Tile Expansion Joint Detail

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

Tile expansion joint detail.

If you tile over an expansion joint then you need to honor that joint in the tile as well. It is best to achieve a two sided bond only to the flanks of the open joint in the tile. Where should movement joints be placed. Schluter systems prefabricated movement joint profiles protect tile edges and prevent sound bridges and surface water penetration resulting in a permanent maintenance free installation.

A movement joint is in the tile only. The sealant used in expansion joints should achieve a minimum shore a hardness of 35. Movement joints are an integral part of any tile assembly and must be incorporated within the tile field at doorsills and at transitions to walls and other restraining structures to allow movement of the assembly and prevent stresses that can damage the system. Expansion joints are created in the concrete to compensate for excessive expansion due primarily to temperature changes in the concrete.

As the concrete cures it generally shrinks. Possibly the best type of expansion joint material that can be used is a flexible silicone e g. Architectural resources and product information for floor to floor expansion joints including cad drawings specs bim 3d models brochures and more free to download. The tcna handbook recommends allowing for expansion and contraction in every tile installation.

It s quite common to see controlled breaks in concrete and those are usually expansion joints. Joints in the tile assembly will result in callbacks and expensive repairs as well as the subsequent installation of movement joints.