Blog – SupremeArts

The 15 Golden Rules of Tiling

supremearts — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 16:25:53 +0000

The 15 Golden Rules of Tiling

These top 15 golden rules for tiling will help you to successfully complete your project. Upgrade your tiling skills and follow these rules for better and faster tiling.

The first and most important rule is that the tiles should be clean and dry when you start placing them.
There should be no grease, curing compounds, wax or other substances on the surface of the tiles and all forms of contamination should be avoided.
Use a notched trowel especially made for applying the adhesive on the surface of the tiles. The adhesive should be applied horizontally with a notched trowel. Using swirling motions is not recommended.
You should smear the adhesive to cover the whole back of the tile. Make sure no voids occur beneath the tiles by pressing them firmly into the adhesive.
You should check if the tile has made a complete contact with the adhesive by trying to lift it gently from the adhesive.
Do not place the tiles on dry or too thin layer of the adhesive. Make sure there is enough of it to make good contact with the surface of the tile and stick it to the wall.
Wait 24 hours for the adhesive to set and dry completely before grouting the tiles. Make sure the tiles are protected from grime and other factors which may result in leaving the tiles not well agglutinated.
You must follow the guidelines on the box of the adhesive strictly and use it according to the rules.
Have in mind that if you want to achieve better adhesion with cement-based adhesives, you should moisten the walls before applying the adhesive.
According to top tile and grout cleaners, you should dust the tiles and clean their back before placing them on the adhesive.
Keep in mind that construction joints should not be tiled.
When it comes to thin bed-fixing of tiles, you should know that the minimum thickness of the adhesive should not be more than 3mm.
Small cracks of up to 2mm the concrete walls should be filled in. Ground the surface and leave it to dry.
Tiles must never be stored in direct sunlight prior to fixing.
Always follow above 14 golden rules of tiling, if you want to successfully complete your home tiling project.

Why Do You Need Expansion Joints When Installing Tiles?

supremearts — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:08:59 +0000

Why Do You Need Expansion Joints When Installing Tiles?

Why Do You Need Expansion Joints When Installing Tiles?

If you’re wondering why you need to include expansion joints when installing tile, you’ve come to the right place. Let us explain why they are so important.

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.

According to the NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) Reference Manual, an expansion joint is,

“A joint through the tile, mortar, and reinforcing wire down to the substrate.” By integrating these “stress relievers” into the tile assembly, expansion and contraction takes place without compromising its integrity.”

Sadly, they are probably the least used, most misunderstood and yet one of the most important listings in the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook.

The reason they are so critical is that without them, especially on floors subject to sunlight, most installations which otherwise appear to be well done, will fail.

Without enough room for the tile assembly to expand, the tile will pop up or “tent” most times in the middle of the floor. This situation can occur in both commercial as well as residential jobs, so none of them are exempt from this requirement.

Furthermore,

“You have to allow for expansion, whether residential or commercial. Expansion joints are not optional – they are a requirement.”

What the TCNA Handbook Says About Movement Joints

The 2018 TCNA Handbook EJ171 Movement Joint Guidelines for Ceramic, Glass and Stone clearly states,

“The design professional or engineer shall show the specific locations and details of movement joints on project drawings.”

Given this sentence, where does the misunderstanding begin?

Unfortunately, many people involved in the installation of tile products don’t understand that the tile does move. If this expected movement is not accommodated, the tile will become rebellious and most likely will become very expensive for the responsible person or company.

In other words, as a tile installer you are much better off to simply include expansion joints on every project. Again however, it is not the installer’s responsibility to design and locate these joints. That is to be done by the design professional or engineer.

The attached Handbook detail EJ171 shows the necessary components of the movement joint:

Width that is four times the expected movement
Compressible back-up
Rounded back-up with no bond to the sealant
The depth of the sealant is one half of the width of the joint

We call your attention to the sealant. Notice that the elastomeric sealant is attached only on the sides of the two adjacent tiles.

One critical point here is that the sealant does not contact or bond to the sides and/or bottom of the joint. If the sealant is allowed to do so, it is locked in place and will have zero movement ability. In this case, the insertion of a “Rounded Back-Up,” or foam backer rod allows the concrete floor to expand and contract, but its primary role is to keep the sealant where it belongs: attached to the tile only.

Image Courtesy of TNCA

Think of the movement of the sealant as an in and out movement like the action of an accordion.

The sealant will also allow the tiles to move in a back and forth motion similar to rubbing two hands together.

Lastly, you will notice that the detail refers to the joint material as sealant. This is done purposely to differentiate it from lesser quality caulking products (acrylic latex or siliconized latex) which dry hard and do not allow for permanent flexibility. According to the requirements of EJ171, this sealant must be 100% silicone, urethane or polysulfide.

If you understand these principles and install the joint properly, you can expect that the expansion joints will permit this required movement to take place, keeping the tile flat on the floor where it belongs.

Certified Tile Installers understand this and can properly install movement accommodation joints.

Installing Large Format Tiles: What You Need to Know

supremearts — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:54:23 +0000

Installing Large Format Tiles: What You Need to Know

Using large format tile has many advantages. Among the most common advantages are easier maintenance and room size perception. Generally speaking it is far easier to clean the face of a tile than it is to clean the grout and large tile tends to make the room in which it is installed appear larger. The use of large format patterns also creates dynamic looks; dramatically increasing the visual impact of a space.

Below are three tips to maximize the advantages of large format tile:

Ensure a flat surface. Substrate preparation for walls and floors that will be tiled with large format materials must be perfectly flat. The level of flatness dictated by the Tile Council of North America for large format installations is 1/8” over 10.’ Not ensuring a flat substrate may create a condition where one edge of the tile is higher than the adjacent tile creating an uneven and unsightly appearance. This condition is called lippage.
Use the right adhesive correctly. Adhesive manufacturers offer an extensive range of cements, mortars, and epoxy’s designed for specific uses. Making sure you use the right one correctly for your large format installation is essential. Heavy, large format tiles used on wall applications are best installed using non-sag adhesives. TCNA recommends medium bed mortars for large format floor installs. TCNA also recommends full coverage on the back of the tile. Expert advice is: don’t take any risks and always use the floating and buttering method when installing large format tiles. This method consists of applying the adhesive over the substrate and combing it using a notched trowel. After that, a thin layer of adhesive is spread over the back of the tile with the trowel’s flat side. By using this method, full coverage of the tile with adhesive is ensured.
Specify grout joints compatible with the tile’s face dimension. Shrinkage occurs when firing ceramic and porcelain tiles during the manufacturing process. This shrinkage is natural and results in creating a slight curve across the face of the tile. American Standards and Measurements (ASTM) dictate acceptable standards which for porcelain allow for a 1/8” variance from the highest point of the curve (in the center of the tile) to the lowest point of the curve (on the tile’s edge). The variance increases with the tile’s size and dictates the grout joint one should use to avoid lippage. This is especially important to consider when using large format tiles on walls with down lighting.

20 Vastu Tips To Bring Health And Wealth

supremearts — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:06:48 +0000

20 Vastu Tips To Bring Health And Wealth

The science of Vastu adds value to one’s life and brings in peace and prosperity. Behind every Vastu tip is a deep scientific reason and hence it becomes more plausible to follow. As we enter 2020, here are few tips from Vastu expert, you can follow for good luck to follow in the new year.

Puja room is a must in every house. And we all know that North East is the most auspicious direction. But the constant confusion about whether you should face the divine direction or the idols should be facing towards it remain as it is. Here’s the solution – one must face towards the North-East direction while doing prayers.
To attract good luck in 2020, you must light a lamp every day in the evening near the water pot in the house.
Water fountain or paintings depicting water should be placed in the North or East direction. This will attract success, wealth and prosperity to your life.
Main door is an important element in Vastu. All the doors especially the main door should open inside so that the energy remain inside. Also, do take care that the hinges of doors should not make noise. Grease them periodically to keep them noise-free.
If you have a beam running inside the room wall, take care that the bed should not be placed under the beam. This arrangement is bad for health.
There should not be five corners in the ceiling of a room. If your room is constructed that way, then you can put bamboo flutes or small pyramids to curb its negative effects.
The north-east direction of the house should be kept closed. Keep the space more open and light. To store heavy items, south or south west is the ideal direction.
Toilet is a highly-debated area of the house as far as Vastu is concerned. The seat of the toilet should face North-South and should be closed when not in use.
Almirahs and beds should be set very close to the South-West wall and at a little distance from the North-East wall.
While drinking water, keep your face towards North-East or east direction. This is a great Vastu tip for good health.
Dining room should have a big mirror on the north or north-east wall which attracts wealth and prosperity.
In the south-west Corner of the house one should sleep pointing his head towards south.
Pictures or photos depicting violence in any form should not be placed in the residence or place of business. Violence attracts negativity and you surely do not want that in your growth and family.
Place a red lamp or install a red light in south for fame and success.
South-west direction should have pictures of couple or family to improve love, bonding and relationships.
Children should face in the north direction while studying to get success in examination.
Bachelors who want to get married should stay in the rooms situated at the north-west direction of their house or keep peony flowers in south-west direction in the drawing room.
Cash should be kept in the drawers made in the north and a mirror should be installed inside the drawer to double your good luck.
Wind-chimes with crystals should be placed on bedroom windows to minimize fights at home and problems between the members of the household.
Always make sure to keep the center of home a free area for the free flow of energies. This is important for positivity in the house and for health and prosperity