Installation Guide

MOVEMENT JOINTS 15
Schluter
®
-Systems understands that the tile setter must take into account the needs of his or her client in determining the placement
of movement joints in a tile installation. For example, a client may not wish to interrupt a continuous tile field that spans multiple rooms.
However, as indicated by the orange lines above, there are ways to meet industry guidelines that will serve to provide the client with a
durable installation that remains aesthetically pleasing.
Nook
Kitchen
Family
Room
Living/Dining
Room
Study/Office
Master
Suite
Note regarding residential applications
Due to the increased popularity of continuous tile installations (i.e., tile continuing from room to room on a given floor), movement joints
have become both increasingly important and increasingly difficult to provide. For instance, consider the residential installation shown in
Figure 5. It is almost certain that the homeowner will resist the idea of placing movement joints across any of the rooms shown in the figure,
despite TCNA, TTMAC, and Schluter
®
-Systems guidelines. However, the need for movement joints in this installation is undeniable, given the
extended size of the field. The question then becomes, “How does one provide the movement joints necessary to ensure a durable installation
without compromising the aesthetic qualities of the continuous tile field?”
The easiest way to accomplish this goal is to begin by providing movement joints at the perimeter of the installation. Perimeter joints are
absolutely necessary and do not interrupt the tile field. The next step would be to place movement joints at the thresholds between rooms or
where a tiled hallway meets a larger tiled room. These locations are relatively inconspicuous and the lines formed by the movement joints are
logical in that they reflect the natural perimeter of each room. Finally, determine if any other characteristics of the floor plan invite the placement
of additional movement joints. In this example, the intersection of the nook area and kitchen/family room may be a reasonable choice.
Figure 5