Wall Tile Movement Joints

In small rooms a gap at the perimeter of the room often hidden by baseboard or shoe molding is sufficient.

Wall tile movement 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. The tcna handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation. There are two kinds of movement joints. Staggers and movement joints in masonry walls other than clay brickwork should be engineer designed.

All buildings move to a certain degree and therefore it s vital to allow for this movement using expansion joints. The range includes profile types for movement joints expansion joints and control joints as well as edge and transition movement and expansion joints. Expansion joints for wall and floor tiles should ideally be located directly over the building s own expansion joints. Evaluating a certified tile installer hands on test carothers checks the inside corner of a wall to determine if the movement joint was properly installed.

For larger areas the movement joints will be visible. Simply put a movement joint is a gap or space next to a tile that lets a tile floor move a bit. Movement joints should not coincide with door or window openings due to the di culty in continuing the movement joint between the frames and masonry and around the ends of the lintels see diagram 6. A structural joint passes through the tile screed and floor slab.

Tiles at perimeters of rooms should have movement joints. The tile council of north america tcna has recommended spacing and size of movement joints. For exterior application the width of movement joints may be 9 5mm when the field movement joints are 2 4m on center i e c c but it is 12 7mm wide when the movement joints are 3 7m on center i e c c. There are two basic types of movement joints in floors structural or non structural joints and non structural or non structural joints.

There are several reasons why this motion occurs all of which need to be taken into consideration by designers. The movement joints expansion joints and control joint profiles of our schlüter dilex series offer maintenance free and functional solutions for all relevant movement joints in tile coverings. Width or size of movement joint or expansion joint. These joints provide the ability for movement to occur between wall to wall and floor to wall applications.

A non structural joint passes through the tile and screed only and does not penetrate the floor slab. Bathtub or shower receptor to wall transitions should have a movement joint. Perimeter and field movement joints.