Masonry adhesive is a plaster based adhesive compound used to bond the stone pieces together.

This makes it easier for the stones to move from side to side as they settle over time and helps prevent cracks in the mortar joint. It also allows for expansion and contraction with temperature changes instead of cracking if no movement was allowed at all. However, many people argue that this practice of adding such sealants encourages the fracturing of the stone by allowing too much movement. They feel that using a stronger material like cement will improve strength and reduce cracking. Others argue that such an approach may eventually lead to larger problems with cracking since the cement is harder than the stone. Cornice cement is a manufactured product made to work as both an adhesive and sealant. It's produced in various colours to match the colour of the plaster cornices, plasterboard surfaces, and the stonework on which it is used. It is used to stick plaster cornices or other plaster decorative products to plasterboard surfaces. Cornice adhesive is also used for reinforcing joints on plasterboard walls and back blocking plasterboard joints. You can also use this plaster based adhesive compound to join laminating plasterboard sheets to an existing wall. A white masonry adhesive or caulk finish can be applied over the top of the finished installation to give that nice hard shine that people expect with manufactured products like these.

Is cornice adhesive the same as plaster?

No, cornice cement is not the same as plaster. Plaster has little strength when dry and usually needs to be applied over a soft surface like wood or rough masonry to avoid cracking. Although we refer to these products as "cornice cement," what you see in stores and labelled by manufacturers is most often a vinyl-based material used to line behind stainless steel appliances and give them a hard, shiny finish. It comes in various colours, including white, but its intended purpose is not decorative stone installation.

Cornice adhesive is a specially manufactured bonding agent. It is used for bonding paper faced and plaster cornices to gypsum walls, ceilings, or plasterboards.

What is masonry adhesive?

Masonry adhesive is a very thin liquid often packaged in caulking gun cartridges for stone-based repairs such as reinforcing joints and internal corners in concrete structures. It can be used to bond stone to a concrete wall, and it's also commonly used as grout, but it has little strength when dry and should not be relied upon for structural support. A masonry adhesive may support a stone veneer application, but it won't last for years without cracking.

What is grout?

Grout is a mortar-like substance that is used between larger stones to fill the gaps and give a cleaner look with less visible mortar joints. Grout has little strength when dry and should not be relied upon for structural support. It's usually either white or grey in colour, matching the cementitious material from which it's made. Masonry adhesive can also be used as grout, although you will have more control over placement if you apply it by hand using a caulking gun or syringe.

Can I use cornice cement instead of grout?

No, this type of application is not recommended. Cornice cement is not strong enough to support the weight of larger stones, and it's much too thin for grouting between stone pieces. This type of application would put undue pressure on the adhesive bond and lead to cracking.

The use of cornice adhesive in this scenario would also make it much harder to control the placement since you'd be working with a water-based product that runs easily when wet and rinses away before you can get into position. It's still possible to achieve a clean look in spite of these limitations by using contrasting grout in darker or lighter colours (matching your mortar joints). Even better results will be achieved if you're able to choose complementary colours like black.

Does cornice cement stick to render?

You can use cornice cement to stick your stone tiles to your render, but make sure you clean it off with a damp cloth before applying the adhesive. It's important to leave it till it completely dries up and doesn't make any mess when applying cornice cement on top of the surface area. If you don't, the product won't stick to the render. You may need to apply a decent base coat to walls for a good finish.

How does cornice cement work?

Cornice cement works by filling the gaps and capillary action. This would allow for expansion and contraction with temperature changes instead of cracking if no movement was allowed at all. However, many people advise that this practice encourages the fracturing of the stone by allowing too much movement. They feel that using a harder material like cement will improve strength and reduce cracking. Others argue that such a hard material will prevent any movement and that the stone is just going to crack regardless. So what does this mean for your installation? If you feel strongly about preventing cracking, choose a mortar or grout material instead of cement-based products.

What is the difference between cornice adhesive and masonry adhesive?

Cornice adhesive is designed specifically for attaching stone veneers over drywall, wood, or plasterboard surfaces. It has been formulated to be thin enough, so it doesn't leave unsightly drip marks on surfaces behind where it's used. It's also water-based, which means it won't stain your wall if you're applying tiles over a painted surface with no primer/undercoat. Masonry adhesive is a thick, viscous product specifically designed for bonding stone to stone and has little strength when wet. Do not use masonry adhesive where you require support.

What should I do if my cornice cement dries up?

You can usually re-activate the cement by mixing it with water again. Just add enough water until it's pasty and starts to drip slowly from the nozzle of your caulking gun or syringe, then apply as normal. Make sure the surface you're working on is clean and free from dust before applying any water-based product. Otherwise, it will run into unwanted places while still in liquid form. You may also want a second caulking gun/syringe to mix the new.

Can cornice cement be used as a base coat?

No, cornice cement is not designed to be used as a base coat for painted surfaces. If you use it in this way, it will only serve to create more work for yourself when you paint your walls since the adhesive won't even stay put while wet! The cornice adhesive product was created specifically with drywall/wood substrates in mind. It's also too thin and runny to be used effectively as a covering layer on top of any material that isn't porous or absorbent. This includes primed or finished concrete surfaces. If your render doesn't have a rough texture, don't try to glue anything over it. Your best bet is to have a proper drywalling contractor do the job for you.

What surfaces can cornice cement be used on?

Cornice cement is a plaster based adhesive compound specifically designed for use on interior/exterior dry concrete walls or wood substrates that are painted with wall paint. It's also been known to work effectively on masonry surfaces such as mortar joints, stone veneers, and thin brick veneer. If the back of your brick surface has a porous texture, apply a thin coat of adhesive-based grout or a thin skim coat of clay plaster instead.

What about tile adhesion promoters?

Cornice adhesive provides no benefit over any other standard clear silicone-based construction adhesive – there's no point in using it as a tile adhesion promoter. It's also not a good idea to use cornice adhesive on your bathroom tiles (or any other wall tiles for that matter) since it won't stick very well and will fail against the moist environment of a bathroom. If you're working with ceramic or terracotta clay tiles, just apply a thin coat of cement-based grout instead. More information on masonry adhesive and masonry veneer can be found on the National Construction Code website.