Advantages of Using Adhesives Over Mechanical Methods

An adhesive is a material that attaches two materials together. This method is different to using mechanical methods of holding items together. Adhesives have many advantages and disadvantages compared to mechanical methods of attaching materials. There are natural and synthetic made adhesives available. Most products are either applied in a liquid or paste form which increases in bond strength as it dries. They are used in different application including manufacturing, construction and repair.

There are many advantages of using adhesives over mechanical methods to stick items together. These include:

 Can be easily applied. No drilling or expensive equipment required.

 The stress of the bond is more widely distributed along the joint.

 Allows for flexibility depending on the type of product used.

 Provides a cleaner finish compared to mechanical items like screws.

 Does not rust.

 Allows for more precise alignment of items.

 Can fill in gaps for a more even finish.

Drilling into any material can permanently damage it.If one item needs to be removed then there will be a hole which will require filling in. Sometimes special drill bits are required depending on the material. For example on tiles a special tile drill bit will be required.

It would be possible to attach a tile to the wall with screws and wall plugs but it won't look very nice. Tile stuck onto the wall using a tile adhesive provides a much cleaner look. In a similar way it's also possible to attach wooden skirting to a wall with screws and wall plugs but the finish won't be as good as an adhesive. In the image below, the skirting has been fixed to the wall with screws and wall plugs. The hole has then been filled in with wood filler but the finish is not similar to the natural wood.