An Interesting Article: Avoiding Impact Damage to Tiling Installation

The ability of a tiling system to meet its designed performance and service requirements is affected by various factors, amongst some of which include: the structural integrity of the tile; the structural adequacy of the substrate; the choice of the correct adhesive or bedding system; the correctness of work methods and the quality of the workmanship. 

In discussing ways to avoid impact damage to tiling installations, I would like to focus on two of these factors: the choice of the correct adhesive; and the correctness of work methods and the quality of the workmanship. 

For instance, AS3958.1 states that “Adhesives should be applied to the substrate and then spread using a notched trowel of an appropriate size and shape. Optimum coverage requires pressing of tiles into the adhesive bed and moving them perpendicular to the direction to the direction of the adhesive notches”. “The contact coverage of the adhesive should be maximised”. Minimum contact coverage for commercial floors should be 90%. It also goes on to say “The coverage should be sufficiently distributed to give full support to the tile with particular attention to this support under all corners and edges of tiles”. 

These and other like methods/processes are designed to achieve maximum adhesion, provide full support of the tile and in turn enable load transfer to the substrate. It therefore follows where the tile is not supported correctly; the tile will be susceptible to forces or loadings that could cause fracture or failure if the tile through rolling loads, impact or shock. In areas of heavy duty use and perhaps as a matter of course coverage should be targeted at 100%. 

Therefore it is vitally important the tile work is executed in accordance with AS3958.1 & 2 and the like manufacturers guidelines that mandate work methods that are in place to ensure successful enduring installations. 

As much as the tile should be fully bedded to transfer loads and absorb shock, it’s the adhesive that has to do all of the work. After all it has to provide the enduring bond that can absorb differential movement from various sources while being subjected to the same duty, impact and shock the tiles is subject to. 

Just like oils ain’t oils, adhesives ain’t adhesives. Project service requirements dictate: the performance level of the installation; subsequent installation methods; and installation materials that will deliver the required outcome. Currently in the case of floor tiling, AS3958.1 categorises performance levels into three groups Industrial, commercial and Residential whilst in the US the TCNA Handbook, I think sensibly, categorises them as, Extra Heavy, Heavy, Moderate, Light and Residential. Therefore it makes sense that adhesives are designed to perform within the scope of the performance requirement specified a particular project. 

LATICRETE are the manufacturers of Tile and Stone adhesive systems that are lighter, stronger, more flexible, and are suitable for just about any service duty, tiles are expected to endure. LATICRETE 4237 Latex Additive gauged with LATICRETE 211 Crete Filler Powder is a good example of an adhesive to use where “Extra Heavy Duty” is required.

Fred Gray

LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager