Manufacturers and contractors are welcome to contribute to the Expert Advice section. Schlüter-Systems have prepared a series of advisory technical articles relating to the ongoing problems associated with movement in floor tile installations. Contract Flooring Magazine leads the way for publishing such expert advice online for reference by the flooring, building and construction industry.
Contract Flooring Magazine articles are read by industries top professionals and decision makers including Architects, Specifiers, flooring and building industry manufacturers.
If you would like to contribute to this section, please contact us.
Read our definitive series on movement joints and why they are needed. We also cover the technical aspects regarding their installation.
Schlüter®–Systems 'Ian Knifton' expert in this field, have contributed a Movement Joint Series of technical articles. A valuable trade resource.
Published your advisory articles yet?
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| Stone Does Not Work |
| Code of Practice |
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Also the Stone Federation is publishing a new code of practice bringing together all the stone flooring elements of the different British Standards, including the use of uncoupling membranes, the maximum size of floors before intermediate movement joints should be incorporated, and the use of perimeter movement joints.
By setting up the industry's first NVQs I hope we can raise the profile of the Stone Federation so that more companies will join, and end-user customers will only want to use Federation members or companies who have staff with NVQ qualifications.
Also, installers, architects and specifiers should familiarise themselves with the new Code of Practice, and should warn customers of anything that falls outside the requirements. We don't want to stifle innovation, but we don't want untrained installers continuing to say they're not going to use stone again because it's such a bad product. If stone is laid properly, it will last for years - but it can only be laid properly by knowledgeable installers.
As a third step towards improving knowledge of how to guarantee the long-lasting integrity of stone floors, the Stone Federation has recently welcomed world market leader in tiling solutions, Schlüter-Systems, to its membership. Schlüter's Public Relations Manager Stewart Bint is now on the Training
Group, and Technical Manager Ian Knifton sits on our Technical Committee.
Ian Knifton says: "Movement joints create independent tile fields, absorbing much of the surface movement. Without them the shear stress builds up between the surface and the screed, causing debonding and cracking. Therefore, stress-relieving joints are an essential part of any stone installation, and should be incorporated at the design stage. And an uncoupling membrane installed over the substrate, with the stone anchored to the top of it, will neutralise movement and cracks in the screed, preventing any stresses being transferred from the screed to the stone covering."
And Stewart Bint's PR and communications expertise is being offered as a free service to companies working on stone flooring projects. "While Schlüter primarily protects the long-term integrity of tiled installations through movement joints, uncoupling and waterproofing membranes, we feel it's important to help companies increase overall stone awareness amongst their target audiences.
"Judging by the number of cases where Schlüter is called in to trouble-shoot where stone installations have gone wrong, we're pleased to be able to play a part in educating stone flooring contractors, architects and specifiers, in the correct use of essential protection."
For more information contact:
Stewart Bint
T: 01530 813396
F: 01530 813376
