Flood Testing Procedures

In many cases, where complete waterproofing is required (e.g. showers), flood testing of the membrane is recommended and may be required by applicable plumbing code. The practice of flood testing tile and stone installations which will be subjected to continuous submersion (e.g. swimming pools, fountains, etc...) or a significant amount of water flow (e.g. showers) is a critical step to ensuring that no damage is done to a structure due to water leakage. 

All too often this vital step is not performed due to time constraints, is performed improperly, or any results are not recognized for what they are.

The purpose of this Technical Data Sheet is to provide a guide to properly conduct a flood test for installations to receive tile or stone as a finish material. Conducting a flood test properly can provide a measure of confidence that the waterproofing system performs as expected and provides a watertight installation for the service life of the system. Please note that ASTM D5957 “Flood Testing Horizontal Waterproofing Installations” is the ASTM method from which this Technical Data Sheet draws much of its information. For a more complete reference please visit www.astm.org to purchase a copy of the complete standard. Please note that design professionals, engineers and others who are contractually obligated to a specific project may devise or require other means and methods to conduct a flood test.

Prior to flood testing a large area, ensure that the load bearing capacity of the structure to be flood tested is capable of supporting the water used to conduct the flood test. This step should be conducted by a licensed structural engineer who can ensure that building code and design restrictions are met.

Continue reading/download the Flood Testing Procedures Technical Data Sheet TDS-1169.

For more information on LATICRETE trouble-free installation products, training, or technical support, contact your local LATICRETE Technical Sales Rep on 1800 331 012 - or email sales@laticrete.com.au. 

FREE Training

 

LATICRETE Technical Sales Reps, Glenn Mannix and Joe Tabone, running through the LATICRETE system on-site for Sydney City Council. Did you know LATICRETE offer on-site technical service, training and advice to ensure a successful installation?

Host a Trade Event featuring PERMACOLOR® Select, all attendees will receive a FREE PERMACOLOR Select Shaker*!

At LATICRETE we provide training and classes that discuss commercial, residential, industrial tile and stone installation practices and industry standards. Our training utilises both classroom and hands-on product demonstrations.

Interested in a demo, customised training for you and your team or hosting a Trade Event? LATICRETE Technical Sales Representatives are here to help - Call us on 1800 331 012 or contact us here. 

*Only while stock lasts. 

Bonding Tile and Stone to Steel Substrates

More and more frequently, unusual substrates including steel, metal, and aluminium are being used in tile or stone installations. Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, elevator cabs, and cooler floors and walls frequently have a steel surface on which to bond tile. Below are methods to properly install tile to these substrates. 

The preferred method for installation over steel is; 

• Steel, metal or aluminium substrate must be rigid and meet the maximum allowable standard for deflection of L/360 for ceramic tile or L/480 for stone tile 

• Tack weld or mechanically fasten 1.8kg/m2 galvanized or otherwise suitable diamond metal lath over the steel surface in accord with good trade practice to provide an adequate structural connection for this installation and sufficient space for adequate mortar thickness behind. 

• Apply a scratch and leveling coat of 3701 Fortified Mortar Bed; or, 3701 Mortar Admix mixed with 226 Thick Bed Mortar to encapsulate and fill the lath. 

• After the mortar hardens, HYDRO BAN® may be installed where specified. 

• Tile may be installed with 254, 335 or 4237 Latex Additive mixed with 211. In areas where a more chemically resistant adhesive is necessary (or when installing water-sensitive marble or agglomerate) install with LATAPOXY® 300 Adhesive. 

• When the tile has set firm, grout with SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium Grout*; or, PERMACOLOR® Grout. For areas subjected to food acids, harsh chemicals or extreme heat use SPECTRALOCK 2000 IG. 

• Steel or aluminium must be rigid, meet the maximum allowable standard for deflection of L/360 for ceramic tile or L/480 for stone tile, and be free of rust, dirt, paint, manufacturing oils, or other surface contamination. 

• The steel manufacturer/contractor must inspect steel for any signs of rust or corrosion. Clean, remove, passivate steel in accord with steel manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that rust/corrosion is completely removed prior to tiling. 

• Wash steel surface with strong detergent to ensure that all manufacturing oils are removed, rinse completely, and allow to dry. Refer to steel manufacturer’s guidelines for steel surface preparation when cladding with tile or stone if any. 

• Install tile or stone with LATAPOXY 300 Adhesive by following instructions outlined in DS-1047. 

• Grout tile or stone with SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout; or, PERMACOLOR Grout. For areas subjected to food acids, harsh chemicals or extreme heat use SPECTRALOCK 2000 IG.

Or, the alternative method for installation over steel is; 

For more information read Technical Data Sheet TDS-1146.

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

*United States Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents)

Why Are Expansion Joints Important?

Why are expansion joints needed in tile and stone applications? 

The basic answer is that in the construction world everything moves. Therefore, accommodation for this movement is required to prevent materials from falling apart and causing destructive failure.

It is the Project Designer/Project Architect/Project Engineer’s responsibility to detail and outline the requirements for each specific project. Design Professionals have available to them tables that outline the expansion rates (coefficient of expansion) of most building materials. In their calculations, they can predict how much movement will take place on a given project over a specific substrate using a specific type of adhesive and installation method. As you can imagine, there are countless combinations. There is no way that an installer can know which combination is applicable before they walk onto a project. 

Some of the factors that affect the movement of tile installations are as follows. All of these factors cause the tile and stone installation to move. If this movement is not accommodated for, the restriction in movement can allow the grout to crack or powder out or the tile to pop up or “tent” up: 

• Physical Building Movement
• Shrinkage of Concrete
• Thermal Movement
• Moisture Expansion
• Encroachment of Dissimilar Building Materials
• Changes of Plane
• Treatment of Existing Movement Joints

All buildings will move. Therefore, accommodation for this movement is necessary. To properly review and place expansion joints, the best time to discuss and deal with the issue is before the installation takes place. This will help to avoid problems and finger-pointing after the installation is completed. Continue reading/download TDS-1252 Why Are Expansion Joints Needed in Tile and Stone Installations?

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.

Respirable Crystalline Silica

In a technical article Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides an informative discussion on working with products containing Respirable Crystalline Silica. 

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) particles are nominally less than 10 μm in size and is often referred to as the dust you can’t see. It’s potential to be present as a hazard in the workplace is dependent on, amongst other things, the products we are working with, site conditions, and how we process and handle them to carry out a ceramic or stone tile installation. For instance, dry machine cutting sandstone in unventilated, enclosed areas without personal protection is going to expose a worker or others to unacceptable levels of RCS; it is not advised and is illegal.

Avoiding exposure to RCS whilst working (or at any other time, for that matter) is therefore paramount. The good news and advice from Safework NSW states “you can work with silica and remain safe.” The traveling Silica Dust Control Roadshows hosted by Safework in various states are well worthwhile events to set the record straight about working with silica and mitigating the risks associated with RCS. If you can’t make it to one of these events, publications from Safe Work Australia are a great start to taking control and understanding the RCS risk. Along with other relevant topics, it discusses how “You can manage risks of exposure to silica dust by selecting and implementing measures using the hierarchy of controls”. Click here to read more.

Globally, LATICRETE has been proactive in developing silica free products and assessing the RCS risk with the current range of tile installation products. Studies have been carried out on the levels of RCS in LATICRETE North America products containing silica and their findings have been published in the following technical data sheet: https://bit.ly/2pigYk5. Locally, we have assessed our products containing silica and found our products to also be low in RCS, and we are actively looking to commercialise more silica free products to our industry.

Other tile industry studies and investigations have also found low but manageable risks that can be controlled to provide a safe working and liveable environment. The Tile Council of North America in the 2019 Handbook has published a study by Environmental Health & Engineering INC, on Human Health Risk Assessment for Proposition 65: Crystalline Silica. Click here to read this article. 

It is hoped that with good products, education and work practice, health hazards from RCS are eliminated for the workplace.

How to Grout with SPECTRALOCK®

Easy to Install, Easy to Clean-up! 

SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium Grout* installs as easily as regular cement grout but provides the colour uniformity, stain protection and durability you can only get with an epoxy. The non-sag formula makes installation even easier and helps achieve full, flush grout joints. SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout can be used for interior or exterior applications on floors and walls.

SURFACE PREPARATION

• Ensure the tile surface has no residual film from adhesive setting material.
• The use of a topical sealer or grout release applied to unglazed porcelain tile, abrasive, non-slip or rough textured tiles or porous tile or stone surfaces before grouting will facilitate cleaning.
• SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout, as well as other sanded grouts, may “scratch” glass tiles, soft or polished marble and stone, soft glazed and handmade tiles.
• Test grout on a small area to ensure compatibility.
• Test stone for compatibility with water and cleaning additive mixture.
• Epoxy resins may affect the colour of white or light coloured porous stones (such as White Carrara, Thassos White, Royal Danby, etc.).
• Make sure tile adhesive and bedding are dry prior to grout application, and free from debris, grout spacers or standing water.
• Surface temperature range for installation must be above 4°C and less than 35°C.

WORKING TIME

Working time of grout is approximately 80 minutes at 21°C after the components are thoroughly mixed. Please note that working time is affected by many variables including grout mix consistency, surface and room temperatures. Warmer climates, for example, will shorten working time, while colder conditions will extend working time.

For more information read Technical Data Sheet TDS-1008.

For more information on LATICRETE permanent trouble free installation products, training, or technical advice, contact your local LATICRETE Technical Sales Representative on 1800 331 012 - or email: sales@laticrete.com.au.

*United States Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents)

Checking the Status of Stone Sealing

In a technical article featured in Discovering Stone #34, Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides an informative discussion on checking the status of stone sealing. 

If you need to know if the new stone, tile, paver or existing installation is already effectively sealed, partially sealed, not sealed or whether it can be sealed, continue reading! 

"Determining if a stone is sealed is an important question which must be answered prior to considering the application of a new sealer treatment. Realising if an unsealed stone surface will be able to accept a sealer is also critical in determining how to move forward. There is a simple "Water Test" that will help you determine, not only if the tile is sealed or not, but give you a guide as to what sealer should be used. 

.... This quick and easy test can provide valuable information about the current state of the stone surface. It will not only help you determine if a sealer is present or required, it can also provide good information as to how many coasts and what sealer to apply." Click here to continue reading.

For information on STONETECH®, our floor and stone care range of products or for technical support, call LATICRETE on 1800 331 012 or email sales@laticrete.com.au. Chat to us and arrange a demo or a FREE sample.

Flood Testing Procedures

In many cases, where complete waterproofing is required (e.g. showers), flood testing of the membrane is recommended and may be required by applicable plumbing code. The practice of flood testing tile and stone installations which will be subjected to continuous submersion (e.g. swimming pools, fountains, etc...) or a significant amount of water flow (e.g. showers) is a critical step to ensuring that no damage is done to a structure due to water leakage.

All too often this vital step is not performed due to time constraints, is performed improperly, or any results are not recognized for what they are. Conducting a flood test properly can provide a measure of confidence that the waterproofing system performs as expected and provides a watertight installation for the service life of the system.

Prior to flood testing a large area, ensure that the load bearing capacity of the structure to be flood tested is capable of supporting the water used to conduct the flood test. This step should be conducted by a licensed structural engineer who can ensure that building code and design restrictions are met.

Continue reading/download the Flood Testing Procedures Technical Data Sheet TDS-1169.

For more information on LATICRETE trouble free installation products, training, or technical support, contact your local LATICRETE Technical Sales Rep on 1800 331 012 - or email sales@laticrete.com.au. 

Managing Deflection

Every tile or stone installation will only be as good as the surface over which it is installed. Tile and stone are very rigid materials and do not accommodate movement well; they may potentially break or delaminate from the substrate if it bends excessively under load. Every installation needs to have a firm, stable surface over which to be applied, and with that in mind, one of the most important things to consider is deflection.

Substrate deflection under all live, dead and impact loads, including concentrated loads, must not exceed L/360 for thin bed ceramic tile/brick installations, or L/480 for thin bed stone installations where L=span length (except where local building codes specify more stringent deflection requirements. The Marble Institute of America and the TCNA suggests a more stringent standard of L/720 for stone installations.

To calculate the maximum allowable movement, divide the number of units in the length of the span by the maximum allowable deflection value.

For more information read Technical Data Sheet TDS-1011.

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.

Our Holiday Schedule is now available to be viewed here.

Why Are Expansion Joints Important?

Why are expansion joints needed in tile and stone applications? The basic answer is that in the construction world everything moves. Therefore, accommodation for this movement is required to prevent materials from falling apart and causing destructive failure.

It is the Project Designer/Project Architect/Project Engineer’s responsibility to detail and outline the requirements for each specific project. Design Professionals have available to them tables that outline the expansion rates (coefficient of expansion) of most building materials. In their calculations, they can predict how much movement will take place on a given project over a specific substrate using a specific type of adhesive and installation method. As you can imagine, there are countless combinations. There is no way that an installer can know which combination is applicable before they walk onto a project.

Some of the factors that affect the movement of tile installations are as follows. All of these factors cause the tile and stone installation to move. If this movement is not accommodated for, the restriction in movement can allow the grout to crack or powder out or the tile to pop up or “tent” up:

• Physical Building Movement
• Shrinkage of Concrete
• Thermal Movement
• Moisture Expansion
• Encroachment of Dissimilar Building Materials
• Changes of Plane
• Treatment of Existing Movement Joints

All buildings will move. Therefore, accommodation for this movement is necessary. To properly review and place expansion joints, the best time to discuss and deal with the issue is before the installation takes place. This will help to avoid problems and finger pointing after the installation is completed. 

For more information read TDS-1252 Why Are Expansion Joints Needed in Tile and Stone Installations?  

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.

Our Holiday Schedule is now available to be viewed here.

Bonding Tile and Stone to Steel Substrates

LATAPOXY 300 Adhesive was used to install natural stone and glass mosaic tiles directly on the
 stainless steel pool shells for the Marina Bay Sands® Pool in the Sky

More and more frequently, unusual substrates including steel, metal and aluminium are being used in tile or stone installations. Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, elevator cabs, and cooler floors and walls frequently have a steel surface on which to bond tile. Below are methods to properly install tile to these substrates. 

The preferred method for installation over steel is; 

• Steel, metal or aluminium substrate must be rigid and meet the maximum allowable standard for deflection of L/360 for ceramic tile or L/480 for stone tile 
• Tack weld or mechanically fasten 1.8kg/m2 galvanized or otherwise suitable diamond metal lath over the steel surface in accord with good trade practice to provide an adequate structural connection for this installation and sufficient space for adequate mortar thickness behind. 
• Apply a scratch and levelling coat of 3701 Fortified Mortar Bed; or, 3701 Mortar Admix mixed with 226 Thick Bed Mortar to encapsulate and fill the lath. 
• After the mortar hardens, HYDRO BAN® may be installed where specified. 
• Tile may be installed with 254 Platinum Adhesive, 335 Premium Flexible Adhesive or 4237 Latex Additive mixed with 211 Crete Filler Powder. In areas where a more chemically resistant adhesive is necessary (or when installing water sensitive marble or agglomerate) install with LATAPOXY® 300 Adhesive. 
• When tile has set firm, grout with SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium Grout*; or, PERMACOLOR® Grout. For areas subjected to food acids, harsh chemicals or extreme heat use SPECTRALOCK 2000 IG. 

Or, the alternative method for installation over steel is; 

• Steel or aluminium must be rigid, meet the maximum allowable standard for deflection of L/360 for cermamic tile or L/480 for stone tile, and be free of rust, dirt, paint, manufacturing oils, or other surface contamination. 
• Steel manufacturer / contractor must inspect steel for any signs of rust or corrosion. Clean, remove, passivate steel in accord with steel manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that rust / corrosion is completely removed prior to tiling. 
• Wash steel surface with strong detergent to ensure that all manufacturing oils are removed, rinse completely and allow to dry. Refer to steel manufacturer’s guidelines for steel surface preparation when cladding with tile or stone if any. 
• Install tile or stone with LATAPOXY 300 Adhesive by following instructions outlined in DS-1047. 
• Grout tile or stone with SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout; or, PERMACOLOR Grout. For areas subjected to food acids, harsh chemicals or extreme heat use SPECTRALOCK 2000 IG.

For more information read Technical Data Sheet TDS-1146.

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

*United States Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents)

Is Your Pool Summer Ready?

Jade Mountain, Anse Chastenet Resort, Castries, St. Lucia

An article by Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides tips on getting your pool ready this summer: 

"Yes it’s already that time of the year when we are starting to turn our minds to the coming warmer weather - I bet it’s going to be hot! For many of us, as one of the highest per capita pool ownership countries in the world, it's time to start thinking about getting our swimming pools ready for the summer, because there’s not that much time left. 

This can be as easy as cleaning the pool and balancing the water, or maybe it’s something a little more substantial like repairing some broken tiles or re-grouting. Whatever you have to do, we may be able to help. 

Need to know about fill & drain rates, or what to do when opening seasonal pools? Considerations with water treatment and tile installations, mineral balance, and other useful information? Then check out our Technical Data Sheet TDS1003 to answer these questions and more. But if you want to do more substantial work, for example new waterline tiles, or even a totally new tiled interior, we can really help here."

View/Download the Pool, Spa, and Fountain Tiling Systems Brochure.

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

Tile Today Issue #93 Out Now!

Latest Issue of Tile Today is Out Now!

If you haven't seen the latest issue of Tile Today #93 as yet, check out the full digital version here. 

LATICRETE gets featured in a number of places. For a comprehensive "LATICRETE" issue, check out the following pages:

• "Ceramic Tile in Pools from Start to Finish" - Technical Article written by LATICRETE Technical Service Manager, Fred Gray, on Page 26. 
• Product Feature - SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium Grout on Page 34.
• Full page SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout advert on Page 37.

An extract of technical article "Ceramic Tile in Pools from Start to Finish":

"I was once approached by a builder who wanted me to visit his site to discuss the ceramic tiling of his concrete pool shell. No problem, I said. But whilst on site, I realised he wanted to begin installing tile before the shell was two weeks old! This prompted a discussion about installing tiles in concrete pools - an outline of some of the major considerations when planning the installation follows. To continue reading the full article, click here. 

Are you getting ready to start a project?

Contact us about your next project or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

Tips From Technical Services

Image depicts a wet substrate that never allowed the membrane to cure which
resulted in a damaged, delaminated membrane.

Moisture Vapour and Damp Substrates With Membranes.

An article by Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides educational insights on moisture vapour transmission rates caused by damp substrates: 

"As we have progressively moved out of the hotter drier weather patterns to more prolonged warmer and wetter or damper conditions, we are starting to see the re-occurrence of a range of issues we have not seen for a while. In particular these resultant warmer, damper, wetter substrates and backgrounds can be problematic with the application of most waterproof membranes. 

The wetter conditions when combined with warmer temperatures accelerate moisture vapour transmission rates that get trapped under the membrane. The transmission of moisture vapour in the substrate under the membrane usually manifests as bubbles in the membrane which means isolated debonding of the membrane occurs.  

So how do we avoid these issues - protection of the works from the elements and allowing drying moisture equalisation is the best way, however construction schedules don’t allow for this, so the use of moisture shielding is considered the pragmatic way to mitigate high moisture vapour rates. LATAPOXY® Moisture Shield should be used on all work exposed to these conditions."  

Click here for the LATAPOXY Moisture Shield Data Sheet.

For more information or for Technical Support call 1800 331 012 or email sales@laticrete.com.au to arrange a demo or a FREE sample.

Welcome to the Team Erin

LATICRETE Victoria Technical Sales Rep - Erin Fraser

LATICRETE Australian Team Continues to Grow

Press Release: February 1st, 2016 LATICRETE®, a global manufacturer and leader of premium installation and finishing systems for the building industry, announced Erin Fraser had been appointed to the position of Technical Sales Representative of LATICRETE Australia.

Erin Fraser will be reporting directly to Neil Warden, LATICRETE Australia, National Sales Manager. 

“Erin comes to us with a strong background in the tile and stone industry, having managed tile shops for a number of years and more recently as a Sales Representative in Victoria.  Erin will work closely with the LATICRETE team to develop and grow our business in Victoria     This makes Erin a perfect fit for the LATICRETE Victoria team,” said Neil Warden.

Erin was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 1989. She has 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren, both boys. Erin enjoys fishing, boating and scuba diving. Erin studied as an Interior designer but shortly found her interests were more in the tile industry and has been in the tile industry for the last 15 years. Erin enjoys dealing with the trade, problemsolving and comes with technical sales experience.

Welcome to the LatiFamily Erin!

We Ready...

And it's Business as Usual!

We ready and we eager to support you in 2015 and beyond! 

Contact us for more information on our products - Request FREE samples - Arrange a Demo - Trade Events - Want customised Training for Your Team?!

Need technical support on your job site? Interested in becoming a LATICRETE stockist?Have a technical question? Want to discuss your next project?

Contact your local Technical or Architectural Rep on 1800 331 012, go to www.laticrete.com.au or email us here.