Selleys Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Multipurpose

What is Selleys Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Multipurpose, and where should you use it?

Selleys Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Multipurpose is a solvent-based synthetic rubber adhesive that forms a strong and lasting bond on most building substrates. It meets or exceeds the requirements of Australian Standard AS 2329 (1999) "Mastic Adhesive for Fixing Wallboards", including on wet and poorly seasoned timber, and it has excellent resistance to water and weather, which makes it suitable for interior and exterior applications.

Unusually for a construction adhesive, it can be used as the sole means of bonding — as a contact adhesive — or as one half of a dual bonding arrangement alongside mechanical fasteners, or where nails or screws support the weight until full cure. It also handles conditions that defeat water-based products: it does not roll off when applied onto wet timber even in cold weather, and it extrudes easily from the cartridge at low winter temperatures. The one thing to check before you buy: it is not suitable for polystyrene foam, and it is not for anything constantly damp or wet.

Technical specification

Property	Typical result
Technology	Solvent based synthetic rubber
Colour	Beige
Density	1.15
Open time	20–30 minutes, depending upon prevailing conditions
Initial cure	Strong bond after 24 hours
Full cure	7 days
Sag resistance (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix A)	Approximately 2mm
Flow and transfer (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix B)	>75% transfer after 15 minutes drying
Initial bond strength (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix D)	>500 kPa after 24 hours
Bond strength in tensile shear (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix E)	>1 MPa
Bond strength in peel (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix F)	Approximately 40 N/25mm
Static load in shear (AS 2329 (1999) Appendix G)	>10 days sustaining a 40N load @ 40 °C
Gap bridging	Up to 9mm
Repositionable	Wet bonds, up to 20 minutes after fitting
Coverage	Approximately 6 square metres (2 standard sheets) of wall panelling, or up to 15 metres of 5mm bead
Packaging	320 g cartridge

Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.

What the key numbers mean in practice

Open time of 20 to 30 minutes is generous, and deliberately so. The manufacturer describes the product as fast curing but not skinning too quickly, so that the adhesive wets out properly onto the surfaces being bonded. A construction adhesive that skins in five minutes forces you to work in short sections; this one lets you run a whole sheet's worth of beads and still get good contact. Wet bonds stay repositionable for up to 20 minutes after fitting.

Strong bond after 24 hours, full cure at 7 days. The tips section fills in the middle: in most situations a strong bond is achieved after 24 hours and continues to strengthen over a 2 to 3 day period, with full cure taking up to 7 days. Allow the adhesive to set for at least 24 hours before removing temporary fasteners or clamping.

Curing is achieved by evaporation of solvent, and the data sheet is specific about what slows that down: constant low temperatures, thick applications such as filled joints, wide bonded areas, and impervious bonded surfaces such as metals and dense timbers. All four make sense once you picture the solvent needing a way out — a wide panel bonded to sheet metal has no escape route except the perimeter. This is also why tightly clamped joints, such as cabinet making or joinery, are not recommended.

The four AS 2329 figures describe distinct behaviours. Sag resistance of about 2mm means the bead holds its shape rather than slumping down a vertical stud. Flow and transfer above 75% after 15 minutes' drying means that when you press a panel on after a quarter of an hour, most of the adhesive still transfers to the second surface — that is the number behind the generous open time. Initial bond strength above 500 kPa after 24 hours and tensile shear above 1 MPa describe the developing bond, and peel strength of about 40 N per 25mm covers the way sheet materials usually fail: a corner lifting.

Static load in shear: more than 10 days sustaining a 40N load at 40 °C. This is a creep test, and it is the most relevant figure for anything hanging on a wall in a hot roof space or on a warm north-facing wall. It also sets up the important caveat below — bonds weaken above 50 °C.

Bridges gaps up to 9mm, which is what makes it usable on rough and ill-fitting construction materials rather than only on machined, flat surfaces.

Where to use it

Suitable for bonding timber, plasterboard, MDF, particleboard, masonry, concrete, tiles and ceramics, metals, plastics (pre-test), rubber and glass. The data sheet nominates these typical applications:

• Sheet flooring to joists
• Metal or aluminium door strips to floors or walls
• Timber or fibre cement sheeting to cement block or brick walls
• Masonite or hardboard to timber or floor boards
• Wallboard or panelling to wood or metal frames
• Cork tiles to timber, fibre cement or plaster
• Timber flooring to yellow tongue, in conjunction with mechanical fixings, to avoid later squeaking

Its flexibility is part of the specification: it responds to normal shrinkage and thermal movement between building components without losing bond strength. Where the substrate is polystyrene foam or copper naphthenate (CuN) treated timber, the manufacturer directs you to Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Fast Grip instead.

How to apply it

Surface preparation

Surfaces to be bonded should be free of oil, grease and dust. On wet timber, pooled water should be wiped off — but note that the adhesive is rated to work on wet and poorly seasoned timber, so damp does not disqualify the substrate.

Directions

1. Cut the cartridge tip, fit the nozzle and cut the end to the desired opening — approximately 5mm diameter.
2. Direct a bead along the length of the joist, stud or batten. On broad flat surfaces, apply beads every 40 cm. Zig-zag beads are more appropriate on surfaces of moderate width, such as shiplap panels.
3. Fix with sufficient nails, screws or clamping to hold the load and achieve contact over the total bond area. Wet bonds are repositionable for up to 20 minutes after fitting.
4. Allow the adhesive to set for at least 24 hours before removing any temporary fasteners or clamping.

Contact bond method

For faster grab, apply to one surface only, press the parts together and pull them apart. Allow the surfaces to dry for 2 to 5 minutes before firmly joining. Surfaces should not be kept apart for longer than 20 minutes — doing so will impair bond strength.

Flooring

When fixing sheet flooring such as particleboard, use in conjunction with the flooring manufacturer's installation specifications for minimum nailing requirements. To eliminate squeaks in tongue and groove flooring, apply a bead into the groove of each board, in conjunction with mechanical fixings.

Limitations — where Multipurpose should not be used

• Should not be applied at temperatures below 5 °C.
• Not recommended for tightly clamped joints, for example cabinet making or joinery.
• Do not use as the sole bonding agent for structural bonding.
• Not suitable for polystyrene foam. Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Fast Grip is recommended for polystyrene foam and for copper naphthenate (CuN) treated timber.
• Not suitable for use on mirrors.
• Bonds weaken at higher temperatures, for example above 50 °C. Avoid bonding metals or heavy materials that will be heated by direct sun, such as to metal roofing and siding. Consult Selleys about particular applications subject to heating.
• Not suitable for bonding materials in areas which will be constantly damp or wet, and not suitable for permanent water immersion.
• Pre-test plastics to determine compatibility.

The distinction between "excellent resistance to water and weather" and "not for constantly damp or wet areas" is worth holding onto. The adhesive survives exterior exposure; it does not survive being permanently wet.

Clean up and storage

Clean off wet adhesive with mineral turps. Dry adhesive can be removed by scraping or sanding.

This material is classified as a Class 3 Flammable Liquid under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail and NZS 5433, and must be stored in accordance with the relevant regulations. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight, away from foodstuffs, away from oxidising agents, and away from sources of heat or ignition. Store locked up, keep the container standing upright, keep containers closed when not in use, and check regularly for spills.

Safety information

Selleys does not publish a safety data sheet for Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Multipurpose in the sources used to build this page, so no GHS hazard classification, signal word or hazard statements are reproduced here.

That is an absence of published data, not a finding that the product is non-hazardous. It should not be read as an all-clear, and the classification of a similar or neighbouring product should not be assumed to apply — variants within a Selleys range frequently carry genuinely different classifications.

Searches return the sheet for the standard Pro Trade Construction Adhesive, which is a different variant.

To obtain it, request the safety data sheet for this product from Selleys directly: 1300 555 205 in Australia, 0800 735 539 in New Zealand, or contact Selleys. For an emergency involving a Selleys product the emergency line is 1800 220 770 in Australia and 0800 220 770 in New Zealand; for suspected poisoning, the Poisons Information Centre is 131 126 in Australia and 0800 764 766 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Multipurpose

How long can I leave the bead before fitting the panel?

Open time is 20 to 30 minutes depending on conditions, and more than 75% of the adhesive still transfers after 15 minutes' drying. Using the contact bond method, surfaces should not be kept apart for longer than 20 minutes.

How long before I can remove clamps or temporary fasteners?

At least 24 hours, which is when a strong bond is achieved in most situations. It continues to strengthen over 2 to 3 days, and full cure can take up to 7 days.

Can I use it on wet or poorly seasoned timber?

Yes. It meets AS 2329 (1999) including on wet and poorly seasoned timber, and it does not roll off when applied to wet timber even in cold weather. Wipe off any pooled water first.

Can I use it outside?

Yes. Its resistance to water and weather makes it suitable for interior and exterior applications. It is not suitable for areas that will be constantly damp or wet, or for permanent immersion.

Can I use it on polystyrene foam?

No. Use Pro Trade Construction Adhesive Fast Grip for polystyrene foam and for copper naphthenate treated timber.

Can I use it as the only fixing?

It can be used as the sole means of bonding, as a contact adhesive, or in a dual bonding arrangement with mechanical fasteners. It must not, however, be used as the sole bonding agent for structural bonding.

Will it work on a metal roof or sun-heated cladding?

No. Bonds weaken above about 50 °C, and the data sheet specifically warns against bonding metals or heavy materials heated by direct sun, such as metal roofing and siding.

Can I paint over it?

Yes, the dried adhesive is paintable.

What gap will it bridge?

Up to 9mm, which is what makes it workable on rough and ill-fitting materials.

How much will one cartridge do?

Approximately 6 square metres — two standard sheets — of wall panelling, or up to 15 metres of 5mm bead.

Why is my bond curing slowly?

Curing is by solvent evaporation. Constant low temperatures, thick applications, wide bonded areas and impervious surfaces such as metals and dense timbers all extend the time to full strength.

Will it stop floorboards squeaking?

Applied as a bead into the groove of each tongue and groove board, in conjunction with mechanical fixings, that is one of its listed uses. Follow the flooring manufacturer's minimum nailing requirements as well.

How do I clean it up?

Mineral turps while wet; scraping or sanding once dry.

Are there storage precautions?

Yes — it is a Class 3 Flammable Liquid. Store it upright, closed, locked up, out of direct sunlight and away from heat, ignition sources, oxidising agents and foodstuffs.