New Guidelines for Tile Installation

Here are some important bits of information that anyone installing tile should be aware of...

The popularity of rectified tiles has increased tremendously, especially in commercial settings. Many manufacturers recommended a 1/16" grout joint when setting these tiles, however installations are becoming more time consuming and difficult to ensure they are compliant. The Tile Council of North American (TCNA) Handbook addresses the issue of grout joint sizes with rectified tiles. The new recommendation is to use a grout joint no less than 1/8", regardless of size for rectified tiles.

Florida Urbanite: The tile pictured above is a commercial grade through-body rectified porcelain tile. As you can see in this installation the overlap of the tiles does not exceed 33%.The grout joint width on this floor should be 3/16" based on manufacturer recommendations.

Technology improves every year, however there are allowances for imperfections in tile. Many DIY customers and contractors are encountering slightly warped tiles, especially in large rectangular sizes. ANSI specifications allows for some warpage in tiles, and most likely the warpage you see falls within these guidelines. This can cause installation nightmares if the contractor tries to install the tile in offset patterns or with tight grout joints. Large format tiles, especially 12"x24" or 6"x24" planks should be installed with overlap that does not exceed 33% and must have a minimum grout joint width of 3/16". We call this "staggered" brickwork, rather than the traditional 50% offset (shown below). This reduces the lippage created by the inherent warpage found in large format tiles. Uneven substrate will also contribute to the amount of lippage, it is usually best to level the floor prior to installing your tile with thinset. Using a wider grout joint allows for a gradual change in elevation rather than an abrupt change accommodating tiles that are warped. For more detailed information on lippage and warpage visit the TCNA website.