Types of Adhesives Used in Construction (Large-Scale Projects)

It’s been about 200,000 years since we humans (Neanderthals, really) started using adhesives. The tar they created from birch tree bark was an admirable, but unsophisticated way to bind stone tools.

Today, adhesives can bind everything from broken eyeglasses to glass skyscrapers. That’s because adhesives of the 21st century are much more versatile – and much, much stronger. 

When you’re talking about the types of adhesives used in construction, you’re talking an even higher level of performance. On many surfaces they’re easier to use, more durable, and better at distributing loads than mechanical fasteners like screws and nails.

New products are popping up in commercial construction by the month, each with its own set of properties and proper uses. There’s no time like the present to review the types of adhesives you may come across in future construction specs.

(Related Post: Types of Sealants Safe for Commercial Builds)

Types of Construction Adhesives – By Material

When you’re under the gun to meet specific compatibility or other requirements, material is a logical first step in distinguishing one solution from another. The product will need to play nicely with its future home, whether that’s metal, glass, wood, or another surface. The adhesive’s chemical makeup will also impact its ability to hold up against corrosives, mechanical stress, and extreme temperatures.

There are a range of common adhesive materials available to meet your needs:

Epoxy Adhesives

Let’s start at the top with the most powerful material.

Epoxy is a structural material, through and through. It can bond metals, glass, stone, ceramics, and composites.

This product consists of resin and a hardener, which takes a skilled worker or special equipment to mix.

Epoxy adhesives are common in heavy-duty applications that need both strength and durability. These include:

• Structural repairs
• Anchoring bolts & rebar in concrete
• Bonding metal components

Polyurethane Adhesives

This synthetic adhesive is a popular tool in many a caulking gun and aerosol can. It adheres to many wood, metal, concrete, and plastic materials. Its chemical makeup allows it to absorb movement and vibration without damage.

One-component polyurethane adhesives come ready to use but at a lower performance. Two-component versions require mixing before application but perform better under stress.

Unlike epoxy adhesives, urethane products are ideal for builds that experience movement or significant temperature changes. Due to their water-resistant properties, they’re common in:

• Outdoor applications
• Wood flooring
• Panel bonding

Acrylic Latex

Acrylic is seemingly everywhere – see phone cases, your wife’s nails, and construction product shelves. For the latter, you’ll find it attached to metals, composites, plastics, and ceramics. It can bond wood, drywall, and tiling, even if they’re highly porous.

Don’t let the odor scare you away – acrylic adhesives are harmless and have some valuable qualities. Just like urethanes, they come in both one- and two-component versions.

Despite that versatility, acrylic (which includes latex) falls under “good” in the good-better-best hierarchy of adhesives in construction. Acrylic is often the adhesive of choice when you need quick bonding that still has a little sturdiness. Popular uses include:

• Panel bonding
• Signs
• Nonstructural work

Types of Construction Adhesives – By Structural Performance

Project managers overseeing critical load-bearing elements of a build will certainly care about this one. There’s a clear, defined line between structural and decorative types.

Structural Adhesives

Structural adhesives are high-performance agents that can withstand significant loads. They must offer a minimum tensile shear strength in the 700-1,200 range.

Key applications for structural adhesives include:

• Bonding concrete and metal to themselves or each other
• Securing ceramic tiles to concrete or masonry
• Attaching construction panels
• Installing exterior doors
• Composite bonding
• Structural glass installation

Basically, when the joint plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the structure, you need an adhesive beyond what’s at Lowe’s or Walmart. Structural adhesives are most often epoxies, but can work as certain polyurethanes or acrylics. They come in liquid, paste, and film forms.

Non-Structural Adhesives

If part of your project calls for bonding decorative materials that don't require high-strength adhesion, non-structural adhesives will work just fine. They also have functional purposes in moving, watertight joints.

These versatile products can:

• Secure floor and wall coverings
• Attach panels, fiberboards, and particle boards
• Bond trim and some interior doors

While not suitable for load-bearing or permanent bonds, non-structural adhesives offer quick fixes and sealing.

Available in a variety of formulas – including emulsion/dispersion types, neoprene contact adhesives, and solvent-based options – these products open up a lot of flexibility for interior finishing use. There are even natural and renewable product lines. Remember: Always match the adhesive type to your requirements, and follow expert guidelines on what's truly heavy-duty and what's not.

Structural Silicone Sealants

While a sealant is not a true adhesive, structural sealants have some adhesive qualities.

Certain silicones perform well enough to support glass, metal, composite, and ceramic panels. For starters, this contractor-friendly material has excellent resistance to moisture and UV light. Once you install structural silicone, it stays elastic after curing, accommodating movement and providing a reliable bond. 

The adhesive properties of these silicones work well in:

• Roofing
• Glazing
• Other exterior facade applications

Types of Construction Adhesives – By Bonding Method

The adhesive’s installers, as well as anyone else paying close attention to deadlines, should take interest in the product’s bonding method.

The way a construction adhesive hardens can influence outcomes at project sites with high humidity, extreme temperatures, or the need for a fast cure time. Other important selling points (or stay-away points) include:

• Ease of application
• Need for heat activation
• Substrate material
• Expected traffic load
• Desired service life

One of the most prominent types of adhesives that subcontractors use is tape. Adhesives also take the form of epoxy, glue, liquid, paste, film, and pellets. 

Each of those product types falls under at least one of the three bonding methods:

Physically Hardened Adhesives

These construction adhesives harden as they lose water or another solvent. There are many subtypes of bonding products that use this curing method:

If there’s a common theme in physically hardened adhesives, it’s that they’re easy to transport and apply. That said, it’s usually best to leave them for less-critical wood-bonding applications.

Chemically Cured Adhesives

These construction adhesives harden through a chemical reaction. The process makes them more capable in structural situations that require a durable bond.

Common uses include:

• Glazing
• Concrete repair
• Flooring
• Roofing
• Sealing windows, doors, & expansion joints

Chemically cured construction adhesives include many of the materials you already learned about. Popular choices include:

• Silicone
• Hybrid silicone
• Polyurethane
• Epoxy
• Acrylic (two-component only)

Pressure-Sensitive (Contact) Adhesives

Pressure-sensitive adhesives – which you might know as PSA or contact adhesives – are probably the easiest to understand. These adhesives just need a little nudging to bond to a substrate. 

The perks of pressure-sensitive construction adhesives are immediate and obvious:

• Bond instantly upon contact
• Bonds to a wide range of materials, including laminates, metal, & rubber
• Usable on wet surfaces
• Remains strong in the presence of heat & moisture

Common materials in pressure-sensitive adhesives include rubber (natural or synthetic), silicone, and acrylic. As for the actual formats, tape is by far the most famous. It sounds absurd to the layman, but some construction tapes can hold building elements structurally in place.

Many designers and installers go with structural tapes vs. sealants or other adhesives for a variety of reasons:

• Long-term value
• Quick application & cure time
• Allows for greater range of material options in design
• Adheres to traditionally tricky surfaces
• Thrives in wind, heat, cold, & vibration

You’re most likely to seek out tape for sealing seams, joints, and overlaps, especially in door and window installations. Of course, there are other contact adhesives for more specific construction uses:

• Films: Thin product applied for laminating surfaces or attaching panels and protective coverings
• Sheets: Large, adhesive-backed product that attaches waterproofing membranes, vapor barriers, & soundproofing
• Sealant pads/gaskets: Precut components for sealing around fixtures and blocking air & moisture

Types of Construction Adhesives – By Use Case

Seeking a tailor-made solution for glazing windows, installing large surface areas, or bonding insulation? This category might be for you.

Manufacturers design some products to meet specific performance mandates for specific tasks. Combing this category and working with a distributor might help you find a quick solution without needing deep technical knowledge.

Facade Adhesives

Facade adhesive products improve the results of an exterior wall installation. There are two types in this category, each with its own specialties:

Mastics

Construction mastics are somehow broad and specific at the same time. 

They share certain characteristics, primarily their thick, paste-like consistency. However, they can consist of a variety of base materials:

• Polyurethane
• Acrylic
• Silicone
• Asphalt
• Rubber

More importantly, they’re suitable for bonding large, vertical surfaces. They display nice gap-filling properties for:

• Panels
• Insulation
• Tiles
• Fixtures

Mastics are a unique beast. While some are chemically cured (i.e. silicone and polyurethane options), their pasty form and application method are different from other chemically cured adhesives.

More on the Types of Adhesives Used in Construction

Modern adhesives are just about everywhere in commercial construction specs – from primitive bonding of insulation boards to big-brain tasks like structural glazing.

Like with most construction materials, there’s a dizzying array of options for bonding and sealing products. When choosing an adhesive type, focus on:

• Meeting LEED & code requirements – for VOCs, etc.
• Surface compatibility
• Budget

New materials, products, and job site challenges are constantly in the pipeline, so stay on your toes. You can learn more about adhesives and other construction product best practices with our free newsletter: