Bona Adhesives FAQ
18 questions answered by NSW's only Bona Premier Dealer.
Bona Adhesives (18)
What is Bona Quantum T?
Bona Quantum T is a single-component silane-based parquet adhesive with titanium cross-linking chemistry. It bonds solid and engineered timber direct to the subfloor and sets up as a moisture barrier and acoustic layer in the same bead -- three jobs in one trowel pass. Sand-Aid stocks it in 9kg sausages for the OptiSpread UX applicator.
Is Quantum T a 1K or 2K adhesive?
Single-component. No mixing, no Part A/Part B, no pot-life clock. Cut the sausage into the OptiSpread UX gun, trowel it out, lay the boards. Any leftover goes back in the box for the next job.
How strong is Quantum T compared to other parquet adhesives?
Up to 150% greater shear strength than other elastic and hard-elastic flooring adhesives. It also has the highest initial tensile bond (the 'Green Grab') in Bona's range, which is what keeps boards flat against the subfloor while it cures -- fewer hollow spots, fewer callbacks.
What is 'Green Grab' and why does it matter?
Green Grab is the initial tensile bond strength before the adhesive fully cures. A strong Green Grab holds the board down while the adhesive is still curing, so the board can't lift off the subfloor as it settles. Low-Green-Grab adhesives let boards ride up off the trowel ridges and you end up with hollow spots that sound dead under foot. Quantum T's Green Grab is the best in class.
What board thicknesses will Quantum T handle?
Up to 22mm solid timber flooring. Below that it handles engineered boards of any standard thickness comfortably. For anything thicker or wider than standard parquet ring Sand-Aid with the board spec and we'll confirm the right adhesive.
How long before you can walk on a Quantum T floor?
Walk-on traffic in 4-6 hours under normal conditions. You can sand the floor in 12 hours. Means you can glue down, come back the next morning and start the sanding sequence without losing schedule.
Does Quantum T work as a moisture barrier?
Yes. It's a 3-in-1 product: adhesive, moisture barrier, and acoustic insulation layer in a single bead. That said the subfloor still has to meet the relevant moisture spec for your application. If the concrete is wetter than spec, prime it first with R410 or R540 before the Quantum T layer.
Is Quantum T an acoustic underlay?
Yes. Because it bonds the board directly to the subfloor through an elastic silane layer, it dampens impact sound better than a rigid trowelled adhesive. For apartment blocks and commercial fitouts where acoustic ratings matter, Quantum T is the trade standard for glued-down timber.
Is Quantum T safe to use -- VOCs, isocyanates?
Zero VOCs and no isocyanates. Classified non-hazardous. Safer to breathe than urethane or MS polymer adhesives that carry solvent warnings. Doesn't stain hands either -- wipes off easy with a dry rag.
Will Quantum T mark prefinished floors?
No. It's specifically formulated not to stain prefinished boards. Drips on the face wipe off without leaving a ghost.
What's the best applicator for Quantum T?
The Bona OptiSpread UX gun. It feeds the 9kg sausage straight onto the subfloor as a bead you can then trowel out with a Bona notched trowel matched to the board thickness. Saves a bucket, saves mess, saves time.
Can Quantum T be used over in-slab radiant heating?
Yes. Silane adhesives handle the thermal movement of a heated slab better than rigid trowelled products. Follow the Bona radiant-heating procedure in the TDS -- ramp the system down before install, let the slab cool, install, then ramp back up gradually. Ring for the full sequence.
What's the difference between the 1kg and 9kg Quantum T sausages?
Same adhesive, different pack size. 1kg is for small parquet patches and stair treads; 9kg is the trade pack for the OptiSpread UX gun on full-floor installs. Sand-Aid stocks the 9kg as standard -- bulk pricing, fewer sausage changes on the job. Ring for the 1kg if you need it and we'll order it in.
How do I clean up Quantum T?
Wet adhesive wipes off boards and hands with a dry cloth. Cured adhesive has to be scraped off mechanically -- Bona Remover helps but it's easier to wipe drips before they set. Tools clean up with mineral turps or Bona brush cleaner while still wet.
How long does Quantum T keep on the shelf?
Check the date on the box -- typically 12 months from manufacture in an unopened sausage stored cool and dry. Once the sausage is opened, use it in one session. Silane adhesives skin over on contact with air, so you can't really 'save half' for tomorrow.
Can I glue acoustic underlay over Quantum T?
You don't need to. Quantum T is the acoustic layer -- adding another underlay under the boards defeats the purpose of the direct-stick silane bond. If the building spec calls for a separate acoustic mat, talk to the acoustic engineer about a Bona-certified system that keeps the product warranty intact.
Why choose Quantum T over a urethane adhesive?
Three reasons: zero VOCs and no isocyanates so it's safer on the jobsite and for the homeowner behind you, a stronger Green Grab so boards stay put while curing, and the 3-in-1 moisture-barrier/acoustic layer so you don't have to buy and trowel a separate barrier product. On top of that it doesn't stain prefinished boards or hands. Urethane still has its place but for most residential and commercial direct-stick jobs Quantum T is faster, cleaner and cheaper over the full bill of materials.
How do I apply Bona Quantum T adhesive?
Load the 9kg sausage into the Bona OptiSpread UX applicator gun. Run adhesive beads across the subfloor. Spread with a Bona notched trowel matched to the board thickness (B3 for standard strip, B6 for wider boards). Lay the board into the wet adhesive. Walk-on in 4-6 hours, sand in 12. Quantum T is a 3-in-1: adhesive, moisture barrier, and acoustic layer in one trowelled pass. Ring Sand-Aid with the board spec for the exact trowel notch and coverage rate. Full guide at sand-aid.com/adhesives.html
Still have a question?
Ring Brad. 24 years of Bona experience. Straight answer, no runaround.
Call 1300 950 551