TCA Specifiations -

[Kirk Downey]

Hey folks - Long time eh?

Maria and I were at a friend's house-warming party today. Its a newly built four bedroom three level house in a planned development with about seven different floor plans. They're knocking 'em out pretty quick and have cut some corners.

The corner they cut that caught my eye was the sanded grout in the joints between the backsplashes and thekitchen and bathroom countertops. Well y'all can 'magine that it cracked. All the grout joints were in non-sanded but there was sanded grout there. Ain't there spose ta be a flexible caulking there?

Dug open one spot and saw that the vertical field tiles touched the countertop behind the grout. There was cracked grout in every corner of the three showers, starting at the fiberglass pans and reaching up to as much as six inches. They did caulk around the pans. (white caulk)

I looked in the 2001 TCA handbook that I got leftover from making the bathroom in our house. It wasn't there. Page 40 describes contraction joints an' such but I couldn't find anything specific on two adjoining planes at 90 degrees. I didn't look at each and every page, in a systematic manner - and I thought it would more pleasant to drop into this virtual neighborhood.

What I hope to know is whether the Newer TCA Handbook has such a spec or not. The general contractor (developer?) is blowing smoke up my friends anatomy. I seem to 'member that the committee boys were getting around to specifying, in a formal way, flexible joints at the intersection of two planes (vertical and horizontal). Did they?

(I told her that the Handbook had such drawings - should I eat crow?)

Kirk Out

[tileguytodd]

While the TCA does not actually pecify a caulk joint on countertops,its an oversite as anyone that has been in the trade any length of time knows that changes of plane require caulking.
One thing to keep in mind,Movement and or soft joints need to be specified by the architect,not the builder.If it isnt on the print,he isnt doing it.(Not without an addendum at least)

[Dave Gobis]

The TCA Handbook suggests a soft joint at all changes in plane.

[Kirk Downey]

Dave,

When you say suggest, is there a page number and edition? (Iv'e got the 39th) Should I buy the most recent edition or can I find the suggestion in the edition that I've got.

I would like, as they say, chapter and verse, since the builder is telling these unsuspecting homeowners that the cracks won't be a problem. "They're natural." She can get a letter from a lawyer friend but the TCA would add weight to the whole approach.

By the way, y'all are still great neighbors.

Kirk out

[e3]

see EJ-171 -also the cracks are the problem

[Dave Gobis]

We are on the 41st Edition. Here is the text.

EXPANSION JOINTS ( Movement accommodation joints )

Vertical & Horizontal
Joint Design Essentials EJ171

Use these details for Control, Contraction, and Isolation joints.

Design: Expansion joints are essential for the success of most tile installations. Various methods require proper design and location of expansion joints as shown in Method EJ171 below.
Because of the limitless conditions and structural systems on which tile can be installed, the Architect, or Designer, shall show locations and details of expansion joints on project drawings.

It is not the intent of this guide to make expansion joint recommendations for specific projects. Architects must specify expansion joints and show location and details on the drawings.

Materials: Expansion joint sealants include silicone, urethane and polysulfide. Generally, urethane sealants are recommended for expansion joints on exterior vertical surfaces and for expansion joints on both exterior and interior horizontal tile surfaces. Because of their abrasion and penetration resistance, urethane sealants are recommended for expansion joints in tiled traffic areas.
Silicone sealants may be used in expansion joints on both exterior and interior vertical tile surfaces. One-part mildew-resistant silicone sealants are formulated with fungicide for sealing interior joints in ceramic tile showers, around tubs, sinks and plumbing fixtures.
Sealants are available in both single and multi-component formulations. Either formulation is generally suitable for expansion joints in tilework. Single-component sealants are furnished in
pre-packed cartridges, or other forms requiring no job-site mixing. Multi-component sealants require job-site rnixing, but cure faster than single-component counterparts, making them advantageous for traffic areas.
Sealants should comply with ASTM C920 as described below in Method EJ171, Materials.

NOTE: Preparation of openings left by the tile contractor and installation of back-up strip and sealant should be specified in the Caulking and Sealant section of the job specification.


(insert drawings)

Recommendations:
· interior — 24' to 36' in each direction.
· exterior — 8' to 12' in each direction.
· interior tilework exposed to direct sunlight or moisture — 8’ to 12' in each direction.
· where tilework abuts restraining surfaces such as perimeter walls, dissimilar floors, curbs, columns, pipes, ceilings, and where changes occur in backing materials.
· all expansion, control, construction, cold and seismic joints in the structure should continue through the tilework including such joints at vertical surfaces.
· joints through tilework directly over structural joints must never be narrower than the structural joint.
Expansion Joint Width (Vertical & Horizontal):
· exterior (all tile) — minimum 3/8" for joints 12' on center, minimum 1/2" for joints 16' on center. Minimum widths must be increased 1/16" for each 15º F tile surface temperature change greater than 100º F between summer high and winter low. (Decks exposed to the sky in northern U.S.A. usually require 3/4" wide joints on 12' centers.)
· interior for quarry tile and paver tile — same as grout joint, but not less than 1/4".

· interior for ceramic mosaic tile and glazed wall tile — preferred not less than 1/4", but never less than 1/8".
Preparation:
· tile edges to which the sealant will bond must be clean and dry. Sanding or grinding of these edges is recommended to obtain optimum sealant bond.
· primer on these tile edges is mandatory when recommended by the sealant manufacturer. Care must be taken to keep primer off tile faces.
Materials:
· back-up strip shall be a flexible and compressible type of closed-cell foam polyethylene, butyl rubber, or open cell and closed cell polyurethane, rounded at surface to contact sealant, as shown in details above, and as recommended by sealant manufacturers. It must fit neatly into the joint without compacting and to such a height to allow a sealant depth of 1/2 the width of the joint. Sealant must not bond to the back-up material.
· suitable sealants include silicone, urethane, and polysulfide. Generally, urethane sealants are recommended for exterior vertical tile surfaces and both exterior and interior horizontal tile surfaces, including tiled traffic areas. Sealants in traffic areas require a Shore A hardness of 35 or greater.
· silicone sealants may be used on both exterior and interior vertical tile surfaces. Single component mildew-resistant silicone sealants are formulated with fungicide for sealing interior joints in ceramic tile showers, and around tubs, sinks and plumbing fixtures.
· use sealants complying with ASTM C920, which designates sealants according to Type, Grade, Class and Uses. The following are suitable for use in tile work.
· Type S — single-component sealant.
· Type M — multi-component sealant.
· Grade P — sealants for joints on horizontal surfaces.
· Grade NS — non-sagging sealants for joints in vertical surfaces.
· Class 25 and 12½ — identifies sealants which can withstand an increase and decrease of +/-25% or +/-12½% of joint width.
· Use T — use in joints subjected to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
· Use NT — sealants for nontraffic exposures.
· Uses M and G — sealants that will remain adhered to mortar (M) and glass (G) are suitable for use with tilework.
· some sealants require edge priming. Consult manufacturer' s specifications.
· manufactured/pre-formed joint profiles are available. Consult manufacturer.



Cold Joints

(insert drawing)
Cold Joints:
· cold joints are formed primarily between slab pours where the size of a concrete slab may be too large to be poured at one time. The remainder of the slab would be poured at a later time forming a cold joint between the two sections. Such joints should be shown on architectural drawings.
· a cold joint becomes a weakened joint that upon movement will crack, permitting leakage or buckling and cracking of a tile floor set over the slab.
· some large slabs on grade are poured monolithically, then later saw cut at intervals providing control joints to allow for cracking at these weakened points.
Installation:
· expansion joints in tile should be located over all cold joints and saw-cut control joints.
· joints in tile and setting materials shall never be less than the width of the saw-cut control width. Preparation and installation shall be as required for expansion joints.
· to insure that location of joints in tile work align with existing joints in substrate, joints in tile work should be constructed during installation of mortar beds and/or tile, rather than saw-cutting joints after installation.
· keep expansion joint cavities open and free of dirt, debris, grout, mortar and setting materials.
· set compressible back-up strip when mortar is placed or utilize removable wood strip to provide space for back-up after mortar has cured.
· install sealant after tile work and grout is dry. Follow sealant manufacturer’s recommendations.
· refer to sealant section in ANSI tile installation specification.



The performance requirements of certain special locations, such as exterior swimming pools, dairies, food plants, etc., may exceed the minimum requirements of the sealant specifications given above. Therefore, follow recommendations of experienced manufacturers as to specific sealants suitable in the job environment. In some severe environments a program for regular maintenance of sealant in joints may be required.

Architect must specify expansion joints and show location and details on drawings.

All specifications for ceramic tile installations must conform to local building codes, ordinances, trade practices and climatic conditions.


Ó 2003 Tile Council of America, Inc.










Copies of the Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation are available for $5.00 plus $2.50 S&H from:

Tile Council of America, Inc.
100 Clemson Research Blvd.
Anderson, SC. 29625
Phone 864-646-8453 Fax 864-646-2128

[John Bridge]

You can also order online from http://www.tileusa.com Or you can go to Dave's site and get shuffled off the the Tile Council site. Dave needs the traffic, though. http://www.tileschool.org

Hey Captain Kirk! How ya been?

[Kirk Downey]

Thanks for the info and the welcome back.

I've been consumed in work and developing a family business venture. But when our friends, and their neighbors were gettin' taken, I knew Mr. Bridge's site was the place to visit.

The Tile Council's Director of Technical Service, Eric Astrachan
wrote me saying, "where the “plane changes” caulk is required. In the handbook (Detail EJ-171) this is referred to as a “change in the backing [material]”.

That language is in the fourth bullet under Recommendations in the above post from our esteemed neighbor Mr. Gobis.

Once again, good will and neighborliness triumphs over shoddiness and ignorance.



Kirk out