Substrate Repair & Tile Bonding with Mapei in Boston
Mapei repair products (Planitop, Mapegrout) restore damaged concrete before tile install. Kerabond and Keraflex adhesives bond tile to the repaired substrate. We handle the repair, coordinate the adhesive system, and ensure the whole assembly stays under one brand's warranty. Free written estimate on every project.
The strength of Mapei across a tile project is that every layer, repair mortar, primer, waterproofing, and tile adhesive, comes from the same engineered system. A Planitop repair under Mapelastic waterproofing under Kerabond adhesive is a single warranted assembly. Swap in a different brand's adhesive and the warranty dissolves.
We install Mapei repair products to restore the concrete substrate, then coordinate with the tile installer on the matched Kerabond adhesive so the system stays whole. The repair is the foundation; the adhesive is the final bond. Both must be Mapei for the warranty to hold.
We evaluate whether the repair is cosmetic (surface patching), moderate (tile substrate prep), or structural (load-bearing restoration) and select Planitop or Mapegrout accordingly.
Prepare concrete per spec
Unsound concrete is removed, the repair area is cleaned to Mapei standards, and the substrate is primed with the matched Mapei primer to ensure adhesion.
Mix and place repair mortar
Mapei repair is mixed to manufacturer ratios, placed at the engineered thickness, and finished to match the surrounding concrete surface.
Hand off to tile adhesive layer
Once the repair cures, we coordinate with the tile contractor on Kerabond or the matched Mapei adhesive so the tile bond completes the single-brand system.
Warranty coordination
Single-Brand Warranty Path Protects the Whole Assembly
On tile projects, the real value of Mapei is that the repair, waterproofing, and adhesive are all one brand's calibrated system. If the repair fails, the warranty covers it. If the adhesive fails, the warranty covers it. We manage the install so that path stays intact from start to finish.
Planitop vs Mapegrout, tile system warranty, primer and structural repair.
Planitop is the cosmetic-to-moderate repair family; Mapegrout covers structural repair with high-strength bonded chemistry. We pick based on the repair situation.
For whole-system warranty path, yes. Mixing brands at the adhesive layer breaks the system warranty even if the repair was Mapei. We coordinate accordingly.
Yes, the Mapegrout high-strength formulations are engineered for structural load. We pick the matched product for the engineered spec.
Yes, with the non-sag formulations in the Mapei range. Standard horizontal repair sags vertically; the vertical/overhead products stay in place.
Properly matched and installed Mapei repairs outlast the surrounding concrete in most service environments. Bond is engineered to be the strongest part of the assembly.
Mapei Planitop substrate repair under my tile install. Same brand through the whole assembly, warranty path stayed clean. The system coordination pays off.
Z. D6
Tile Contractor, Boston
★★★★★
Mapegrout structural repair on a load-bearing element. Engineer signed off on the repair spec, cured cleanly, structurally restored to spec.
Y. D6
GC, Cambridge
★★★★★
They coordinated Mapei repair with the tile contractor's Mapei adhesive choice. Single-brand warranty path the customer wanted. Real trade coordination.
Q. D6
Renovation Specialist, Somerville
★★★★★
Vertical wall repair with the non-sag Mapei product, stayed in place during cure where a horizontal product would have slumped. Right tool for the situation.
X. D6
Property Manager, Quincy
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