Grout offers a number of valuable benefits: It gives your floor or wall a crisp finished appearance. it helps keep dirt and debris from getting in between and under your tile. It adds rigidity and strength to the tile installation.

What is a tile joint?

The joints between tiles are a fundamental aspect of the tile project because they contribute to both its aesthetic appearance and its technical performance. The choice of joint width and grout is therefore very important.

What is the joint between tiles called?





The space between the tiles is called a “grout joint” and the main reason grout joints exist is to accommodate for slight sizing differences from tile to tile that are created during the manufacturing process.

Why do you need a gap between tiles?

Laying tiles with small gaps also prevents problems in case of mechanical damage to one of them. If the tiles were indeed laid out without joints, it would not have been possible to safely remove one of them. 1.5 to 2-millimetre gaps are enough for safely replacing a tile without damaging the other ones.

What is a movement joint in tiling?

A movement joint or ‘expansion joint’ is an intentional interruption in the tile or stone surface to allow for movement in the wall or floor. Hard flooring expands and contracts so it’s important to use a movement joint for your tiling project to prevent the tiles and grout from cracking or the tiles de-bonding.

What is grout joint width?

There is no standard for grout joints. According to the TCNA, the grout width can vary depending upon the size of the tile. Many stone and tile manufacturers suggest that grout joints be no less than 1/8″ to 3/16″.

Why do tiles expand?





All tiles will expand and contract due to changes in temperature and moisture, and almost all substrates will move differently to their coverings. These movements can transfer to the tiled surface, causing cracks, bulging, debonding, and/or tenting.

How deep should a grout joint be?

Grout lines need to be at least 1/16” for the grout to even fit, and often larger than that depending on a variety of other factors. For some grouts, like sanded cement grout, 1/8” is the minimum line size.

What is the purpose of grout lines?

Grout is a necessary and integral part of many tile jobs for several reasons: It keeps moisture out of the substrate, helps keep tile lines straight and prevents tiles from rubbing against one another and cracking.

Does I need movement joints in tile floors?

Tile Installation Expansion Joints Are Critical for Success!



Expansion joints are also known as Movement Joints or Movement Accommodation Joints. In ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stone tile installations, they are critical to the success and longevity of the installation.

How does a movement joint work?

Movement joints – typically a movement joint, also known as an expansion joint because its key function is to allow the building components on either side to expand, while the joint effectively shrinks, is a gap in a structure or structural element designed to separate its constituent parts and to accommodate movement …

Where are movement joints required?

Movement joints should be provided in external walls at intervals of about 7.5m to 9.0m. The width of the joint should be between 10mm and 13mm. In internal walls, movement joints are only needed if the wall is going to be plastered before the brickwork has dried out.

What does bed joint reinforcement do?



Ancon Masonry Reinforcement, otherwise known as Bed Joint-Reinforcement, improves the structural performance of masonry walls by providing additional resistance to lateral loads e.g. wind.

What is the difference between a movement joint and construction joint?

An expansion joint and a movement joint are generally terms for the same thing in building and construction. … This expansion or movement joint then has the key function of allowing the building components on either side to move and expand into it – hence the names movement joint and expansion joint.

What are joint motions?

Extension – straightening a joint. This occurs when the angle of a joint increases, for example, at the elbow when putting a shot. Abduction – movement away from the midline of the body. This occurs at the hip and shoulder joints during a jumping jack movement. Adduction – movement towards the midline of the body.

What is the joint?

A joint is the part of the body where two or more bones meet to allow movement. Generally speaking, the greater the range of movement, the higher the risk of injury because the strength of the joint is reduced. The six types of freely movable joint include ball and socket, saddle, hinge, condyloid, pivot and gliding.

What is joint movement abduction?



Abduction – movement away from the midline of the body. This occurs at the hip and shoulder joints during a jumping jack movement. … This occurs at the hip and shoulder, returning the arms and legs back to their original position from a jumping jack movement or when swimming breaststroke.

What is eversion joint movement?

Eversion is the movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane. Inversion is the movement of the sole towards the median plane. For example, inversion describes the motion when an ankle is twisted.

Which joints can rotate?

Rotation can occur within the vertebral column, at a pivot joint, or at a ball-and-socket joint.

What type of joint is the ankle?

hinged synovial joint



Overview. The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint with primarily up-and-down movement (plantarflexion and dorsiflexion).