Ceramic Tile Expansion Joint Detail

A movement joint is in the tile only.

Ceramic tile expansion joint detail.

An expansion joint is a strip of flexible material in this case caulk that lets tile expand and contract with changes in temperature. An expansion joint is in the substrate for instance in concrete. For ceramic glass and stone tile installation provides a very detailed explanation of the requirements and necessity for expansion joint construct design and placement. Tile expansion joints tile doctor ceramic porcelain and stone tile expands and contracts with thermal and moisture changes in the environment.

Control joints are there because it s not a question of if the slab will crack but rather when the slab cracks it hopefully happens at the joint. Schluter systems prefabricated movement joint profiles protect tile edges and prevent sound bridges and surface water penetration resulting in a permanent maintenance free installation. Consult tcna handbook for ceramic glass and stone tile installation detail ej171 for this vital information. Anywhere tile meets a vertical surface like steps or the foundation of your house.

Learn all about expansion joints here. Too many tile. Where should movement joints be placed. The appropriate design of a movement joint is based on the tile or stone assembly s configuration and substrate type.

Recognizing that tile is a facade movement joints are needed to eliminate stresses that can occur between the substrate and the tile due to differing amounts of expansion and contraction. The family of schluter dilex prefabricated movement profiles includes a variety of shapes sizes and materials to suit different applications. It s quite common to see controlled breaks in concrete and those are usually expansion joints. Over any isolation or control joints in the concrete.

The tcna handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation. If you tile over an expansion joint then you need to honor that joint in the tile as well. The short answer is that you do not span control expansion joints with the tile. It allows for movement in the tile.

For installation of tile the tile ends at each control joint and the gap if filled with caulk rather than grout. Locate ctc joint in tile or stone surfaces directly above joints in sub floor full length may be fastened to sub floor using a construction adhesive trowel setting material making sure there is full coverage over the entire leg to ensure a smooth transition mortar bed may be feathered off both sides of joint.