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Ardex X7R S1 Flexible Rapid Set Tile Adhesive—
$43.48
The Story
Cement-based powder adhesive — requires mixing before use. Add water on site and mix mechanically. Need more working time? See ARDEX X7 Standard Set — 5-hour pot life for large or complex installations.
Pot life is approximately 60 minutes at 20°C (45 minutes for slump-free wall consistency). Have tiles cut and everything prepared before mixing. Work in manageable batches. In warm conditions pot life will be shorter.
Grey or white? Choose white (X7 R S1 W) when fixing pale-coloured tiles, light natural stone, glass mosaics, or translucent materials where grey adhesive may show through grout joints. Both variants have identical technical performance and are priced the same.
ARDEX X7 R S1 is a rapid-setting, highly flexible S1 tile adhesive for walls and floors — incorporating fibre technology for improved adhesion strength, grab and non-slip characteristics. Classified C2F E S1 to BS EN 12004, it walks on and can be grouted after just 3 hours while still offering an extended 60-minute pot life and 30-minute open time — longer than most rapid-set adhesives. Suitable for all ceramic and porcelain tiles, glass and porcelain mosaics, terrazzo, natural stone (excluding moisture-sensitive varieties) and brick slips, in internal and external locations including swimming pools, underfloor heating systems and areas subject to limited movement and vibration.
BS EN 12004 C2F E S1
S1 flexible — deformable
Rapid set — grout after 3 hours
Fibre technology — improved strength & grab
Swimming pools suitable
Underfloor heating compatible
Indoor & outdoor
EPD certified
Pack size
20 kg
Type
Powder — mix with water
Classification
C2F E S1
Colours
Grey & White
Pot life (semi-pourable)
≈ 60 min
Pot life (slump-free)
≈ 45 min
Open time
30 min (fix within 20)
Grout & foot traffic Rapid
3 hours
Water per bag (floor)
Up to 5 litres
Water per bag (wall)
4–4.25 litres
Coverage
≈ 1.4 kg/m²/mm
App. temperature
Above +5°C
Early adhesion (24hr) Rapid
>0.5 N/mm²
Tensile adhesion All conditions
>1 N/mm²
Shelf life
12 months
Works with
Not suitable for / special conditions
X7 R S1 Rapid Set vs X7 Standard Set — which do you need?
ARDEX X7 R S1 Rapid Set (this product)
Grout and walk on after just 3 hours
Fibre technology — improved strength and grab
Ideal for renovation and fast-turnaround jobs
60-minute pot life — work in smaller batches
Not suitable for moisture-sensitive natural stone
ARDEX X7 Standard Set
Floor grout after 24 hours
5-hour pot life — maximum working time
High initial grab — ideal for heavy wall tiles
Wall grout after 8 hours
Suitable for non-moisture-sensitive natural stone
How to mix and apply this adhesive Surface prep · priming · mixing · fixing · grouting
Preparation & mixing
1
Prepare the substrate. Surfaces must be clean, firm, free of dust, dirt, oil, grease and barriers to adhesion. Backgrounds must be flat to SR1 — no gap greater than 3mm under a 2m straight edge. Do not use below 5°C.
2
Prime the substrate where required. Gypsum plaster: ARDEX P 51 diluted 1:3. Anhydrite screeds: sand and dry to ≤0.5% moisture, then ARDEX P 51 diluted 1:3 (or ARDEX R 3 E epoxy primer). Existing glazed tiles: ARDEX P 82 (internal dry) or ARDEX P 4 (internal/external). Smooth asphalt: ARDEX P 82 (internal dry only).
3
Wet areas and swimming pools. Apply ARDEX WPC Waterproof Coating before tiling in showers and wet areas. Backgrounds for swimming pools must be fully watertight.
4
Prepare everything before mixing. Have all tiles cut, spacers and tools ready before you open the bag. Once mixed you have 60 minutes (45 minutes for slump-free consistency).
Do not exceed the recommended maximum water per bag. Do not add water to adhesive that has begun to thicken.
5
Mix. Add powder to clean water whilst stirring. Floor tiling: up to 5 litres per 20kg bag. Wall/coving/skirting (slump-free): 4–4.25 litres per 20kg bag. Mix with ARDEX paddle at slow speed until lump-free.
Pot life ≈ 60 minutes at 20°C (45 min slump-free). Shorter in warm conditions.
Fixing & finishing
6
Apply adhesive with a trowel and comb through with a suitably sized notched trowel in straight ribs. Choose notch size based on tile size, surface and required coverage.
Fix tiles within 20 minutes of applying adhesive for optimum performance. Adjustment time approximately 20 minutes at 20°C.
7
Solid bed for floors, wet areas and external. Back-butter tiles immediately before placing into the ribbed bed to ensure no voids. For the semi-pourable mix, press with a twisting and sliding action. For the slump-free mix, back-buttering is usually required.
8
Fix tiles before skin forms. Press firmly with a twisting and sliding action to achieve required contact. Clean surplus adhesive from tile faces immediately — with a 3-hour set time it will be difficult to remove once hardened.
Clean up as you go — do not allow surplus adhesive to harden on tile faces.
9
Movement joints. Install to BS 5385 Parts 1–5 at all perimeters, internal corners and at regular intervals across large areas.
10
Grout. Allow 3 hours at 20°C before grouting and foot traffic. Use ARDEX-FLEX FL, ARDEX-FLEX FS or ARDEX EG 18 PLUS epoxy grout where chemical resistance is required.
Higher temperatures shorten, lower temperatures extend these times.
Downloads
Grey variant
Grey technical data sheet Grey EPD Grey safety data sheet
White variant
White technical data sheet White EPD
Description
Cement-based powder adhesive — requires mixing before use. Add water on site and mix mechanically. Need more working time? See ARDEX X7 Standard Set — 5-hour pot life for large or complex installations.
Pot life is approximately 60 minutes at 20°C (45 minutes for slump-free wall consistency). Have tiles cut and everything prepared before mixing. Work in manageable batches. In warm conditions pot life will be shorter.
Grey or white? Choose white (X7 R S1 W) when fixing pale-coloured tiles, light natural stone, glass mosaics, or translucent materials where grey adhesive may show through grout joints. Both variants have identical technical performance and are priced the same.
ARDEX X7 R S1 is a rapid-setting, highly flexible S1 tile adhesive for walls and floors — incorporating fibre technology for improved adhesion strength, grab and non-slip characteristics. Classified C2F E S1 to BS EN 12004, it walks on and can be grouted after just 3 hours while still offering an extended 60-minute pot life and 30-minute open time — longer than most rapid-set adhesives. Suitable for all ceramic and porcelain tiles, glass and porcelain mosaics, terrazzo, natural stone (excluding moisture-sensitive varieties) and brick slips, in internal and external locations including swimming pools, underfloor heating systems and areas subject to limited movement and vibration.
BS EN 12004 C2F E S1
S1 flexible — deformable
Rapid set — grout after 3 hours
Fibre technology — improved strength & grab
Swimming pools suitable
Underfloor heating compatible
Indoor & outdoor
EPD certified
Pack size
20 kg
Type
Powder — mix with water
Classification
C2F E S1
Colours
Grey & White
Pot life (semi-pourable)
≈ 60 min
Pot life (slump-free)
≈ 45 min
Open time
30 min (fix within 20)
Grout & foot traffic Rapid
3 hours
Water per bag (floor)
Up to 5 litres
Water per bag (wall)
4–4.25 litres
Coverage
≈ 1.4 kg/m²/mm
App. temperature
Above +5°C
Early adhesion (24hr) Rapid
>0.5 N/mm²
Tensile adhesion All conditions
>1 N/mm²
Shelf life
12 months
Works with
Not suitable for / special conditions
X7 R S1 Rapid Set vs X7 Standard Set — which do you need?
ARDEX X7 R S1 Rapid Set (this product)
Grout and walk on after just 3 hours
Fibre technology — improved strength and grab
Ideal for renovation and fast-turnaround jobs
60-minute pot life — work in smaller batches
Not suitable for moisture-sensitive natural stone
ARDEX X7 Standard Set
Floor grout after 24 hours
5-hour pot life — maximum working time
High initial grab — ideal for heavy wall tiles
Wall grout after 8 hours
Suitable for non-moisture-sensitive natural stone
How to mix and apply this adhesive Surface prep · priming · mixing · fixing · grouting
Preparation & mixing
1
Prepare the substrate. Surfaces must be clean, firm, free of dust, dirt, oil, grease and barriers to adhesion. Backgrounds must be flat to SR1 — no gap greater than 3mm under a 2m straight edge. Do not use below 5°C.
2
Prime the substrate where required. Gypsum plaster: ARDEX P 51 diluted 1:3. Anhydrite screeds: sand and dry to ≤0.5% moisture, then ARDEX P 51 diluted 1:3 (or ARDEX R 3 E epoxy primer). Existing glazed tiles: ARDEX P 82 (internal dry) or ARDEX P 4 (internal/external). Smooth asphalt: ARDEX P 82 (internal dry only).
3
Wet areas and swimming pools. Apply ARDEX WPC Waterproof Coating before tiling in showers and wet areas. Backgrounds for swimming pools must be fully watertight.
4
Prepare everything before mixing. Have all tiles cut, spacers and tools ready before you open the bag. Once mixed you have 60 minutes (45 minutes for slump-free consistency).
Do not exceed the recommended maximum water per bag. Do not add water to adhesive that has begun to thicken.
5
Mix. Add powder to clean water whilst stirring. Floor tiling: up to 5 litres per 20kg bag. Wall/coving/skirting (slump-free): 4–4.25 litres per 20kg bag. Mix with ARDEX paddle at slow speed until lump-free.
Pot life ≈ 60 minutes at 20°C (45 min slump-free). Shorter in warm conditions.
Fixing & finishing
6
Apply adhesive with a trowel and comb through with a suitably sized notched trowel in straight ribs. Choose notch size based on tile size, surface and required coverage.
Fix tiles within 20 minutes of applying adhesive for optimum performance. Adjustment time approximately 20 minutes at 20°C.
7
Solid bed for floors, wet areas and external. Back-butter tiles immediately before placing into the ribbed bed to ensure no voids. For the semi-pourable mix, press with a twisting and sliding action. For the slump-free mix, back-buttering is usually required.
8
Fix tiles before skin forms. Press firmly with a twisting and sliding action to achieve required contact. Clean surplus adhesive from tile faces immediately — with a 3-hour set time it will be difficult to remove once hardened.
Clean up as you go — do not allow surplus adhesive to harden on tile faces.
9
Movement joints. Install to BS 5385 Parts 1–5 at all perimeters, internal corners and at regular intervals across large areas.
10
Grout. Allow 3 hours at 20°C before grouting and foot traffic. Use ARDEX-FLEX FL, ARDEX-FLEX FS or ARDEX EG 18 PLUS epoxy grout where chemical resistance is required.
Higher temperatures shorten, lower temperatures extend these times.
Downloads
Grey variant
Grey technical data sheet Grey EPD Grey safety data sheet
White variant
White technical data sheet White EPD
