Floor Tile Expansion Joint

According to the tile council of north america a body that helps set standards for tile installations when installing outdoor tile there must be an expansion joint every 8 feet to 12 feet in each direction.

Floor tile expansion joint.

An expansion joint is in the substrate for instance in concrete. According to the ntca national tile contractors association reference manual an expansion joint is a joint through the tile mortar and reinforcing wire down to the substrate by integrating these stress relievers into the tile assembly expansion and contraction takes place without compromising its integrity. Movement joints are filled with material that allows for contraction and expansion. The term expansion joint is used in the tiling industry.

It s quite common to see controlled breaks in concrete and those are usually expansion joints. Placement of expansion joints is very important. A movement joint is in the tile only. Schluter systems prefabricated movement joint profiles protect tile edges and prevent sound bridges and surface water penetration resulting in a permanent maintenance free installation.

For floor applications urethane neoprene or polysulfide are most often used in traffic areas and silicone sometimes where traffic is not a concern. Traffic areas require a sealant with a shore hardness of 35 or greater. Thus 12mm joints can be compressed to about 10mm and extended to about 14mm 6mm compressed to about 4 75mm and extended to about 7 25mm. Learn all about expansion joints here.

I can t recall how many times people have told me they heard a loud crack in the night and when they investigated they found that a large area of their tiled floor had lifted an inch or two off the substrate beneath it. It allows for movement in the tile. Tile expansion joints tile doctor ceramic porcelain and stone tile expands and contracts with thermal and moisture changes in the environment. It is recommended that you err on the side of caution and use the smaller measurement.

It defines a narrow gap deliberately created through a tile installation which allows a slight movement of the installation itself to occur after its completion without sustaining any damage. What causes tile to tent. Floor expansion joint covers for both thermal and seismic applications our floor to floor and floor to wall floor expansion joint systems allow 6 way movement or 4 way movement whilst the surface fixed products generally cover 2 directional movement. Movement joints are an integral part of any tile assembly and must be incorporated within the tile field at doorsills and at transitions to walls and other restraining structures to allow movement of the assembly and prevent stresses that can damage the system.

The term can be interchanged readily with movement joint without losing any meaning.