Expansion Joints Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Movement Joints

How Should Movement Joints (expansion joints) be Installed in Tile Installations?

The TCNA EJ171 now allows for zipper or sawtooth generic movement joints in tile installations, where you follow the grout joints within the tile assembly, not into the mortar bed. It is not uncommon for…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles Moisture Problems Movement Joints Tenting

Can moisture in a Concrete Floor cause the Thin-set Adhesive to Deteriorate and result in Hollow and Tented Tiles?

ANSWER - Thin-set mortars should not deteriorate from being exposed to moisture.  Most thin-set mortars are used in showers and in pools and fountains. Moisture that migrates into the concrete slab from the ground and…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Deflection Expert Answers failures Grout installation Movement Joints Repairs Sealant Caulk Waterproofing Wet Areas

How do I repair the Horizontal Grout Joint between the Bathtub and the Tile wall?

ANSWER -  The transition joint between the top of the bathtub flange and the wall tile is not supposed to be filled with a cementitious grout.  It should be filled with a resilient ASTM C920…

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Caulk Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Movement Joints Sealant Caulk

What size and type backer rod can I use for Movement joints?

ANSWER - The closed-cell foam backer rod is suppose to be wider than the movement joint.  You can compress a 1/4" foam backer rod into a 1/8" wide movement joint. The backer rod serves two…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Movement Joints Standards stone

Can Movement Joint Widths be less than 1/4 inch as TCNA Handbook states?

ANSWER - TCNA Handbook does say that movement joints within the tile assembly should be at least ¼” wide, but the current version of the handbook does indicate that if your movement joints are installed…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Movement Joints Tenting

When do you need Movement/Expansion Joints?

ANSWER - Expansion joint is a type of movement joint.  All tile installations require movement joints of some type.  The tile industry installation standards require movement joints and all the manufacturers of tile and tile…

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Caulk Expert Answers installation Movement Joints stone

Is it ok to butt a wood floor tight to a marble tile insert?

There should be a 1/8" joint between the wood and marble.  It would be best to caulk that joint as there is likely to be movement.   If you don't have a joint then when the…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Leak Movement Joints Repairs Sealant Caulk Showers Waterproofing Wet Areas

Is it alright to use Silicone Sealant to fix a Shower Leak?

Answer: First of all, all of the transition joints in the shower both horizontal and vertical should not have been grouted with a cementitious grout.  They should have been filled with an ASTM C920 resilient sealant…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout installation Movement Joints Tenting

What can I do about my 2 year old tile installation that is coming loose?

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding.  It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed.  The substrate may have not been properly prepared.  The…

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Caulk Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Movement Joints Sealant Caulk

Should I use 100% Silicone Caulk Sealant or the Sanded Caulk Sealant?

ANSWER - The tile and stone industry standards require that an ASTM C920 sealant (caulk) is used for movement joints and transition joints between changing planes or materials.  ASTM C920 are normally 100% silicone or…

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