Some info you pro tilers might find useful...
TTA urges extra care on tiling with mesh-backed products
In view of the increasing use of ceramic and stone mesh-backed tiles and slabs in the UK, The Tile Association urges extra care with the specification and installation of such products.
These products tend to have a mesh adhered to the back of the ceramic or natural stone with resin or glue. This means that when the tile or slab is installed, the adhesive used to fix the tile has to adhere to the backing mesh of the tile or slab.
Dependent upon service conditions, the type of backing may have a significant impact upon performance. For instance, adhesion bond strengths may be reduced in external or wet duty applications, or in areas where thermal movement is a consideration. It is also important to note that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mesh back and its resin/glue may be higher than the tile or natural stone tile/ slab to which it is attached.
Currently there are no standards for mesh backed tiles and slabs, and frequently these products are supplied with no information on the composition of the mesh resin/glue, the appropriate type of adhesive that should be used when they are installed and even their suitability in certain locations.
Apart from reference to BS 5385, The British Standard Code of Practice for fixing wall and floor tiles and BS8000-11, the Code of Practice for Workmanship on Site regarding mesh-backed products, the TTA advises that as a guideline, if the mesh and glue cover more than 25% of the back of the product, they could interfere with adhesion between the product and the mortar or adhesive bed unless the glue and the mortar or adhesive are compatible.
TTA urges extra care on tiling with mesh-backed products
In view of the increasing use of ceramic and stone mesh-backed tiles and slabs in the UK, The Tile Association urges extra care with the specification and installation of such products.
These products tend to have a mesh adhered to the back of the ceramic or natural stone with resin or glue. This means that when the tile or slab is installed, the adhesive used to fix the tile has to adhere to the backing mesh of the tile or slab.
Dependent upon service conditions, the type of backing may have a significant impact upon performance. For instance, adhesion bond strengths may be reduced in external or wet duty applications, or in areas where thermal movement is a consideration. It is also important to note that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mesh back and its resin/glue may be higher than the tile or natural stone tile/ slab to which it is attached.
Currently there are no standards for mesh backed tiles and slabs, and frequently these products are supplied with no information on the composition of the mesh resin/glue, the appropriate type of adhesive that should be used when they are installed and even their suitability in certain locations.
Apart from reference to BS 5385, The British Standard Code of Practice for fixing wall and floor tiles and BS8000-11, the Code of Practice for Workmanship on Site regarding mesh-backed products, the TTA advises that as a guideline, if the mesh and glue cover more than 25% of the back of the product, they could interfere with adhesion between the product and the mortar or adhesive bed unless the glue and the mortar or adhesive are compatible.
