Do You Put Expansion Joints In Ceramic Tile

A and photo 5.

Do you put expansion joints in ceramic tile.

For perspective we originally published this article in august 2016 and expansion joints continue to come up in conversation during training sessions and also in comments. An expansion joint is a strip of flexible material in this case caulk that lets tile expand and contract with changes in temperature. If you re wondering why you need to include expansion joints when installing tile you ve come to the right place. Learn all about expansion joints here.

When should i use expansion joints the larger the tiled area the more the tiles will expand and contract. I will appreciate any other recommendations you can provide for how this porch tiling should be done correctly to avoid future problems. Install the caulk after the tiles have been set and before the grout is installed. If we do install the perimeter expansion joint should there also be other expansion joints within the tile.

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. In large areas expansion joints will be necessary for the concrete itself for all the same reasons as are needed for wall and floor tiles. If so what should be the spacing of these on a 14 x 20 floor. By using expansion joints you are creating smaller tiled areas or fields therefore significantly reducing the risk of movement affecting the surface.

Where should movement joints be placed. Control joints are there because it s not a question of if the slab will crack but rather when the slab cracks it hopefully happens at the joint. For installation of tile the tile ends at each control joint and the gap if filled with caulk rather than grout. 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.

Whether you re setting tile on an old or new slab you must include expansion joints fig. Expansion of the substrate due to ingress of moisture like shrinkage any change of moisture content will result in a change of shape and size ultimately leading to movement with similar consequences. The short answer is that you do not span control expansion joints with the tile. Ceramic porcelain and stone tile expands and contracts with thermal and moisture changes in the environment.

The tcna handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation.