Owner's Manual

ARDEX X 4™
LFT – Large Format Tile and Stone Mortar
Suitable Substrates
 All common building substrates (concrete that has cured
for at least 28 days, plywood (interior, horizontal
applications), CBU in accordance with manufacturer
guidelines, etc.)
 Existing tiles (tile over tile)
 Metal (Interior only and non-aluminum. Contact ARDEX
Technical Service for instructions.)
Some substrates require priming.
Suitable Applications
 Installation of most common tile types:
o Not for glass tiles
o Not for moisture-sensitive tile and stone
 Contact ARDEX Technical for highly absorbent tile
 Contact ARDEX Technical for resin-backed tiles and stone
 Dry or damp substrates (no standing water)
 Interior (not submerged)
 Exterior (not plywood; not submerged)
Job Conditions
During installation and cure, substrate and ambient
temperatures must be a minimum of 50°F / 10°C.
Step 1: Substrate Preparation (Proper Prep™)
If necessary, mechanically clean the substrate by shot
blasting or similar means. Do not use acid etching,
adhesive removers, solvents or sweeping compounds, as
these are bond breakers. Sanding is not an effective
method to remove contaminants from concrete.
All substrates must be sound, solid and thoroughly clean of
all existing patching and leveling materials and all bond-
breaking contaminants, including but not limited to:
overwatered or otherwise loose or weak material;
unapproved sealers; all adhesive residues.
Handle and dispose of asbestos and other hazardous
materials in accordance with prevailing regulations, which
supersede the recommendations in this document.
Vacuuming
Following preparation, thoroughly vacuum to remove all
excess dirt and debris.
For full details on Proper Prep, reference the following
articles at ardexamericas.com/properprep:
 Article 1: Preparing Concrete for Bonded ARDEX or
HENRY Applications
 Article 2: Preparing Wood for Bonded ARDEX Applications
 Proper Prep Brochure
The plane of wall surfaces must be plumb and true. Floor
surfaces must have minimal variation in the plane or slope
as outlined by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA).
Refer to ANSI A108.01 “General Requirements: Subsurface
and Preparation by Other Trades” and the most current
version of the TCNA “Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation”
for detailed information on surface preparation and
guidelines for substrate construction.