Tile Expansion Joint Detail

Latasil or urethane sealant placed over a closed cell foam backer rod.

Tile expansion joint detail. Possibly the best type of expansion joint material that can be used is a flexible silicone e g. Where should movement joints be placed. It allows for movement in the tile. It is best to achieve a two sided bond only to the flanks of the open joint in the tile.

If you tile over an expansion joint then you need to honor that joint in the tile as well. As the concrete cures it generally shrinks. 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 sealant used in expansion joints should achieve a minimum shore a hardness of 35.

Expansion joints are created in the concrete to compensate for excessive expansion due primarily to temperature changes in the concrete. The tcna handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation. Schluter systems prefabricated movement joint profiles protect tile edges and prevent sound bridges and surface water penetration resulting in a permanent maintenance free installation. Architectural resources and product information for floor to floor expansion joints including cad drawings specs bim 3d models brochures and more free to download.

A movement joint is in the tile only. It s quite common to see controlled breaks in concrete and those are usually expansion joints.