Floor Tile Deflection

The marble institute of america recommends that total load deflection be limited to l 720 for spans up to 14 0 and a maximum deflection of 7 32 for spans greater than 14 0.

Floor tile deflection.

Because ceramic floor tile is rigid and unforgiving it needs a structurally sound immobile base. Learn more about it here. Deflection or bounciness can cause tiles and grout to crack or come loose and the tolerance depends on what type of tile is being installed. This calculator is designed to work with dimensional lumber only.

All floors deflect or move to some extent but if. 1 1 this test method is used to determine the deflection of relatively rigid resilient floor tile such as vinyl composition tile and resilient flooring with a rigid polymeric core. For example the allowable deflection of a 12ft span floor joist with plaster l 360 is 0 4 12ft divided by 360. Stone tiles may be installed with thin set methods a 14 foot maximum span is recommended by the marble.

1 2 the values stated in inch pound units are to be regarded as standard. Enter your floor joist information and then hit calculate deflection to find out your floor rating. Calculating deflection many tile contractors can judge a floor s deflection by walking around. For instance ceramic tile can withstand more deflection than natural stone.

If that same joist had gypsum ceiling l 240 the allowable deflection is 0 6. If you have engineered truss or i beam type joists please do not use this calculator. Whether you are installing stone or ceramic tile over floors and walls there s one thing to consider. It is for this reason that recommendations for floor rigidity are not based on deflection measurements but on empirically established methods found to work over normal code construction.

See the table below. Note it gives the allowable deflection based on a fractional span quantity so a larger denominator will yield less deflection. Under total load for ceramic tile.