Expert Answers in Installation Guidelines
What do I have to do to Install porcelain tile over a Stucco Wall finish?
ANSWER – First of all you can’t install directly to exterior stucco wall without first removing the stucco. Stucco is a weak cementitious material and too weak to bond tile to.
You can sandblast or…
Read MoreWhat do we need to consider when installing 18x18 inch tiles on walls?
ANSWER – First of all you need to make sure that the substrate to which you will be adhering the tiles are suitable for the application. In bathrooms you want to use materials that are…
Read MoreWhat is the best Terrazzo Floor method of Installation?
ANSWER – First of all, a monolithic cement terrazzo application when a better is only 1/2″ thick, where a sand cushion terrazzo assembly is about 3.5 inches thick.
Regardless of which installation method you use,…
Read MoreHow can I incorporate movement joints in my tile work while maintaining aesthetics.
ANSWER – The TCNA EJ171 standards for installing movement joints in tile work are general recommendations. There is an ASTM C1472 standard for calculating movement in movement joints, so you can consider the coefficient of…
Read MoreHow can I verify if my tile was installed correctly?
ANSWER – Unfortunately it is difficult for consumers to determine how to select qualified tile installers. Most installers haven’t had any formal education on how to install tile nor do they know what the industry…
Read MoreAre there Tolerance Standards for Grout or Caulking Joint Width Variation?
ANSWER – You are correct to install caulked movement joints at the perimeters and inside vertical corners of the tile installation. Caulk should be an ASTM C920 silicone sealant per TCNA EJ171 standards.
The ceramic…
Read MoreHow do we install tile on a new concrete side walk?
ANSWER – First of all you need to determine what kind of tile to install? It needs to be slip resistant, and it needs to provide a relatively flat surface so no one trips. If…
Read MoreCan I embed Ceramic Tile into a fresh Concrete Slab?
ANSWER – It is possible to embed 12×12 inch ceramic tiles into a freshly poured concrete slab, but there are a lot factors to consider. It is recommended to let the concrete cure for 28…
Read MoreWhere should movement joints be installed in a small bathroom?
ANSWER – Yes, movement joints, sometimes referred as expansion joints, should be at all plane transitions and where there are transitions from different substrates and materials. Door thresholds, wall penetrations around escutcheons, and light…
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