Terraco makes two tile adhesives that come ready to use from the pail, with no mixing: Terrapaste and Maxi Tilepaste. Short answer: Terrapaste is a white paste for ceramic tiles on interior walls. Maxi Tilepaste is a buff paste for tiles and clinkers on walls inside and out. Terraco says neither is suitable on its own for areas of prolonged saturation such as floors or pools. For those, use a cement adhesive such as Terrafix W11. This guide compares them using Terraco’s UAE technical data sheets.
Side by side
| Terrapaste | Maxi Tilepaste | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Interior walls | Walls, inside and outside |
| Binder | Styrene acrylate | Styrene acrylate |
| Colour | White | Buff |
| Bed thickness | About 3 mm, notched trowel | About 3 mm, notched trowel |
| Coverage | 1.0 to 2.0 kg/m² | 1.5 to 3 kg/m² |
| Fire | BS 476 Part 6, Class 0 | BS 476 Part 6, Class 0 |
| Other | Average pull-off 1.88 N/mm² on concrete walls, with failure in the tile body; can also grout joints | Can be modified with cement slurry for wetter areas (see below) |
| Packs | 5 kg and 25 kg pails | 25 kg pails |
| Shelf life | 12 months | 12 months |
Both data sheets list the same bases: fair-faced and lightweight concrete, plasterboard, chipboard, plywood, gypsum walls and sand/cement plaster.
When to use Terrapaste
Terrapaste suits interior wall tiling such as kitchen splashbacks and dry-area feature walls, and small jobs where a 5 kg pail is enough. Terraco’s data sheet also says it can be used for grouting tile joints.
When to use Maxi Tilepaste
Maxi Tilepaste extends ready-mixed tiling to exterior walls. For areas of prolonged saturation, Terraco specifies mixing in a cement slurry equal to 25% of the adhesive weight, with cement and water at 3:1. For pools, the data sheet names a cement adhesive such as Terrafix W11 as the alternative.
Paste or cement adhesive?
Paste adhesives save the mixing step and suit small, dry-area wall jobs. For floors, showers and pools, Terraco’s cement adhesives are the ones with EN 12004 classes: Terrafix W11 (C1T) and Terrafix W22 (C2TE). Our Terrafix W22 vs W11 guide explains the difference.
How to apply
- Prepare. The surface must be level, solid and clean. Repair defects; for old surfaces, wash with sugar soap, rinse and let dry. For Maxi Tilepaste, prime absorbent surfaces and plasterboard with Penetrating Primer.
- Spread about 3 mm with the smooth side of a notched trowel, then comb with the notched edge.
- Fix the tiles by pressing and twisting them into place before the adhesive skins over.
- Clean adhesive off tile faces with a wet sponge before it dries. Clean tools with water.
Grout afterwards with Terragrout G11.
How much you need
For a 10 m² kitchen wall: Terrapaste at 1.0 to 2.0 kg/m² needs 10 to 20 kg (one 25 kg pail, or two to four 5 kg pails). Maxi Tilepaste at 1.5 to 3 kg/m² needs 15 to 30 kg (one or two 25 kg pails). These are our own calculations from Terraco’s coverage figures; heavier tiles and uneven walls use more.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use paste adhesive in a shower?
Terraco says neither is suitable on its own for areas of prolonged saturation. Use a cement adhesive over a waterproofing layer; see Terracrete vs Weathercoat GP.
Can I tile floors with them?
Both data sheets describe wall use and exclude floors as areas of prolonged saturation unless modified, so ask us for a floor specification.
Buying Terraco tile adhesives in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised Terraco distributor and supplies Terrapaste, Maxi Tilepaste and the Terrafix range direct from the manufacturer. Message us on WhatsApp with the tile type and area. You can also browse every Terraco product we supply.
Sources
- Terraco UAE: Terrapaste technical data sheet (PDF)
- Terraco: Maxi Tilepaste technical data sheet (PDF, version 07.2009)
Retrieved 31 October and 1 November 2026. Quantities are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
