Every tile job needs expansion joints also known as movement joints they are critical to the success and longevity of the tile installation.
Does porcelain tile need expansion joints.
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.
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.
Expansion joints in the floor if the ceramic tile floor is wider or longer than 25 feet you will need to install an expansion joint near the center of the floor.
On suspended floors this can often reduce to 5 metres.
Outdoors the joints should be more frequent again.
Caulk the grout gap between two adjacent rows of tile all the way across the floor.
That s why they re also called movement joints.
A movement joint is in the tile only.
It should be noted that where there is an expansion joint in the substrate the joint in the ceramic or porcelain tiles should correspond exactly in location and be no narrower in width.
It s quite common to see controlled breaks in concrete and those are usually expansion joints.
Too many tile installations are done without.
An expansion joint is in the substrate for instance in concrete.
Install the caulk after the tiles have been set and before the grout is installed.
Ceramic tile porcelain tile stone tile glass tile and concrete tile installations need expansion joints to compensate for natural movement that occurs within tile assemblies.
If you tile over an expansion joint then you need to honor that joint in the tile as well.
Learn all about expansion joints here.
Placement of expansion joints is very important.
It allows for movement in the tile.
Where should movement joints be placed.
If expansion joints are not part of the installation failure is lurking in the shadows waiting to strike.
All tile installations require expansion joints no exceptions.
It is recommended that you err on the side of caution and use the smaller measurement.