03-Tiling On Industrial Floors

SURFACE PREPARATION

Do not tile onto new screed or concrete. Leave screed or concrete for at least 6 weeks before substrate repairing, surface smoothening and tiling. Duration may extend in lower temperatures and/or high humidity conditions. The screed should be wetted each day during curing to prevent formation of cracks caused by shrinkage, in dry and hot ambient conditions.

The deepest point of the application surface in 2 m long gauge should not exceed 5 mm. For larger deviations, the surface should be smoothened with flooring products (CERMIFLOOR 3-10 is recommended).

The substrate must be clean in order to ensure the adhesive bonds properly. Surfaces should be clean and free from dust, dirt, grease or any other contaminating barrier. Subsequently hardened or polished surfaces and laitance (concrete and etc.) must be removed by scabbling. Ensure that substrate is mature, sound, stable and smooth, and not too dry or wet. It is recommended to clean up the surface with pressurized water.

SELECTION OF TILES

Anti-acid porcelain tile of 20x20 cm (water absorption ratio ≤0,05%) as recommended by the manufacturers.

CERMIX PRODUCTS MIX

CERMIFILM
CERMIPLUS
CERMIPLUS XL
CERMIJOINT EPOSOL
CERMITHANE

APPLICATION TECHNIQUE

For industrial tiling, compatible products should be selected for corresponding to the movements (expansions and shrinks on floor) caused by thermal and mechanical effects.

High porosity substrates should be primed with CERMIFILM before fixing. Priming will balance the water absorptivity of the surface and enhance bonding adherence. Wait for at least 3 hours for the primer to dry and then continue to next application.

After tonality and calibration controls of the tiles, fixing may commence. For fixing tiles select CERMIPLUS or CERMIPLUS XL.

Gradually add clean water to powder (in quantities as stated in technical legends of products), and mix to a smooth and homogenous paste. It is recommended to use a low cycled electrical drill-mixer for mixing.

The paste should rest for 3 minutes prior to application and should be applied after remixing.

Apply the adhesive on the substrate with a suitable notched trowel to achieve the required bed thickness. For easier application U9, E10 or marble type notched trowels are recommended.

The tiles must be fixed within the open time of adhesive and pressed on with a twisting and sliding action to achieve a good contact. No hammering on the tile is needed, as the adhesive is pourable and will easily spread and fully cover the tile back. Lift an occasional tile after fixing to verify that the required contact is being achieved.

In fixing transparent and light colored tiles and natural stones, a sample application should be carried to observe the possibility of the formation of stain and shades. In case, white coloured adhesive should be used.

To prevent water puddles, particularly for outdoor and wet area applications, the floor should be leveled with an inclined of 3% along the direction of drain.

Grouting should start after the adhesive has set and dried, at least 6 hours.

For grouting application select CERMIJOINT EPOSOL. It is epoxy based two component, hygienic, chemicals and abrasion resistant grouting material. It endures to the chemical, mechanical and physical effects the industrial floors are exposed to.

While applying the grout, carefully follow the rules and instructions on product packaging and technical legends of the products. For a easier application and to ensure full final product performance, the grout should be applied at an ambient temperature around +25 °C.

Grouted surfaces must be protected for at least 24 hours from direct sunlight, frost and rain. The floor may service to pedestrian traffic 24 hours after grouting and to heavy loads after 72 hours.

Expansion joints should be incorporated to allow for slight movements due to changes in temperature, humidity and thermal and mechanical loads formed on the surface and substrate. Expansion joints should be provided considering heat transmitting systems and insulation applications, floors exposed to heavy traffic and pedestrian loads, wideness of the area, where tiling meets other materials, along all internal corners, existing movement joints or changes in background material. As described above expansion joints absorbs the stresses formed between different movement capacities of overlapping materials. Thus, it prevents the deformations that may arise in the flooring and covering. Expansion joints should be insulated by using proper profiles or mastics. Cementitous grouting materials are not appropriate for expansion joints.

No coatings or coverings should be applied on the existing dilatation zones and structural expansion joints in buildings. These zones should be insulated by using proper profiles or mastics.

If there exist any expansion joints on the floor, artificial expansion joints should be created. Before laying the covering, cold joints should be formed on the screed within rectangular areas of minimum 4 m x 4 m (for large sized tiles up to 8 m x 8 m) with minimum depth of 1 cm. Spiral or concrete cutting machines can be used for forming the joints. If the area is smaller than 4m x 4m, expansion joints should be incorporated in the shape (+) on the area. If this is not possible, expansion joints should be laid within columns. These artificial joints will eliminate the stress formed by the structural movements of the building.

Expansion joints should have minimum width of 6-10 mm along internal corners (wall and floor intersections) this rule should be followed, and skirting should be fixed upon to the completion of tiling.

CERMITHANE mastic can be used to fill expansion joints.