Are all acrylic primers alike?

[dandan]

Accepting the point that PVA is best avoided when tiling: Does it matter which acrylic primer I use ... BAL or Mapei... or indeed the copious amounts of 'Setcrete acrylic primer' I bought for priming a floor before using Setcrete's floor levelling compound? Are they all essentially the same thing or do I really have to buy each manufacturers recommended primer?

While we're on the subject, do they have a shelf life?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Dan]

They usually do have a shelf life I think. Might need to check the batch with the manufacturer. I know adhesive goes off.

Also how it has been stored comes into play. Needs to be at a certain temperature (or rather, not below a certain temperature, usually).

As for the brand mixing - the thing is, if you have an issue down the line, and the adhesive firm says it's down to the primer, and the primer firm says it's down to the adhesive, you're pretty much stuck. They don't argue and will both do a report and possibly (not always but maybe) wriggle out of it.

So it's usually wise to use one brand where possible.

How much do you need?

 

[White Room]

Usually most go for the adhesive and primer combination, sbr seems to be an all rounder though.

 

[Qwerty]

They are all very similar. Some will be different colours, application methods or characteristics but essentially they are the same. Always best to use the same primers as recommended by the adhesive manufacturer you will be using.

If setcrete say to use their primer, it suits your requirements then I would use it.

As for shelf life......12 months usually (unopened) and maybe a couple of months less if opened. They have to be kept away from freezing temperatures as it can ruin the acrylic inside. Ruined acrylic primer using smells like rotten eggs (no idea why but it does).

Be mindful of buying primers from people other than retailers as I have heard of chances selling watered down primers!!!

 

[Ajax123]

Particle size and polymer concentration differ from product to product which means the difference between dilutions, number of coats etc but they are all essentially the same.

 

[Dan]

Particle size and polymer concentration differ from product to product which means the difference between dilutions, number of coats etc but they are all essentially the same.

Would a firm make their polymers match their adhesives when it comes to particle sizes etc?

 

[Ajax123]

Would a firm make their polymers match their adhesives when it comes to particle sizes etc?

No. It is perfectly reasonable to use an adhesive from one company with a primer from another from a purely technical standpoint as long as both are used according to their relative manufacturers instructions. However from a more pragmatic approach you avoid the inevitable issues of one blaming another in the event that something goes wrong.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I've cross branded primers/adhesives lots of times and never had an issue

 

[Alan.P]

I've cross branded primers/adhesives lots of times and never had an issue

Yes, as said above, they are the same thing basically, wouldn't want to argue the point in court, if it ever came to it, manufactures do stipulate that xxxxx adhesive to be used with xxxxx primer of their own brand.

 

[dandan]

Thankyou for your prompt and informative responses gents.

It seems the consensus is:

All other things being equal, it is technically OK to use x manufacturers primer with y manufacturers adhesive, but if anything goes wrong with the job I can blame nobody but myself.

I think I shall take full responsibility and use up my leftover primer before it goes off.