Installation Guide

EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS — Exterior Concrete Floors, Patios, and Walkways 15
Exterior Concrete Floors, Patios, and Walkways
D-EXT-C-TS-17
Ceramic, porcelain or stone tile
Unmodified thin-set mortar
DITRA or DITRA-XL
uncoupling membrane
Unmodified
thin-set mortar
Concrete
Concrete subfloor
Areas of Application
over structurally sound and even exterior
concrete on grade where positive drainage
below slab is provided
young concrete (concrete cured less than
28 days)
post-tensioned or pre-stressed concrete
cracked concrete
Limitations
minimum 2" x 2" (50 mm x 50 mm) tile
for wood or concrete balconies and terraces,
see detail D-EXT-OS, page 16. Please
contact Schluter
®
-Systems with any
questions
any cracks in concrete subfloor must exhibit
in-plane movement only; thin-set tile
assemblies, including those incorporating
DITRA or DITRA-XL, cannot accommodate
differential vertical displacement
Requirements
slab to be structurally sound
slab/assembly must be sloped for complete
surface drainage
gravel bed or other means of drainage must
be provided below slab
slab to be free of waxy or oily films and curing
compounds (when present, mechanical
scarifying is necessary)
slab to be free of standing water
all seams in DITRA and DITRA-XL and floor/
wall transitions must be sealed with
Schluter
®
-KERDI-BAND using unmodified
thin-set mortar; see page 21
Substrate Preparation
sloping of the slab or assembly must be
done prior to installing DITRA and DITRA-XL
Movement Joints
DITRA and DITRA-XL do not eliminate the
need for movement joints, including perimeter
joints, within the tiled surface. Movement
joints must be installed in accordance with
industry standards and norms; see page 17
of this Handbook, TCNA EJ171, and TTMAC
301 MJ
concrete floors may incorporate various
movement joints; see page 18 of this
Handbook for guidelines on how to treat the
different types of joints (control/contraction
joints, expansion joints, etc.)
Setting and Grouting Materials
unmodified thin-set mortar – ANSI A118.1
grout – A118.6, A118.7
Setting and Grouting Specifications
tile – ANSI A108.5
grout – A108.10
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