Tek Dek adhesive, temperature and spreading

[pcatterall]

Wanting to replace my afterdeck this winter. Only 8'x2' so not a huge job. I will be laying Tek Dek onto a new plywood sub base which I will epoxy all round.
Tek Dek offer a bedding adhesive which is a 'single part polyurathene base on an MS polymer' it comes as a .8kg 'sausage' which looks like it is for use in a big mastic gun. The instructions however suggest that it is applied with a spreader so no need for a gun.
Can anyone say which is the case? also at what temperature can it be used? they claim it will set in 36 hours at 20C. I supose that I could warm up the cabin a bit?
Grateful for any advice on this.
Peter

 

[moondancer]

I tried squeezing the stuff out of the sausage and ended up using about twice as much as if I had an applicator gun. Wilks sell the correct gun for it and if doing it again I would buy it.

The adhesive is similar to a Sikaflex version which says it requires 10 degree to go off properly in.

 

[oldsaltoz]

These dispensers are available at most equipment hire outlets.

Avagoodnewyear......

 

[Adamastor]

Hiya Peter
If the stuff your sticking your decks down with's MS Polymer based, it needs atmospheric moisture to cure, so as long as it's not sahara-dry outside, the stuff WILL cure, but exponentially slower if you're fitting decks in anything colder than shirtsleeve weather. Heat does speed up the process, though, but it's not as important as moisture to actually make the chemical magic happen.
(If you can wait a few days, PM me and I'll get you some dope on the stuff.)
For putting the goop down, yes, hacking the end of the sausage and trowelling it on IS easier, and certainly kinder on the pocket than hiring an air-dispender to squirt the stuff on! If you're seaming the edges of your Tek-Dek, the airgun is the only thing for the job. Beware, though- the stuff is messy to work with, like Sika's evil cousin! If you glop your bedding adhesive today, you can expect to look multi-coloured for tonight's festivities!
Happy New Year!

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks for the replies, it just seemed strange to put the stuf in a gun squeeze it out and then spread with an applicator.
Time wasted also seemed a factor ( but perhaps not in winter!!)
I have done most of the boats seams with an ordinary mastic gun and sika flex, bit hard on the wrists though even after warming. Only about 20 feet of seam on this job.
thanks again

 

[Graham_Wright]

They also sell the adhesive in standard cartidges. Contact them and buy their DVD. Extremely useful although it does miss bits out. If/when you get some on the top of the decking, let it dry and then brush it off with a soft brass-bristled brush;- i.e. a suede brush. Works a treat. There are two adhesives they offer;- one to edge stick the plastic to itself and the other for fixing to the deck. The latter is black and can be used for caulking any joins.

They also sell the msking tape and that is worthwhile if you do the job in two sections (which I would advise).

Best of luck;- the result looks fantastic.

 

[crisjones]

I have laid quite a bit of this stuff on our decks and I would recommend using the sausages in the proper heavy duty caulking gun. You simply squeeze it out in even runs and then use the spreader to give an even covering over the deck. I didn't try spreading it directly from the sausage but i suspect it would be a very messy job. Whatever method you use make sure you spend plenty of time masking off anything you don't want to touch - the stuff gets everywhere!!!!

The guns are available from Screwfix for quite a bit less than Tek Dek charge. The other benefit is that you can use the gun for standard sealant cartridges as well as the sausages and it is much easier to squeeeze than the cheap frame guns. The heavy duty guns are well made and will last a lifetime so are a good investment.