The EMMA technical desk

Practical guidance on tiling, masonry and wall finishing — written for site conditions in Assam and the Northeast, not for a lab.

Tiling6 min read

Tile Adhesive vs Cement Mortar: Which Is Better for Fixing Tiles?

Cement-sand mortar has fixed tiles in India for fifty years. On today's vitrified and large-format tiles it is the reason so many floors sound hollow. Here is the honest comparison.

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Tiling5 min read

Tile Adhesive Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3: What the Difference Actually Means

Three bags look identical on the counter. The difference is bond strength and flexibility — and picking one grade too low is a repair bill, not a saving.

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Estimating5 min read

Tile Adhesive Coverage: How Many Bags per 100 sq ft?

Coverage is the number everyone gets wrong at quotation stage. Here is how to estimate properly, and what actually moves the figure on site.

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Troubleshooting6 min read

Why Tiles Sound Hollow and Come Loose — and How to Prevent It

Tap a floor with a coin. That dull, drum-like sound is an air pocket. Here is where it comes from and how to make sure your floor does not have it.

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Masonry5 min read

AAC Block Joining Mortar vs Cement-Sand Mortar: Cost, Speed and Strength

AAC blocks are precision-made. Laying them on a 12 mm cement-sand joint throws away most of what you paid for.

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Wall finishing5 min read

Wall Putty Before Paint: Why It Matters and How to Apply It Correctly

Paint shows every flaw underneath it. Putty is the layer that decides whether the finish looks expensive or ordinary.

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Tiling4 min read

White vs Grey Tile Adhesive: What to Use for Marble and Light Stone

Grey adhesive under white marble is one of the most expensive mistakes on a finishing job — and it only shows up weeks after the stone is laid.

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Regional practice5 min read

Tiling During the Northeast Monsoon: What Contractors Should Watch

Guwahati gets a serious monsoon. Material behaviour changes with it, and the sites that plan for that are the ones that do not come back for repairs.

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Renovation5 min read

Tile on Tile: How to Lay New Tiles Over Old Without Breaking the Floor

Breaking an old floor means dust, debris, a week of disruption and a repair bill for the slab. Tiling over it works — if the checks are done honestly.

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Specialist work5 min read

Swimming Pool and Terrace Tiling: The Material Checklist

Permanently wet, permanently moving, and impossible to repair cheaply. Pool and terrace tiling is where material selection stops being a cost line.

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Product brochure

The full EMMA range, in one PDF

All eight grades with key features, usability data and application notes — 16 pages, ready to share with your site team or client.

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FAQs

About these articles

Who writes these articles?

The EMMA technical desk — the same team that answers product calls and visits sites. Everything published here comes from problems we see on real jobs in this region.

How often do you publish?

Two to four articles a month on tiling, masonry and wall finishing practice for Northeast conditions.

Can I get these as a printed sheet for my masons?

Yes. Ask for the printable application guide and we will send a PDF you can print and hand to your site team.

Can I share or republish an article?

Share it freely. If you want to republish an extract, quote it with attribution and a link back to the page.

Will you write about a topic I suggest?

Often, yes. If your sales counter or site team keeps getting the same question, send it over — common questions become the next article.

Does the advice apply outside the Northeast?

The material guidance is general, but curing times, monsoon precautions and storage advice are written for this climate. In a drier region, expect shorter open times and different storage risks.

All FAQs

Have a question we have not covered?

Send it to the technical desk — if it is a common one, it becomes the next article.