An article by Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides an informative discussion on the importance of movement joints.
"The discussions on movement joints often hinges around the
assertion that you should have them, and that’s a fact! And for good reason –
everything moves, and that movement needs to be accommodated.
From my student
days in structures, I remember one of my engineering lecturers impressing on
the fact that the structure is designed first and then further engineering is done
to accommodate the proposed finishes in line with their abilities to cope with
movement. From the start, movement joints are considered in the design. So
right from the get go, what we have to do with tiling work, is honour the
engineering consideration and make sure these requirements are complied with.
So as well as installing them according to instruction, we should also make
sure they function.
Great care should be taken to ensure proprietary movement
joints are installed without being restricted by the bedding or adhesive layer.
This becomes particularly important as the installer is endeavouring to
securely bed each flange of the joint, fully into the adhesive layer. If during
the course of bedding this proprietary joint, the adhesive bridges the void
space between the flanges on each side, the movement joint is defeated.
Conversely we need to ensure the angles are fixed to both the tile and
substrate to ensure correct operation."
For
more information on LATICRETE permanent trouble free installation products,
training, or technical advice, contact your local LATICRETE representative on 1800 331 012 - or email: sales@laticrete.com.au
