Uncoupling Membrane/ expansion joints
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:53 pm
post for member - nigel206
uncoupling membrane allows the floor to expand and contract under the membrane while the tiles stay in the same position and do not crack or de bond from the substrate. imagine you have an egg in the palm of your hand and you move your hand too much the egg will fall off and break, if you put your other hand underneath your first hand you could move this as the effect on the egg would not be as severe (I hope that makes sense)
There are two ways to make an expansion joint (or a control joint as they are sometimes called) 1) use a ready made expansion joint while tiling 2) a method called "soft jointing" can be used where a grout line is left clear of grout and is instead filled with a silicone that is the same colour as the grout
Hope that helps
uncoupling membrane allows the floor to expand and contract under the membrane while the tiles stay in the same position and do not crack or de bond from the substrate. imagine you have an egg in the palm of your hand and you move your hand too much the egg will fall off and break, if you put your other hand underneath your first hand you could move this as the effect on the egg would not be as severe (I hope that makes sense)
There are two ways to make an expansion joint (or a control joint as they are sometimes called) 1) use a ready made expansion joint while tiling 2) a method called "soft jointing" can be used where a grout line is left clear of grout and is instead filled with a silicone that is the same colour as the grout
Hope that helps