The Power of Connection: Your Guide to Bonding Agents and Primers
Bonding agents and primers can provide a vital function for anyone engaging in internal or external building development work, in particular, extensions. So what do bonding agents/primers do? How are they applied? And where can you get them?
We have all that, and more, to share with you. In today’s blog, we will be sharing the power of connection: your guide to bonding agents and primers.
Handiwork, home renovation, or decoration doesn’t just have to be done by tradesmen, or those established in the trade. It can be attempted by anyone! (At your own peril though!)
The internet, has given us chances to learn how to navigate some of these jobs. Additionally, the lockdown period of 2020 gave a lot of people time to do some work around their home. With the guides you can find online, DIY has become much more accessible.
Whether you are an established tradesman, or a homeowner attempting some simple DIY, Sealants and Tools Direct are here to provide you with the quality products you require, at the best prices.
Our range is extensive, we aim to provide you with almost anything you need to make your house, or someone else’s, the best possible home. Our range of products include, but are not limited to, Abrasives & Glass Paper, building products, carpet, and surface protection, plumbing, roofing & guttering products, tools, and equipment, and so much more.
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What is a bonding agent?
Within construction, a bonding agent is a material that can be natural or synthetic, its purpose is to help join the individual parts of a structure whilst negating the use of any mechanical mechanisms.
An example of a bonding agent being used would be in an instance where you apply new concrete over old concrete. Without the bonding agent, these would be two separate pieces of concrete, with the bonding agent, it melds helps to join them together.
The result of this is having a more stable structure, with less of a chance of being disrupted.
Is a bonding agent the same as glue?
It has a similar purpose to glue, but is used in a completely different manner than your standard adhesive or arts and crafts type of glue.
What is a primer?
A primer is a substance applied to surfaces prior to painting. It provides a coating for the surface being painted, and an appropriately smooth surface for the paint to attach to. Its name comes from the fact that you are getting the surface in its prime condition before painting it.
Primers come in three types, Oil, Shellac, and Latex. Each of these have their own pros and cons that you should research to see which works for you. That being said, these 3 effective in their own right, as long as you know how they pertain to your specific situation.
What happens if I don’t use a primer?
Not using a primer isn’t the end of the world, but it causes a lot more work to be done. Because an unprimed surface is uneven and porous, it means that you would have to apply multiple layers of paint to obtain an even finish. Which can be avoided if you use a primer.
The power of connection: Your guide to bonding agents and primers
Now that we have an understanding of bonding agents and primers, here are some of the range that we offer that may be able to help you today.
- Alpha Chem PVA Bond 25 Litre Sealer Adhesive Additive – £49.33 (Not including VAT)
PVA Bond is a multipurpose bonding agent, primer, sealer, cement, and plaster admixture that adheres to most common building and DIY materials.
Ideal for priming unsound surfaces prior to plastering or painting, as an adhesive on wood, cork, textiles, and most applications where at least one surface is porous. Additionally it can be used for general dust sealing on flaking paintwork walls etc, and as a cement and plaster admixture.
Alpha Chem PVA Bond has been designed specifically for use in the building industry. These uses include as a general purpose bonding agent, an additive for concrete and plasters and as a multi-use adhesive, and a primer for multiple surfaces including screeds render plaster wood and much more.
Benefits
- 25 Litre Trade Size Option
- Improves flexibility of sand cement products.
- Reduced water: cement ratio for equivalent workability
- Improved frost resistance
- Reduces surface porosity of mortar plaster etc
- Greatly improves adhesion to a wide range of substrates including dense concrete, glass, steel, tiles etc.
- Mixes may be applied in much thinner sections, in resistance to salt permeation.
- Reduces surface dusting of concrete
For a full specification, or to purchase this product, click here.
- Bond It Exterior Render Pregrit External 10L Bonding Agent Coating – £14.92 (not including VAT)
Bond-It Exterior Render Pregrit External bonding agent, a one part pre grit gripcoat paint coating. A paint on ready-to-use Internal external render bonding agent with added aggregate.
It provides a key prior to rendering, used as an effective bonding agent for render to concrete, brickwork and blockwork, and as a bonding agent to improve adhesion to smooth surfaces, pre grit can be applied by brush or roller.
Key features:
- Bonding Agent for block brick non-similar surface smooth surfaces etc
- Contains sand aggregate to provide plaster render key
- Ready to use, one coat application
- Perfect for use on smooth substrates
- Pigmented light green to identify treated areas
- Waterproof bonding agent for exterior walls.
- For use on concrete, brickwork, light blockwork.
- Single one coat application that is then rendered once cured.
- Reduces suction on porous surfaces and improves adhesion.
Click here to view further specifications, application details, or to make a purchase.
- Alpha Chem Plasterers Enhanced Grit Coat 5Litre Bonding Agent – £10.25 (not including VAT)
The Alpha Chem Plasterers enhanced grit coat is one of the top choices for most professional plasterers. Featuring a one part pre grit paint with ready-to-use internal plaster bonding agent with fine aggregate, this provides a perfect key prior to plastering.
Furthermore, this is a one coat, ready to use bonding agent suitable for interior usage only. It can be applied easily with a brush or roller, and contains an easily identifiable orange colour, so you know if you’ve missed a spot.
If you would like a full breakdown of this product including specifications and application methods, or just to purchase, click here.
- Bond it SBR Admixture Waterproof Bond Bonding agent 5L – £13.83 (not including VAT)
Bond it SBR has numerous uses both internal and external as an admixture, primer, bonding agent and sealer. SBR is a white a styrene butadiene copolymer latex, which increases flexibility of cement screeds and mortars and improves water and chemical resistance and durability.
Suitable for internal and external floors and rendering in areas of continual or intermittent water and chemical contact. It features an excellent waterproofing admixture that improves adhesion of cementitious screeds and reduces shrinkage and cracking when repairing floor screeds.
Additionally, this product is ideal as a bonding agent for new to old concrete, including repair and renovation, surfacing of floors and bonding generally.
Product features
- 5 Litre Jerry Container
- Greatly improved adhesion to a wide range of substrates including dense concrete, steel, tiles etc.
- Mixes may be applied in much thinner sections.
- Providing protection during continued or intermittent water contact suitable for both external or internal application's
- Key coat applications to substrates with a low porosity.
- For repair patching of concrete and cement screeds, to improve adhesion and flexibility of screeds
- Excellent resistance to water and water vapour.
- Aids in the adhesion of self-levelling compounds to the base surface.
- Much improved toughness and flexibility.
- Reduced surface dusting of concrete.
SBR Typical Uses
- Admixture for mortar, screeds, renders.
- Bonding agent for screeds, renders, self-Levellers.
- Primer and sealer in tiling applications.
- In addition, SBR has the advantage over PVA bonding aids in that It's not adversely affected in wet conditions and is recommended for exterior use.
For further specifications on this product, or to purchase, click here.
Do I have to use agents and primers myself?
Understandably, not everyone can physically use these products due to physical inability, time constraints etc. Though these products are required for the best possible paint job, you can seek to employ local tradesmen/decorators who specialise in this kind of work.
Although everyone’s services are different, generally you would cover the cost of the labour and materials, which in this case are the agents and primers.
Contact us today
Sealants and Tools Direct is the one-stop shop for anyone within the trade, or for those looking to conduct their own DIY. We encourage anyone with any questions about products they are interested in, or already purchased from us, to get in contact if you have any questions.
We endeavour to not only provide the right products for you, but also provide the best guidance possible. Within this blog, we hope to have shown the power of connection: through your guide to bonding agents and primers.
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