Which Ardex Adhesive Is Best for LVT?

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) has become one of the most popular flooring choices for both residential and commercial projects thanks to its durability, design versatility and ease of maintenance. However, achieving a long-lasting installation depends on more than just choosing the right floor covering – selecting the correct adhesive is equally important.

Ardex manufactures several adhesives suitable for LVT, each designed for different installation requirements. Whether you're fitting standard plank flooring, intricate herringbone patterns or installing in areas exposed to direct sunlight, there's an Ardex adhesive to suit the job.

This guide compares three of Floormart's most popular Ardex LVT adhesives to help you make the right choice.

Ardex LVT Adhesive Comparison

Ardex AF145

Ardex AF145 is a versatile acrylic emulsion adhesive designed for installing LVT, vinyl tiles, vinyl planks and sheet vinyl. One of its key advantages is that it can be used as either a pressure-sensitive or wet set adhesive, allowing installers to choose the most suitable application method for the project.

When used as a pressure-sensitive adhesive, AF145 has an airing time of 20–40 minutes, with a working time of up to 30 minutes for LVT after airing. It can also be used as a wet set adhesive with a shorter airing time of 5–20 minutes. The adhesive is solvent free and suitable for use over underfloor heating systems.

Ardex AF175

Ardex AF175 has been developed specifically for installing luxury vinyl tiles and is fibre reinforced to improve installation performance.

According to Ardex, the fibre reinforcement helps minimise lateral movement during installation, eliminate adhesive squeeze between tiles and planks, and improve indentation resistance. The adhesive has an airing time of 5–10 minutes, allowing LVT to be installed shortly afterwards, and completed floors can typically be walked on after approximately two hours. It is also suitable for use over underfloor heating systems.

Ardex AF195

For installations in areas exposed to higher temperatures, Ardex AF195 has been specifically developed to meet these demands.

Suitable for conservatories, rooms with floor-to-ceiling glazing and other areas of high solar gain, AF195 is fibre reinforced to help reduce tile movement while providing maximum bond strength. It also offers an extended working time of up to 30 minutes, making it particularly useful when installing intricate layouts such as herringbone patterns or border designs where additional positioning time is beneficial.

Which Adhesive Should You Choose?

Choosing the right adhesive depends on both the flooring type and the installation environment.

• Choose Ardex AF145 if you want a versatile adhesive that can be used as either a pressure-sensitive or wet set adhesive for standard LVT installations.
• Choose Ardex AF175 if you're installing luxury vinyl tiles and want the benefits of a fibre-reinforced adhesive that helps reduce tile movement during installation.
• Choose Ardex AF195 for LVT installations in conservatories, south-facing rooms or commercial spaces with large glazed areas where higher temperatures are expected.

Final Thoughts

All three Ardex adhesives provide reliable solutions for installing luxury vinyl tiles, but each has been designed for different installation requirements. AF145 offers excellent versatility through its pressure-sensitive and wet set application methods, AF175 provides fibre-reinforced performance for everyday LVT installations, while AF195 is specifically designed for installations in areas of high solar gain.

At Floormart, we stock a comprehensive range of Ardex flooring adhesives to suit a wide variety of LVT projects. If you're unsure which adhesive is best for your installation, our team can help you select the right product for your flooring type and site conditions.