Because of this it is essential for flooring installations to have some sort of movement protection in place to absorb the movement and protect the surface tiles, which comes in the form of movement joints.
Incorporating movement joints into tiled flooring installations means any heavy stresses and vertical movement will be effectively absorbed, protecting the surface tiles. However, a common problem that arises is where the expansion joints need to cross over each other. These junctions are technically demanding to install and produce, time consuming and expensive for installers.
As a result, Dural has recently introduced a new and faster way of creating these junctions, compared to traditional methods, in the form of their new Cross Joints. These pre-formed junctions provide an effective connection between crossing expansion joints.
Preparing cross joints – the old way
UK Building Regulations, in particular BS5385, stipulate that expanses of hard flooring as a finished surface material have to conform to various aesthetic and functional standards. Commercial and industrial buildings which have large expanses of hard flooring as a finished surface material have to ensure compliance.
When designing hard flooring installations, Architects and Designers are often faced with the problem of situations where the subfloor movement joints intersect with each other, even in early design concepts. As the surface expansion joints have to be placed directly above the subfloor movement joints, it means these joints have no other option but to cross each other.
Creating a four-way junction with movement joints is technically demanding for installers, as well as costly and time consuming. Another important consideration is that the level of movement protection offered by the cross junction may be compromised by the quality of the installer, as they have to cut the joints in a way to successfully integrate together. The movement joints are liable to warping and deterioration where they are cut as the integrity of the joints are compromised.
Benefits of Dural’s Cross Joints for tiled flooring installations
Dural’s Cross Joints are a new, unique solution for creating a four-way junction. They are pre-formed joints which are simply placed over the junction in the subfloor and in-line with the surface joints. Anchored in the adhesive bed, the Cross Joints are then using the same procedure that standard movement joints are fitted with.
The Cross Joints allow movement accommodation in all directions simultaneously and absorbs the stresses created by vertical movement from expansion and contraction across the four surface areas at the junction. This means the stresses are not transferred into the surface tiled flooring, preventing cracks, loose tiles and ‘tenting’ or ‘popping’ of the tiles.
The benefits to installers include a much easier installation compared to traditional methods where they would have to cut away the fixing legs of the crossing joints, which was very labour intensive. They are now able to complete installations faster and easier, meaning they save time and money.
Architects and Designers will benefit from incorporating Cross Joints into their build projects, as it means they will have confidence in designing seamless tiled flooring that has high aesthetic qualities, that is fit for the purpose intended, and importantly exceeds requirements BS5385 for hard flooring applications.
Cross Joints – at a glance
- Provide Independent movement in all directions
- Available in all materials, colours, effects & finishes
- Depths from 3mm to 30mm in stainless steel & 3mm to 50mm in Aluminium and Brass.
- Fixed the same way as standard movement joints
- Extremely cost effective
For further information on Dural’s Cross Joints, contact their flooring experts and they will be happy to provide further information. High quality products are backed up by excellent, competent advice and design solutions.
