Case 5
- Introduction
- Causes of Defects
- Good Practices
- Standards
- Maintenance and Diagnostics
- Remedial
- Similar Cases
- References
Good Practices
Design
Design to accommodate differential movements of the structure and provide movement joints to mitigate differential settlement or shrinkage of cracks. Recommended minimum wall joint width of 3 mm
(5 mm preferred) and minimum floor joint width of 5 mm. Spacing of movement joints on the internal
wall should be 5 m to 6 m horizontally and vertically, while space for the internal floor should be 6 m to 7 m in all directions in accordance with BS 5385-1, SS 665 or equivalent. Specification of less water-permeable tiles for wet areas. Recommend testing of tiles against design specifications before mass installation in accordance with ISO 10545-1 or equivalent. Cracks at tile joints are commonly due to the settling process, and thus requires pointing in accordance with BS 5385-3 or equivalent.
Construction
Tile fixing method should be guided in accordance with SS 665, BS 5385-1, BS 8000-11 or equivalent,
including:
-Tiles should be cut and handled with care during application;
-Tiles should be soaked to relieve their dry condition before laying;
-Screed should be properly cured, rendered and cleaned;
-Tiles should not be laid over cracks or be subjected to any loading; and
-Tiles should be properly tapped in place, and have their surfaces wiped after tiling.
Tiles should resist cracking from soaking or transverse elongation. They should be of a thickness adequate for resisting cracks from direct impact. Use a proper key at the back of the tiles for good bonding.
Cleaning
- Regular mopping and buffing should be carried out using soft mop and brushes.
- Proper handling of equipment is important to prevent and damages to the tile surface. For example, hard handles of these equipments should not be handled negligently.
- Care should be taken when keeping the equipment that not scratch the tile surface.