CustomBuildingProd's video: Top 5 Tips: Writing Successful Tile Installation Specifications

Top 5 Tips for Writing Successful Specifications for 09 3000 Tile Installations Specification documents within Section 09 30 00 provide detailed direction and warranty elements for tile and stone installations. A Clear, Concise and Correct specification guides everyone involved with the project and contains the essentials to protect the owner’s investment. A good tile spec helps prevent delays from RFIs, costly change orders or even failures in the tile assembly. Tip : List specific methods and products It is critical to list the appropriate Tile Council of North America installation methods for each tiled area along with the specific products for the Basis of Design. Specifying a Basis of Design establishes the required quality and performance for your particular application such as extra heavy service conditions, wet areas, suspended slabs, balconies and exterior facades. These demanding conditions require specific higher performing products. To help prevent errors and misunderstandings by contractors, delete all non-applicable terms from each specification you submit. This makes your instructions clear and concise. Tip : Properly specify substrate conditions and preparation requirements The prevalence of large format tile, a tile with any side longer than 15 inches, is driving the need to update tile specs. The larger the tile, the flatter the substrate must be to prevent an uneven surface. For large format tile, variations in flatness or walls or floors should not exceed 1/8" in 10 feet or 1/16" in 24 inches. The best way to meet or exceed this level of flatness on floors is by using a high strength, rapid-setting self-leveling underlayment like CUSTOM LevelQuik RS. Any wet or intermittently wet area must be treated with an effective waterproofing membrane meeting the requirements of ANSI A118.10 such as RedGard Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane. For areas such as a steam room, specify that the ANSI A118.10 membrane also meet the Low permeability requirements of ASTM E96 Method E to prevent moisture vapor transmission. Although many TCNA details list membranes as “optional,” strong consideration should be used in deciding to eliminate them from your specification as water damage is among the most costly repairs. Due to fast track projects combined with thinner and less rigid construction methods, hard finishes are more subject to damage caused by movement. These conditions call for crack isolation membranes meeting ANSI A118.12. RedGard Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane also meets these requirements. Multi-story residential construction should include a sound reduction membrane with a high delta Impact Insulation Class rating to help prevent sound transmission through tiled floors. Tip : Include control and movement joints in the tile assembly The design team is responsible for determining movement joint locations. Properly placed movement joints will help prevent failure of the tile assembly. Their inclusion is particularly important for demanding installations such as suspended slabs and exteriors. But any tile exposed to deflection or thermal cycling, even interiors subject to UV exposure, merits extra consideration. Perimeter joints are commonly overlooked or improperly placed, and a detailed specification will help this. Movement joints must be filled with a suitable sealant that will add flexibility to the assembly. Address control joint relocation per TCNA F125 Full Coverage or F125 Partial Coverage and specify an appropriate crack isolation membrane in PART 2. It is important to bring expansion joints, isolation joints and construction joints directly through new tile work, per TCNA Detail EJ171. Tip : Ensure a long lasting system warranty There are two ways to ensure that product quality extends beyond meeting baseline ANSI standards. First, specify a system of products from a manufacturer that will provide the owner with a warranty of not less than 10 years from the date of substantial completion. Second, obtain all of the products in the system from a single source manufacturer to ensure full compatibility and warranty compliance. System warranties from CUSTOM offers the best coverage in the industry with terms up to a Lifetime. Coverage includes labor to repair or replace the tile assembly in the event of failure. Tip : Update your master spec The time taken to update your master spec can prevent many issues on a project. Porcelain tile and installation products along with standards have changed. Your entire specification document – not just the 03 90 00 section – should be kept current to reflect these changes.