What are movement joints in tiling?

A movement joint or ‘expansion joint’ is an intentional interruption in the tile or stone surface to allow for movement in the wall or floor. Hard flooring expands and contracts so it’s important to use a movement joint for your tiling project to prevent the tiles and grout from cracking or the tiles de-bonding.

Do floor tiles need expansion joints?

“One of the most basic and important facts an installer should know when working with ceramic (including porcelain, glass, and natural stone) tile is to always have expansion joints in place. If expansion joints are not part of the installation, failure is lurking in the shadows waiting to strike.

What is a brick movement joint?

An expansion joint separates brick masonry into segments to prevent cracking caused by changes in temperature, moisture expansion, elastic deformation, settlement and creep. Expansion joints may be horizontal or vertical.

Where are movement joints required?

Movement joints should be provided in external walls at intervals of about 7.5m to 9.0m. The width of the joint should be between 10mm and 13mm. In internal walls, movement joints are only needed if the wall is going to be plastered before the brickwork has dried out.

Why the floor tiles pop up?

Tile absorbed too much water. Then the outer layer is not protecting it well enough. So, if the moisture is absorbed, the tile swells, expands and the pressure is created. As a result, the tile pops.

Where should I put my movement joints?

A vertical movement joint should be located at no greater than half the maximum spacing from a corner or return in a wall. Hence for joint spacing of 12m in a straight run of walling, a joint is required to be no more than 6m from the corner.

What is the smallest grout line for tile?

1/16”
Grout lines need to be at least 1/16” for the grout to even fit, and often larger than that depending on a variety of other factors. For some grouts, like sanded cement grout, 1/8” is the minimum line size.

What can I use instead of tile spacers?

When laying tile, use pennies as spacers instead of store bought plastic ones. Pennies are easier to handle, more uniform and cheaper.

Why do you need movement joints in tile?

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. Where should movement joints be placed? The TCNA Handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation.

What should be the movement of brick veneer?

Brick veneer is generally supported on steel shelf angles and provision for movement is provided immediately below the shelf angle. This includes a minimum ¼‐in. compressible material and a sealant joint. Some owners and designers object to large horizontal movement joints; lip brick may be used to minimize the apparent size of the joint.

How big should movement joints be in brickwork?

1. In general, experience suggests that movement joints in clay brickwork should be spaced at approximately 10 – 12 metres. PD 6697 states that in no case should joints exceed 15 metres and the spacing of the first joint from an internal or external angle should not exceed half of the general spacing.

How are soft joints used in tile flooring?

Soft “movement joints” at specified intervals will in essence divide very large tiled surfaces into smaller expanses and thus lessen the effect of substrate movement. The joints are then filled with flexible material instead to tile grout.