Who does not know about PVA glue, which is actively used for gluing products from various materials: wood, ceramics, chipboard, linoleum, paper, glass, fabric and leather bases. The popularity of the adhesive causes a high-quality adhesion of the material and the surface to be glued, an affordable cost, increased resistance to moisture, but at the same time, good solubility in water, which alone answers the question of how to dilute the PVA glue? The purpose of the adhesive is determined depending on its type.

PVA glue is the most popular substance in the world. It is universal and useful both when studying at school and when carrying out repairs in a house or apartment.

What kind of agent is PVA glue?

The history of the composition has more than a century, and it was invented back in 1912 of the last century in Germany. After a couple of years, the glue entered the sales market and began to be produced for commercial purposes. In 2018, glue production capacity exceeded one million tons of substance.

What is the substance

PVA stands for Polyvinyl Acetate Glue, the component composition of which consists of:

  • special synthetic fiber based on polyvinyl alcohol - vinalon, on which about 95% of the product falls;
  • a variety of additives that increase the plasticity, stability, adhesion strength.

Main types of PVA glue

The main types of adhesives PVA formulations, subdivided into types according to their purpose, include:

  • clerical - for gluing paper and cardboard bases;
  • wallpaper or household - for gluing paper materials to wooden and cemented surfaces;
  • construction - for fiberglass, paper and vinyl compounds. It serves as an additive for priming compositions, which contributes to the improvement of technological properties and adhesion of further applied materials: putty, plaster, dry construction mixture;
  • super M - indispensable when gluing products from vapor-proof materials, ceramic and porcelain products, fabrics, glass, leather. In addition, it is used when installing a variety of floor coverings;
  • Extra - used for sticking wood, plywood, building nets, wallpaper (cork, vinyl, paper, fiberglass), serpyanka. Used as an additive to increase strength;
  • Universal - useful when gluing paper and paper-laminated decorative plastic on wooden, glass and metal surfaces.

Is it possible to dilute the glue and than

So, we come to a question that interests many: how to dilute the PVA glue? Hurry to answer - yes, you can. Just do it right. How to cope with this seemingly simple task and not spoil the glue, read on.

In order to cope with the task, try to adhere to some recommendations and dilute the glue only with warm water, various solvents adversely affect the technical properties and structure of the composition, destroying it. At the same time it is necessary to mix the glue as intensively as possible.

How to dilute very thickened composition

We will understand whether it is possible to dilute the PVA glue. When the glue dries out, much thickened, a crust or small dry particles resembling flakes form on its surface. These impurities, which the solution may contain, should be removed before applying the composition to the surface.

Clots of jelly consistency can be left as they dissolve when stirred.

How to dilute the dry mixture

How and how to dilute the PVA glue in the usual way, you already know, but sometimes you have to work with a dry mix. Such substances are diluted according to the proportion or ratio that is indicated on the package. The manufacturer recommends to adhere to these recommendations, otherwise the glue will lose its technical properties and will be useless in pasting.

An exception

If 90% of the types of PVA glue can be diluted with water, then 10% falls into a special category of adhesive compositions that are present on the market and cannot be diluted with water. They, as a rule, are presented in finished form: in a diluted state and in a corresponding container, as they are characterized by an unpleasant chemical smell, and the substance in open cans dries quickly. To prevent the glue from hardening, try to buy containers of such volume as you can apply glue at a time. So it will be possible to save both glue and money.

There are exceptions when such a glue is diluted, but only with the use of a special synthetic solvent.

How to apply diluted adhesive to the surface

So, having figured out how to dilute the thick glue of PVA, working with it does not involve difficulties. It is quite simple. The presence of the instruction will simplify the task, since the insert contains brief information about what kind of tool is used for gluing and how to use it correctly. Since the use of wood and paper glue is somewhat different, some people have a problem with gluing wood surfaces. To prevent unpleasant moments from happening to you, remember a simple rule: apply glue to the side of the product that absorbs the composition more slowly, that is, with a less porous structure.

Is it possible to dilute the PVA glue with water, sorted out. Remember that when working with PVA glue, regardless of the type, follow some rules:

After studying the information given in the article, you received an answer to the so frequently asked question: “what to dilute with white glue?”. Taking into account these recommendations, the use of glue will be a rational decision for you if you need to connect some parts together.


PVA glue is an aqueous emulsion of vinyl acetate polymer with special additives that improve the plasticity and elasticity of the composition.

In addition to its intended purpose - gluing paper, wood, leather, etc., PVA glue is used as an improver for putties and mortar.

Concrete and cement-sand mortar, in which a polyvinyl acetate dispersion is added, gains better plasticity, the composition sets faster.

Using Pva as a plasticizer additive   - effective reception, allowing to solve different problems. So, thanks to mixing cement with PVA glue, a floor screed fills all voids better, fits firmly with a concrete base, no cracks form on the surface of the finished screed.

By adding a dispersion to a conventional cement-sand mortar, you can get a good tile adhesive. As part of basic plaster, PVA prevents the formation of cracks, improves adhesion with a brick wall, and prevents surface sprinkling. Sometimes an aqueous emulsion of vinyl acetate is used as an improver for masonry mortar.

Which PVA glue can be added to the cement mortar

It should be noted that for construction purposes only suitable:

Universal PVA glue (PVA-MB) - viscous homogeneous mass of white with a yellowish tinge. It is used as an improver for any water-based concrete mixes, putties and primers. PVA-MB withstands up to 8 freeze-thaw cycles. Universal construction adhesive for cement mortar is sold in plastic containers up to 10 liters. 1 kg of glue costs about 80 rubles.

PVA dispersion is a polyvinyl acetate homopolymer emulsion with excellent binding properties and excellent adhesion to various building materials. Available in two versions: plasticized (it is afraid of frost) and non-plasticized (frost-resistant).

Attention!   PVA stationery glue, intended for gluing paper, is absolutely not recommended as a plasticizer, since it consists of 60-80 percent starch. Not suitable for these purposes and wood glue, because it contains a large amount of carboxymethylcellulose.

Properly add the PVA glue to the solution - step by step instructions

The proportions of PVA and cement in the solution can be from 5 to 20 percent. How much PVA glue should be added to the cement mortar? It depends on its purpose and scope.

5% -12% polymer content will be enough for a floor screed. In tile glue, the ratio of PVA to cement is usually made 1: 5.

The process of making plaster with the addition of PVA:

  1. Cement brand M400 dry mixed with sand in a ratio of 1: 3;
  2. Then water is added to the mixture to obtain the desired consistency of the solution;
  3. Next, PVA-MB is added to the mass at the rate of 50-70 grams of glue per 10 liters of solution. To quickly mix cement with PVA to a uniform structure, the glue is diluted with water to a state of milk.

Plaster prepared with the use of polymeric plasticizer, it is better to lay down and stick to the base, quickly seizes.

Similarly, PVA glue is added to the concrete solution. In this case, it is recommended to use a proportion: 200 grams of glue per 10 liters of solution. The plasticizer improves the mobility of concrete, increases the final strength. In the process of drying, PVA will polymerize, which increases the water resistance of concrete.

Attention!    As an additive for mortar or concrete, you can only use universal building PVA-MB. Household and office glue is suitable exclusively for paper handling, its use in cement mortars is unacceptable.

Experts do not recommend adding a water emulsion of vinyl acetate polymer to masonry mortars, since the dispersion of polyvinyl acetate can withstand a limited number of freeze-thaw cycles.

Can I use another glue?

PVA - the most affordable plasticizer. There are more expensive analogues that are intended directly for use as an additive in the solution:

  • Latexkol is a latex plasticizer additive for tile glue. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. Makes the solution more elastic, increases adhesion and strength, increases resistance to moisture, cracking and other deformations. The Latexkol canister from Litokol with a volume of 3.75 liters costs about 1000-1200 rubles.
  • Plasticizer INTER PLAST AT   - superplasticizing mixture based on an aqueous solution of modified surfactants. The additive increases the mobility of concrete mixtures, increases the strength of concrete by 21%, reduces cement consumption by up to 15%. 1 liter of plasticizer costs about 150 rubles.

To improve the quality of the cement-sand mortar, PVA has been used since Soviet times, when it was very difficult to acquire high-quality tile glue and ready-to-use plaster mixes. Today, when the market presents a huge variety of modern and inexpensive dry building mixtures, there is no need to resort to alternative technologies.

Polyvinyl acetate is an adhesive emulsion, previously diluted in water. PVA glue is used in the construction industry as an additive to the cement mixture to enhance technical characteristics. Often, such compositions are used in plastering and leveling works, and they also have excellent adhesion to any surface.

Material change when adding glue

The proportions and technology of addition are determined depending on the purposefulness of the purpose, but basically the glue is applied in the form diluted with water. Such types of solutions should not be used in rooms with high humidity, as the glue is able to absorb moisture, as a result of which the layer may collapse or crack.

Polyvinyl acetate emulsion is one of a variety of polymers and is used as a plasticizer. It practically has no pronounced odor and toxic substances, due to which, during drying and evaporation of moisture, no hazardous compounds are released. As a rule, PVA is added to no more than 10% of the total amount of the cement mixture, it provides the following positive qualities:

  1. Increased ductility and toughness.
  2. Increases the strength characteristics of the bend after full curing.
  3. The design is able to withstand a tensile load of at least 1.3 kg / cm².
  4. Increases the adhesive properties of cement-based compounds, it depends on their purpose. To obtain high-quality tile adhesive, the amount can be 15-20% of the total.
  5. Simplifies the work and application of the solution on the base.

Polyvinyl acetate homopolymer emulsion cannot be used for finishing wet areas with exposure to hot steam. In this case, hydrolysis is accelerated, which contributes to the constant transformation into alcohol, even in the composition of concrete. Thus, when plastering walls in bathrooms, baths, saunas, swimming pools, as well as areas affected by the moisture environment, PVA is not used.

Another disadvantage is the lack of control over the set of strength of the mixture, that is, in the process of applying and drying there are no precise instructions on the time of solidification. This is due to the fact that the setting of the polymer material occurs independently of the hydration of concrete.

Glue is added to the DSP only a certain brand. Species such as wallpaper or clerical are not suitable because of the high starch content, and glue bases for wood have many extra compounds and impurities that are not combined with cement.

For the manufacture of mortar is best to apply an aqueous dispersion containing more than 55% polymer additives. It is produced in plastic containers weighing 1-30 kg with a shelf life of up to 6 months.

Proportions and cooking technology

Adding glue is carried out in two ways. In the first case, the PVA is poured in a diluted form: the emulsion is poured into a vessel with water and stirred thoroughly until a transparent consistency is obtained. In the second embodiment, it is used in undiluted concentrated state.

The ratio of ingredients DSP should be chosen based on its purpose:

  1. If the glue is applied in a diluted state, then the optimal amount is not more than 10%. That is, for 25 kg of cement is taken 0.5 liters of PVA.
  2. For pouring concrete floor: 1 part of a binder, 2 - sand, 3 - fine gravel, 0.2 - glue and 0.05 - an alkali-resistant pigment. Water is poured for proper mobility.
  3. When laying tiles, the emulsion should be about 20% of the total. The proportions of cement with sand are equal to 1: 5, while the binder should be chosen brand M400 or more. Water may be the least or absent altogether. When tiled finish on concrete or aerated concrete slabs, adding glue to the solution, will be released to get rid of the preparation of notches.
  4. The proportions for restoring screeds are 1: 3: 0.5 cement, sand and emulsion, respectively. Also pour in 4% epoxy. Then the mixture will have excellent adhesion with old concrete.
  5. When plastering works, cement solution and PVA glue are used in a ratio of 1: 0.07. In this case, the composition should already be ready for use. Sand is recommended to make clean and sifted of garbage in the optimal amount of 1: 3.

No finishing work is complete without a good adhesive. It must meet the requirements of quality, safety and convenience. PVA construction glue is what you need for versatile indoor repair work: wallpapering, parquet installation, ceramic tile, etc. What does PVA consist of, what are its advantages and disadvantages, how to use the composition correctly for construction purposes? All answers further in the article.

Description, composition

Clay PVA is one of the most popular compositions for various purposes: construction, office, art, household. For the first time, PVA comes in handy in childhood; as a rule, this is a clerical version. It is used for paper and cardboard handicrafts, applications, etc. The construction view is somewhat different from the stationery and has certain advantages. Such a composition holds a much greater variety of materials and is characterized by better adhesion.

Polyvinyl acetate, or PVA for short, makes up 95% of the glue of the same name. The remaining share is water, plasticizers, various solvents, fillers and thickeners. Stabilizing components give certain properties to the whole composition: water resistance (acetone), plasticity (glycerin), adhesion of surfaces (kaolin, chalk, talc), drying speed (glass, porcelain).


Advantages and disadvantages

PVA construction glue has good technical characteristics that allow it to be used for different purposes. Strengths of the material:

  1. Low consumption. Basically the amount of glue used depends on the type of work, but the average consumption rate varies from 100 to 900 g per 1 sq. M.
  2. A good indicator of adhesive ability - 450-550 N / m.
  3. Dries quickly. On average, full curing of the glue takes no more than 12-24 hours, although the indicator depends on the surface area, temperature and other factors.
  4. The composition is resistant to water.
  5. Does not collapse under the action of sunshine.
  6. Frost-resistant, withstands up to 5-6 cycles of freezing and thawing.
  7. Dries with minimal shrinkage. Does not deform the product during the drying process.
  8. Well fills the gap, clearance.
  9. Non-toxic. It is allowed to work with adhesive in any conditions, it is not necessary to ventilate the room, which is a huge plus for wallpapering. PVA is also safe when it comes into contact with skin. It is enough to wash the substance with warm water and soap.
  10. Affordable price. PVA - the cheapest among analogs.
  11. The basis of glue is very stable, when working with different materials, technical characteristics do not change.
  12. Popular product, always on sale in hardware stores.
  13. Sold in different capacities and volumes.
  14. Storage temperature - up to +50 degrees.
  15. Serves as a good basis for building mixtures (primer, putty).


Tip! Can the construction of pva replace? PVA dispersion, although it has a much greater adhesion, is quite suitable for wood, paper, cardboard, textiles - suitable for crafts.

The disadvantages of the substance include the following properties:

  1. Short shelf life - from 6 months to 1 year. To extend the composition, sometimes various inhibitors are added.
  2. It is flammable, compliance with fire safety regulations is required.
  3. If plasticizers are present, then the glue may release a small amount of chemical substances (acetic acid) into the air.
  4. Leaves traces on surfaces, therefore demands careful work.

How to apply

PVA glue is preferred by both neophytes and construction professionals. The substance in its pure form well sticks together such materials as paper, cardboard, fabric, leather, porcelain, chipboard, glass, metal. How is the adhesive used for the following repairs:

  • installation of ceiling tiles;
  • installation of ceramic floor tiles;


The use of PVA extends to the creation of various mixtures, above all, their compaction:

  1. It is added to the cement mortar in order to increase the waterproofing, adhesion to the surface, the plasticity of the composition. The standard proportion of PVA glue in the cement mortar is 5-10%.
  2. Plaster mortar will benefit from the inclusion of building glue. For the preparation of mixed cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 3, then water is added. After obtaining the desired consistency, PVA is added to the solution in an amount of from 50 to 70 g per 10 l. Plaster with glue better lies on the surface and seizes faster.

Wallpapering on PVA

PVA construction glue is suitable for wall decoration with some types of light wallpaper. All those who dealt with repairs agree that it is better to use this option only if there is no alternative. Why?


PVA disadvantages when installing wallpaper:

  • the composition sticks to the canvas tightly, so that during subsequent repairs to tear off the wallpaper will be difficult and long;
  • for the same reason, it is almost impossible to correct the position of the strip during operation;
  • sometimes with time from under the wallpaper begins to peep yellow.

What is ideal for the construction of PVA, so it is in the glue of the departed corners and edges, including, after adjusting the joints.

How to glue wallpaper on PVA:

  1. Smooth walls must be covered with a putty, rough walls - with a primer.
  2. Glue is necessarily diluted with water to enhance fluidity.
  3. The composition is applied to the walls or wallpaper with a roller or notched trowel. Brush work quite inconvenient, especially on surfaces with a large area.
  4. Movement goes from the center to the edge of the wallpaper.
  5. If bubbles are formed when gluing, they are carefully leveled with a dry, clean rag or roller. It is even better to use a sheet of paper: bubbles will come out faster, and new ones will not form.
  6. If glue gets on the front side of the wallpaper, you should immediately remove it with a slightly damp cloth or use anti-glue.


The PVA construction glue is maximally exposed from the best sides only subject to certain rules:

  1. Glue is applied only on the surface previously cleared of dust and dirt. It is also recommended to degrease it.
  2. The surface must be dry before applying the adhesive.
  3. It is recommended to distribute glue only on one surface, since applying to both the parts to be glued will only reduce the effectiveness of the glue.
  4. Usually on the packaging indicates whether to dilute the material and in what proportions. Construction adhesive in its pure form is rarely used, mainly for gluing some types of wallpaper.
  5. The thickness of the applied layer - no more than 2 mm.
  6. Before use, it is recommended to mix the diluted adhesive thoroughly.
  7. Work with the composition is carried out at a temperature not lower than +10 degrees and relative humidity not higher than 80%.
  8. For bonding is usually advised to firmly squeeze the surface and keep them for about 2-3 minutes. In fact, for a better result, it is necessary to fix objects with less force, but longer in time.
  9. No need to disturb the fastened surfaces during drying.

Glue based on polyvinyl acetate successfully fulfills its tasks. First of all, it is indispensable for kneading putty and compaction of cement. Its composition is constantly being improved, thanks to its excellent technical characteristics, usability, accessibility and environmental friendliness, PVA construction adhesive is leading in the construction market.

The method by which PVA is added to cement mortar has been known since Soviet times. It improves not only technical, but also operational characteristics.

Properties of PVA glue

Such a solution is obtained:

  • more uniform;
  • plastic;
  • increases the adhesion force between the solution particles;
  • improves strength;
  • wear resistance increases;
  • prevents the formation of cracks, etc.

PVA glue is a polymer and consists of a polyvinyl acetate emulsion. It is perfectly soluble in water, but after drying it is resistant to moisture. It is non-toxic, safe for health and at the same time can maintain its properties at very high and low temperatures.

Application features

Before determining the proportions of adding PVA to cement, it should be noted what type of glue is not suitable for construction purposes. This is primarily the PVA, designed for paper and cardboard products. It contains too much starch and other fillers. Also, do not take the PVA for wood, as it also contains various unnecessary additives.

The second important point is the purpose of the solution. Because the proportions of cement with PVA will be different. For the screed, we need some properties, and for laying ceramic tiles others. And the last nuance, what is the humidity in the room. Despite the fact that after the glue hardens, it is polymerized and it is not afraid of moisture, however, it is still not recommended to use it in wet rooms (bath, shower, pool).

Another feature is the temperature regime. Although the adhesive can withstand large and small temperatures, but in order not to risk the end result of reliability and durability, it is better that the temperature be higher than +7 ° C.

Terms of use

The addition of PVA is used as a plasticizer, but in addition it improves the properties of the cement-sand mortar. The proportions of PVA in relation to cement range from 5% to 20%. It all depends on the specifics of the application of this solution. If it is a screed, then 5% -10% of the glue content will be enough, and if it is for a tile, then it is better not to spare PVA and add 20%.