×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

(OP)
I have been reading a lot on the ole' internet about crack isolation membranes for tiling over "cracks" in concrete slabs to isolate "in-plane" movement to keep cracks from propagating up through the tile.

Is it necessary to honor a Control Joint that was cut in the slab strictly to control cracking?

The cuts in my basement slab have not moved since they were cut 5 yrs ago. Since it is below grade, I have a hard time believing that they ever really will. The slab confined on all sides by CMU walls. The only movement I would anticipate would be from water pressure below and that would cause "out of plane" movement and that can't be helped with any membrane.

Thoughts?


RE: Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

At 5 years in a conditioned space, the slab should have shrunk as much as it is going to. You have a relative constant temperature so thermal movements should be very small. I can't really see where it will be a problem.

RE: Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

Use a flexible floor tile adhesive. You only need a tile control joint where there is a location such as a reentrant corner or narrow section like a door where a stress riser can occur.

RE: Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

(OP)
So, you guys think I'd be safe to simply use a flexible thinset (I have used Laticrete with the latex additive in the past) and tile right over the joints?

RE: Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

(OP)
same vague information as everywhere else!

As far as I see it, these control cuts have long fulfilled there purpose and since the slab is some 7 ft below grade, and at a nearly constant temp I cant see thermal being an issue.
The 'crete has been curing for 5+ yrs...can't be shrinking too much anymore.

As I said above, water could be an issue if somehow it cause the slab to lift, but at that point no "Crack isolation" is going to help anyway.

RE: Tile Over Control Joints in Basement Slab

If it were my house, I would tile right over the joint with the flexible thin set. To be on the safe side, I would buy some extra tiles for the "just in case" scenario. Will not cost too much and is a little insurance if there is a problem.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources