b'ASK THE EXPERTSAsk the Experts Q&As are culled from member inqui- Sponsored byries to NTCAs Technical Support staff. To become a member and make use of personal, targeted answers from Technical Support staff to your installation ques-tions, contact Jim Olson at jim@tile-assn.com.QUESTION experts,notdesignersorcustom-Greetings!Iwaswonderingifers, is a mockup the only true way youcouldsolveamysteryforme.torelieveyourselfofculpabilityif Onnumerousjobs,forbothwallsshadowingandlippagedoresult and fl oors, we are asked by interiorfromdisregardingamanufacturers designers to install 12 x 24 or simi- recommendations?lar tiles in a standard brick aka 50% offset pattern. However, for many ofANSWERthese, printed on the box of tile orThanksforgettingintouchand stated on the order sheet by the dis- thanks for asking an excellent ques-tributor, it clearly states in one waytion.or another, Brick joint pattern to beItismyguessthatthedesigners offset 33%. When we point this out,youareworkingwithmaynotbe the designer doesnt care and wontfamiliar with the requirements of tile approveamockup(becausetheyindustrystandardsandthereason dont want to order any extra tile).why those standards exist and why Most of the time the 50% offset onmanufacturers require certain offsets the fl doesnt end up becomingfor tiles they produce. oor alippageorshadowingproblem,Listed below are the tile industry though we also use a leveling systeminstallationstandardsthatrelateto so perhaps that helps mitigate it. Onthis discussion:walls,however,especiallydepend-ANSIA108.02section4.3.7 ing on the lighting, it can be a realLippageGuidelines, Explanation, problem. and CautionI would like to know why manu-ANSIA108.02section4.3.8 facturers recommend this if it oftenGrout Joint Sizeisntfollowed(Iseeplentyoftile ANSIA108.02section4.3.8.1 jobs installed with the 50% offset)?Running Bond / Brick Joint PatternsAnd why do most of the distributors ANSIA108.02section4.3.8.2 displaythetileonadisplayboardRunningBond/BrickJointand with 50% offset if the manufacturerAny Offset Pattern (for your conve-requestsa33%offset?Iseveryonenience, I have quoted this section justtryingtocovertheirbuttsonhere): potential lippage and/or shadowingAsyoucansee,ANSIA108.02 issues? And since tile setters are the4.3.8.2isveryclear.Whenthis 26 TileLetter | May 2019'