We have different types of tile joints, such as structural perimeter and intermediate. Suppose the ceramic tile-to-tile joints between ceramic floor tiles are the key components for reducing the rigidity of a tile covering on its outermost layer (the tiles themselves form that).
In that case, the tile expansion joints represent the multilayer construction solution for absorbing the various types of forces resulting from movements generated in the substrates and/or the structures on which that system is seated or those generated within it for various reasons.
These gaps in the tile covering, known as tile expansion joints, are filled with a permanently deformable substance and typically influence the whole cross-section of the system.
We distinguish between structural, perimeter, and intermediate joints based on their purpose and placement.
However, what are the basic standards for the appropriate placement of tile expansion joints based on their typology?
Floor Tiles Joint Structural
To stop the emergence of uncontrolled cracks, the substrate must be divided, and we recommend structural floor tiles joint.
The new joints must be wider than the current ones or at least equal in size to them. A larger joint is used to account for the forces that the multilayer tile covering system will generate in addition to those from the substrate.
The breadth must always be at least 10 mm, allowing four times the anticipated largest movements. It is advised to install metal reinforcement that safeguards the edge of the surrounding tiles and the sealing material.
This connection must be filled with a compressible substance up to the necessary depth of the sealing material unless flexible prefabricated elements attached to the metal protective profiles are employed. This compressible substance prevents the sealant from sticking.
A separating strip should be used if the junction must be sealed directly on the pre-existing fill.
The location of the remaining structural joints must be planned according to the width and layout of existing structural joints. The alignment with a structural joint can occasionally affect how ceramic tile joints are laid out.
While structural tile expansion joints can be fixed on a different layer or on the leveling base, reinforcement/protective profiles must extend to the depth of the pre-existing junction.
The breadth of the tile covering joint at structural junctions must match the width of the substrate.
A new joint arrangement that is compatible with the existing joints must be developed if the pre-existing joints are not performed correctly, are not straight and parallel to one another.
or are not distributed according to the joint pattern used for the tile covering. The specifier is solely responsible for this assignment.
Floor Tiles Joint Perimeter
The purpose of the perimeter joint is to ensure that the movement of the floor tile covering is not restricted or that the movements of the enclosure or partition structural elements do not interfere with it.
They should be used around any building component that poses a barrier or significant restriction to the mobility of the tile covering.
All points where the tile covering meets building materials that restrict its movement or might exert stresses on it require perimeter joints.
Always remember that the perimeter joint must be at least 6 mm wide, reach the decoupling or separation layer, and be implemented.
If regulating, leveling, or slope-providing layers are necessary, they must be installed to create future perimeter tile expansion joints. Polystyrene will frequently serve as the fill material. These joints must have a minimum width of 6 mm.
There should be no functional or cosmetic issues with placing the perimeter tile expansion joints under the skirting or tile covering because the thickness.
of the ceramic tile plus the adhesive much exceeds the minimum width of 6 mm. An ideal finish is provided by effective sealing over the fill material.
The ceramic tile that covers the flooring, or the tile that serves as a skirting or baseboard, must always be set softly over the tile flooring for the obvious reason of not impeding mobility and preventing acoustic bridges.
The same criteria are applied for flooring perimeter joints and tile covering. When movements in the substrate are anticipated or when using or climatic.
conditions call for it, a tile expansion joint must be fitted at the junctions of enclosures and partitions on surfaces bigger than 10 m2.
It should be noted that wall perimeter joints play a key role in acoustic insulation; hence we always recommend including them.
The perimeter joints on tiled floors with a surface area of less than 10 m2 may be skipped if it is believed that waterproofing, cleanliness, or the aesthetics of the covering may be compromised. In this situation, the ceramic tile must be at least 5 mm away from the building component, limiting its possible movement.
Floor Tiles Joint Intermediate
The intermediate joint divides the entire floor tiles surface into smaller portions, ensuring that each section responds appropriately to movement from within or outside.
For any outside flooring longer than 10 meters or wider, expansion joints made of tiles must be considered. They must be installed every 4.5 to 5 m to create sections with a maximum surface area of 25 m2.
This arrangement must also be used for interior flooring that receives radiant heating, is exposed to sunlight, is subject to dynamic or static building loads, or moves due to substrate or structure movement.
On broad surfaces, it is preferable to split the flooring into parts with a side length of 24 to 30 m. These sections should have movement joints dimensioned.
in width and depth to absorb forces generated by the structure and the substrate. Each part should be divided into grids with sides.
between 8 and 10 meters, and joints should be 6 mm wide and deep, down to the separation layer, where the local forces within each section will be applied. With this kind of layout, the width of the intermediate joints of the sections can be decreased, and the tile-to-tile couplings can be used to hide the grid’s tile expansion joints.
The intermediate and structural joints should be combined to create a genuine partition network, which must be established in all of its characteristics during the project phase because a large surface area is typically linked to heavy-duty use.
Every 8 to 10 meters should have an intermediate tile expansion joint installed in other interior flooring types. These intermediary joints must reach the leveling layer or lower.
The tile covering should adhere to the same standards as the flooring.
Special consideration should be given to the design of tile expansion joints on exterior coverings, where vertical joints should be installed every 3.5–5 m to form a grid with the structural joints and perimeter joints, if there are any, depending on the amount of sun exposure, anticipated movements, and weather conditions.
These joints must always be at least 10 mm wide and reach the substrate at a depth of 10 mm.
Combining two different types of intermediate joints is recommended: one that is narrower and does not have mechanical protection and one that is dimensioned up to the substrates with mechanical protection.
The joint pattern is separated into regular area parts with this grid form, ensuring that the forces are properly distributed in a stratified manner.
It is recommended, under normal circumstances, to divide the ceramic flooring into 40 m2 pieces. Depending on the kind, these are the general guidelines for properly placing tile expansion joints.
Depending on the country we are in, and whatever specific rules there may be, some adjustments may need to be made.For instance, when referring to Spain, we always use the UNE-138002:2017 standard.
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