Floor and wall tiling - potential problems and solutions (Nat)

When tiling walls and floors, there are a few tips that can help you avoid some of the common problems and perhaps give you some ideas to help your next tiling job go smoothly.

Recesses in Concrete Slabs

In order to achieve falls in tiled floors and to reduce the step between tiled and untiled rooms, it is preferable to recess the concrete slabs. Particular attention to achieve the correct cover on steel reinforcement is required in this case. The location of the recess must be accurately determined at the time of constructing the concrete slab.

Drumminess

If tiles are not fixed correctly, they may become “drummy” and eventually lift off. Before hand-over, each tile should be lightly tapped. Any change of resonance may indicate drumminess, rolling a marble across the floor and observing sound will quickly check large areas of floor tiles.  

Substrate Curing

If tiles are fixed to concrete floors that have not been properly cured, or fixed to masonry wall that have not dried out, they could become loose or drummy.

Tiles should not be fixed to concrete masonry until it has cured for 28 days.  

For clay masonry substrates, a sand cement render coat should be applied and allowed to cure for at least 7 days before tiles are applied.

Substrate deflection

If tiles are fixed to floors or walls that are particularly flexible, they will become loose and drummy. Ensure that all timber joists, flooring, studs and wall cladding have sufficient stiffness to avoid excessive deflection.  

Edge Details

At all steps and other junctions of horizontal and vertical surfaces, the horizontal tiles should protrude past the face of the vertical tiles. This has the advantage of making the joint:

• Less prone to ingress of water
• Less likely to be loosened in service
• More attractive.

The appearance of both the horizontal and vertical convex joints may be substantially improved by matching or contrasting plastic trim.  

Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces

The slip resistance of new floor surfaces (including tiles and the like), can be determined in accordance with AS/NZS 4586, and needs to be appropriate for the application. The designer must select appropriate values, giving full consideration to slope, lighting, volume of traffic, age of pedestrians, gait, maintenance of surface and any other factor likely to affect the probability of slip occurring.

The above is intended to provide general information in summary form. The contents do not constitute specific advice and should not be relied upon as such. Formal specific advice should be sought by members with respect to particular matters before taking action.  ABN 99 004 631 752