A. What is tile?

1. Tile is basically pressed clay which is then fired at temperatures of up to 1200 degrees celcius. Tiles come in a number of shapes sizes and colours. Colours come from glaze materials or from type of clay used.

B. Types of tile

1. Porcelain body vitreous
2. Red body monocottura semi vitreous
3. White body monocottura semi vitreous
4. Non vitreous wall tile
   
   

C. Common types of acceptable substrates for ceramic tile.

1. Concrete
2. Exterior grade Fir plywood
3. Cement Backer Units (Durock, Wonderboard)
4. Gypsum Wallboard
5. Hardi Backer Board
   

D. What conditions affect selection of installation materials.

1. Tile moisture absorption

   i. Extremely Low - Porcelain body vitreous tile
   ii. Low - semi vitreous red and white body monocottura
   iii. Moderate - semi vitreous bi-cottura tile.
   iv. High - non vitreous wall tile.

2. Traffic conditions

   i. heavy (malls, airports)
   ii. medium - heavy (office lobbies, large retail stores, fitness centres)
   iii. medium (restaurants, commercial washrooms)
   iv. low (residential)

3. Environmental conditions.

   i. Exterior (freeze thaw, de-icing salts)
   ii. Interior (constant Immersion, dry, sauna, heated floor systems, refrigerator rooms, chemical attack).

4. Substrate?

   i. concrete
   ii. Plywood
   iii. Gypsum wallboard
   iv. Cement Backer Unit
   v. Hardi Backer

I. Concrete

Generally speaking , installation of tile over a concrete substrate is accomplished using either a non modified thin set mortar or a latex modified thin set mortar depending on traffic and environmental conditions.

Products to consider are;

Good: Maper kerabond

Better: Maper Ultraflex I

Best: Maper Ultraflex II

II. Plywood

Installation of tile over exterior grade fir plywood must only be done for interior, residential, dry installations.

Products to consider are;

Better: Maper Ultraflex I

Best: Maper Ultraflex II

III. Gypsum Wallboard

Generally used on interior, droy or intermittently wet residential wall installations; i.e. residential showers, commercial washrooms.

Products to consider are;

Best: Maper Type 1 Mastic

IV. Cement Backer Units

Generally used in wet residential and commercial areas. When used in commercial spaces a latex modified thin set mortar is preferred. When used in a dry spaces (commercial or residential) or intermittent water exposed areas, a type 1 mastic is recommended.

Produccts to consider are;

Good: Type 1 Mastic

Best: Ultraflex II

V. Denseshield Backer Board
Generally used in residential dry, and intermittent water exposed areas.

Products to consider are;

Best: Type 1 Mastic

VI. Grout Materials

A. Ker 800 unsanded wall grout

1. Used for grouting of interior wet or dry wall tile installations with joints not exceeding 3 mm.

2. Used on wall tile and may be used to grout marble and granite floor installations, provided
   joints do not exceed 3 mm.

B. Ker 200 sanded floor grout

1. Used for grouting of interor and exterior wet or dry floor tile installations. Joint must be a minimumof 3 mm and a maximum of 6 mm.

2. May be used on walls provided joints between tile are at least 3 mm.