Working With Movement Joints

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 movement joints see Technical Data Sheet TDS1252.

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