a brown surface stain are acceptable
9. Extruded foam waterproof board
10. Uncoupling membranes

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc. ("HBF-CP") will warrant Ultimate 6 Plus with the use of ¾" floor-rated underlayment OSB as an approved substrate for the installation of uncoupling membranes.

For gypsum underlayments, TEC® Multipurpose Primer must be applied directly to the gypsum underlayments prior to application of Ultimate 6 Plus for bonding of the uncoupling membrane. Please see the Multipurpose Primer product data sheet for dilution ratios and application instructions. 

Limitations

• Only installll when the temperature is between 40-95ºF (4-35ºC).
• Not for installing green marble or other moisture-sensitive stone tile; use TEC® AccuColor EFX® Epoxy Grout and Mortar.
• For resin-backed marble see the TEC® Technical Bulletin “Installation Of Resin Backed Stone Tiles” at tecspecialty.com.
• Not for use over rubber, strip wood floors, oriented strand board, particle board, lauan plywood.
• For CDX plywood, use TEC® Super Flex™ mortar or TEC® XtraFlex™ acrylic mortar additive with TEC® Full Set Plus® thin set mortar.
• Do not apply over single layer wood floors.
• Temperature of area to be tiled must remain above 40°F (4°C) for 72 hours.
• Certain natural stone tiles may be affected by mortar shadowing or staining. Test a small area prior to use to determine suitability.

Application Instructions

Mixing: For best results, maintain all tiling materials, substrates, room and adhesives at 50°-70°F (10-21°C) for 24 hours before and 48 hours after Installation. In a clean mixing container, add TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus to clean, cool water as specified in the chart.

Application	Water
LHT, Gaged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs or Wall Applications	6 to 61⁄2 quarts (5.6 to 6.1 L)
Thin Set Floor Applications	6 1⁄2 to 6 3⁄4 quarts (6.1 to 6.4 L)

Add clean, cool water to a clean mixing container. Add 2/3 bag of TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus and mix until all powder is consumed. Add final 1/3 bag and mix until powder is consumed. Be cautious not to over-water. Consistency will loosen during mixing process. Mix material for two (2) minutes to a smooth and creamy consistency. Avoid breathing dust and contact with eyes and skin. Allow the mortar to stand for 10 minutes. Remix and apply. Avoid using high speed mixing, not to exceed 300 rpm, to prevent entraining air.

Application: Apply mortar using flat side of trowel to promote better substrate contact, then comb in one direction with the notched side of the trowel. Spread only an area that can be tiled while surface is still tacky (typically 20-30 minutes). Press tiles into setting bed, then push in a direction perpendicular to the notched trowel ridges to achieve optimum coverage. Apply mortar in a heavy enough layer so that complete contact (no voids) between mortar and tile is accomplished when tile is positioned. Irregularities in substrate may require "back-buttering" of large tiles to achieve complete coverage and firm support. Periodically remove and check a tile to assure proper coverage. Keep a minimum of 2⁄3 of the joint depth between tiles for grouting. Open time and tile hand adjustability may vary with job site conditions. Stir occasionally during use to maintain the smooth, creamy consistency of the product. Do not add additional water. For Gaged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs installation, reference the TEC® Thin Porcelain Panel Installation Guide on tecspecialty.com.

Clean-up: Clean tools, hands, and excess materials from face of tile, while mortar is still fresh, with warm soapy water.

Grouting/Curing: Grouting may be accomplished when tiles are held firmly in place, typically 6 hours after installation is completed. No traffic is permitted over the tiles prior to grouting. Cold temperatures or high humidity may extend curing time, working time, and pot life. Hot temperatures or low humidity may decrease curing time, working time, and pot life. Unglazed tiles may require sealing prior to grouting so diskolorations will not occur. The use of TEC® brand grouts is highly recommended.

Properties

Physical Form

Powder

Physical Properties

	Value	Units	Test Method / Conditions
Pot Life	2 - 3	Hours	-
Initial Cure (at 22°C)	6.0	Hours	-
Final Cure	21.0	Days	-

Technical Details & Test Data

TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar (487) Test Data

Applicable Standard
Exceeds ANSI A118.4E and A118.11 specifications ISO 13007: Classification C2TEP1

TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus (487)
ANSI Standard	Test	Section	Test Duration/Conditions	ANSI Specification	Typical Results
A118.11	Shear Strength to Quarry Tile	4.1.2	28 day plywood	>150 psi (10.5 kg/cm3)	220
A118.4	Glazed Wall Tile Shear Strength Porcelain Mosaic Tile Shear Strength Quarry Tile Shear Strength	7.1.2 7.2.5 7.3.2	7 day 28 day 28 day	>300 psi (2.07 MPa) >200 psi (1.38 MPa) 150 psi (1.03 MPa)	545 480 400
A118.4E	Open Time	5.3.6	30 minute	75 psi (0.5 MPa) at 30 minutes	185

Packaging & Availability

Packaging Type

Bags

Regional Availability

• North America

Packaging and Coverage

40 lb. (18.14 kg) moisture-resistant bags	Product #15036116
40 lb. (18.14 kg) plastic bags	Product #15030010

Coverage: Coverage will vary with condition of substrate. Required trowel size will vary with the tile size, type and substrate uniformity. Select the trowel size that will ensure 100% coverage. Figures below are presented only as guidelines. 

Trowel Size	Approximate Coverage per 40 lbs. (18.14 kg)
1/4" x 3/16" (6 x 4.7 mm) V-notch trowel	182-204 sq. ft. (16.9-19.0 m²)
1⁄4" x 1⁄4" x 1⁄4" (6 x 6 x 6 mm) square-notch trowel	91-102 sq. ft. (8.4-9.5 m²)
1⁄4" x 3⁄8" x 1⁄4" (6 x 9 x 6 mm) square-notch trowel	75-85 sq. ft. (7.0-7.9 m²)
3⁄8" x 3⁄8" x 3⁄8" (9 x 9 x 9 mm) square-notch trowel	60-68 sq. ft. (5.6-6.3 m²)
1⁄2" x 1⁄2" x 1⁄2" (12 x 12 x 12 mm) square-notch trowel	45-51 sq. ft. (4.2-4.7 m²)
3⁄4" x 9⁄16" x 3⁄8" (19 x 14 x 9 mm) rounded-notch trowel	30-34 sq. ft. (2.8-3.2 m²)
Euro-notch trowel	26-33.5 sq. ft. (2.4-3.1 m²)*
1⁄4" (6 mm) slant-notch trowel	25-30 sq. ft. (2.3-2.8 m²)*
* Based on application to both the substrate and tile back

Storage & Handling

Shelf Life

max. 12 Months

Storage & Shelf Life

• Store in cool, dry location. Do not store open containers.
• Shelf Life: Maximum of 1 year from date of manufacture in unopened package.