Without regard to installation requirements, they pump these things out at a cyclic rate, and cus- tomers have no idea. The average tile mechanic doesn’t either. And 9 times out of 10, incorrect installa- tions rarely get held accountable, so when customers don’t want to listen to the right way and go get it done the wrong way, the competi- tor makes money, you don’t gain sales, and the customer is never the wiser. ANSWER Attached are pictures of different installed tile work incorporating movement accommodation joints. The first is a residential installation with porcelain plank tile where a change of pattern is in a doorway to allow for a nearly unnoticeable movement accommodation joint. The other two are from commer- cial jobs where large areas of tile happen quite frequently. In the TCNA Handbook from page 430 to 437 is section EJ171. It states under location and fre- quency of joints: • Interior – maximum of 25’ each direction Exterior- 8’ to 12’ in each direction • Interior tile work exposed to direct sunlight (heat) or moisture – maximum of 12’ each direction • Above ground concrete slabs – maximum of 12’ each direction • Perimeter joints – movement joints are required where tile- work abuts restraining surfaces such as perimeter walls. • Change of plane, exterior – movement joints are required in all inside and outside corners. • Change of plane interior – move- ment joint required at all inside corners This may be the least used, most often misunderstood and most important listing in our Handbook. Lack of correctly-installed expan- ASK THE EXPERTS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 24 TileLetter | August 2018