Description
Roberts R656 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive is formulated for installing PVC-backed, fibre-backed and cushion-back carpet tiles, reinforced vinyl composition tiles, and laminated slab underlays used in Double-Bond carpet installation. Its 95% RH resistant formulation and tolerance for concrete pH up to 12.0 make it genuinely capable on newer or less-cured slabs where a standard adhesive would need a much longer wait before installation.
What sets a pressure sensitive adhesive apart from a standard hard-set adhesive is the releasable bond option: laying carpet tiles into R656 once it has tacked up and turned clear limits adhesive transfer to the tile backing, so tiles can be lifted, relaid or repositioned later with a clean backing — genuinely useful for commercial carpet tile installations that need occasional tile replacement. Laying into the wet film instead, before it fully dries, produces a stronger, more permanent bond.
Technical Specifications
| Appearance | Creamy paste |
|---|---|
| Application temperature | 10°C to +30°C (implied by standard Roberts range) |
| Moisture tolerance | Up to 95% RH (In-Situ Probe method) |
| pH tolerance | Up to 12.0 |
| Set to traffic | 24 hours |
| Tack-up time | Approx. 30 minutes to 1 hour at 20°C |
| Packaging | 15 litre |
| Shelf life | 12 months, original unopened packaging |
Where to Use
- PVC-backed, fibre-backed and cushion-back carpet tiles
- Reinforced vinyl composition tiles (VCT), vinyl planks with embossed backing, loose-lay vinyl planks
- Laminated slab underlays for Double-Bond carpet installation
How to Apply
- Prepare the substrate — ensure it is absorbent, dry, smooth, sound and clean, mechanically prepared if required.
- Prime if needed — highly absorbent concrete should be primed with Roberts R48 Universal Primer first.
- Apply the adhesive — spread evenly across the substrate.
- Choose the bond type — lay tiles once clear for a releasable bond, or into the wet film for a stronger, more permanent bond.
- Roll the installation — roll in both directions with the recommended roller weight.
- Restrict traffic — no heavy traffic for 24 hours.
Important Notes
- For temperatures below 5°C or above 35°C, contact RLA Technical for guidance.
- Uneven concrete subfloors should be treated with the Roberts range of levelling compounds first.
- Clean tools immediately with warm soapy water; dried adhesive needs Roberts R550 Latex/Acrylic Adhesive Remover.
The releasable-versus-permanent bond choice built into R656 gives a genuinely different outcome depending on how it’s used, and that distinction is worth planning for before the job starts rather than discovering afterward. A commercial carpet tile floor that might need individual tile replacement down the track benefits from the releasable approach, while a domestic or low-traffic install where tiles will never be lifted again is better served by the stronger wet-film bond.
