Control/Movement Joints

Cache

Done enough tile (ceramic, marble, and slate) to know my way around with regard to smaller jobs. Things like bathrooms, foyers, mudrooms, kitchens, showers, etc. The largest single area application that I've done was about 16'x24' before transitions to carpet and hardwood.

The current job is quite a bit larger, so I could use some advice. I've attached a scan of the main floor plan. HO wants pretty much the entire main floor (1400s.f.) done in 18"x18" marble. There will be a 6"x18" border around the walls, staircases, cabinets, etc. and then the center areas will be rotated and laid in a diamond pattern. There will be a couple other embellishments, but they're not really important right now.

I'm not sure where movement joints will be necessary/advised. I've marked the locations where I think joints would be appropriate, but I'd really appreciate more experienced opinions. Thanks.

P.S. Also, the decision to go with marble instead of hardwood came after the framing stage was completed. I told the HO it is a good idea to add an additional layer of ply over the 3/4" T&G OSB before the CBU goes on. Obviously this is going to ruin the rise on the first stair. The basement ceilings are still open, so I could install additional bracing between floor trusses. Currently the floor is comprised of open web trusses, 16" deep and 19.2" oc (resulting in the same spacing as normal joists 16" oc as trusses have much wider top chord). What say you?

Attached Files

main floor.pdf (114.7 KB, 81 views)

Floordude

Marble, and your not that versed on bigger installations....

Tuscon leveling system, or the QEP LASH system!!!!

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Sportbilly

I'm an idiot, was confused

Bud Cline

What do your TCNA and MIA documents recommend for this situation? That's where you should be getting your information.

gideond

I'd say you'll need at least one more expansion joint running vertically in the middle of the dinning/greatroom area. It's been a while since I looked at the spec, but I believe it you look at Schluter's website under the Dilex entry (their expansion joints) they recommend they be place a maximum of 30 feet in each direction.

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Cache

Marble isn't any more difficult than slate if I just do a foyer or a bathroom. No control joints or anything to worry about. I'm a very meticulous perfectionist, so I try to make even the ceramic jobs look perfect.

Thanks for the suggestions on the leveling system.

Cache

I like the TLS product better as it seems to avoid some of the problems with the lash system, but it is significantly more costly. After I did the math it seems that TLS is about 2X the cost of the Lash system. For this job the TLS system will set me back about $1200. I'll have a hard time passing that cost on to the HO. I still have to be competitively priced and everybody claims that they won't have lippage.

Conversely the Lash system will run about $500 for this job. The budget can absorb that and I won't have to take a profit cut.