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With the help of a leveling system, tiles can be placed perfectly flat and leveled. Disturbing, even dangerous, level differences between the tile edges are thus completely excluded. In addition, a leveling system ensures that the tiles remain neatly in place during the drying process, with a nice tight tile floor as the end result. Not unimportant is also the fact that a leveling system makes the placement of tiles significantly faster. In addition, the system can be used for installing both tiled floors and tile walls, also in natural stone.
The discomfort of a level difference Even minute level differences between adjacent floor tiles can cause inconveniences. Not only are such level differences, especially with a sleek finish, perceived as ethically disturbing, but they can even cause falls when walking on the tile floor and cause damage when furniture is pushed over it or when driven on it with hard wheels. The chosen joint pattern also affects any level differences between two adjacent tiles. If an intersecting joint pattern is chosen (half-brick, game dressings, etc.), even with perfect placement on a completely flat surface, you cannot prevent niveau differences between the tiles at the junction of the joints. In the case of large-format tiles, the severity deviations of the edges can even be up to 2 mm. In this case, a double bonding or a mortar adhesive that can be applied in larger thicknesses is recommended. Level differences between adjacent tiles are usually more disturbing with floor tiling than with wall tiling. In general, the nuisance increases as the joints are narrower. Preparation
Before starting tiling, the wall or floor is measured. Let's consider the floor as a surface to be tiled. Based on the floor area and the size of the tiles, the number of tiles is calculated, taking into account cutting loss. After it has been established that the surface is free of unevenness, possibly after applying a stabilization layer of sand and cement, a mortar or glue bed is led, on which the tiles are then bricked in. Another way is to place the tiles with adhesive cement on a dry shelf layer, where larger tiles are invariably double glued. Because both the surface and the tile are provided with an adhesive layer, the tile floor stays in place better anyway. Attention: when glueing tiles, it is to a substantial extent the substrate that determines the quality of the installation. To avoid having to add an unsteistically narrow piece of tile at the end of the first row, first lay out a row of tiles.
Installing tiles with a leveling system is 20 to 30% faster than installing without the system. If the correct part is too short at the end, the first tile of the row must also be shortened using a manual tile cutter or electric grinding wheel. Now it is the turn to smear the tile surface with tile glue. It is best to work zone by zone and use a toothed glue comb. It is planned that the tile is completely covered with glue; Hollow spaces under the tile that are not glued can easily break when walked. Set
Both for those who regularly lay a tile floor and for the professional installer, there are various tools on the market to simplify the job in order to obtain a perfect result. Just think of connection profiles in PVC or in aluminium, which reinforce the tile surface. During installation, edge insulation can also be applied, to prevent tiling against the wall. Moreover, you prevent cracks in the chapelaag. Expansion joints also require attention, as they are responsible for whether or not the test floor is under tension. Two adjacent tile surfaces or sins are nicely connected with PVC expansion profiles. If desired, this can also be achieved with silicone in the expansion joints. Levelling systems for tiled floors
One of the most convenient tools when installing tile floors or walls is a leveling system. This is less suitable for small tiles. A leveling system for tiles exists in two variants that we take a closer look at here. One system consists of joint crosses in T or X shape and tile caps. Depending on the joint width, the tile thickness and the desired installation method (right to straight, semi-brick, Roman bandage, etc.), the installer chooses parts in the dimensions intended for that application. The application of this system is simple: the tile is laid on the glue bed, the T- or X-cross is slid under the tile with the foot and the next tile is placed on the still damp ice in a sliding motion. The Batofix Levelling is placed on the stem of the joint cross and screwed on until both tiles have exactly the same level. With grout crosses, the same joint width is automatically maintained between the corners and between two tiles. After the glue has hardened sufficiently (at least 24 hours), the top of the joint cross is screwed on, after which the joint cross is broken off in the joint direction. The Batofix Levelling can then be reused.
Levelling system with skewers and tile clips
The other leveling system uses a wedge (keg), a clip and a levelling pliers. Tile clips are available in various joint widths: 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm. After applying a layer of at least 4 mm tile adhesive (S1 or S2, depending on the choice of tile) to a perfectly even surface, the tile is placed and the base of the tile clip is immediately slid under it.
Depending on the tile size, one or more tile clips are used. Typically, you use two tile clips per tile side, depending on the convexity of the tile, and stay 10 cm away from each corner. After the tile has been knocked, the wedge (keg) is slid into the opening of the tile clip to level the tiles. This insertion is facilitated with pressure pliers specially designed for this system.
When the tile adhesive is almost completely cured, the visible part of the tile clip must be removed. Optionally, the upper part of the tile clip can be broken off with a rubber hammer or stamped away with the foot, as long as this is always done in the direction of the joint.
When leveling with the spigot and tile clip system, work must always be done from the last placed tile to the previous tile. When tiles are then pulled, the joints cannot widen.
After all, the glue under the penultimate tile has already dried a bit and is therefore slightly firmer. By pulling the freshly placed tile towards the older one, a beautiful joint is created.
Points
Ceramic tiles can show minor differences (a slight shrinkage) on the diagonals due to cooling after a baking process. However, thanks to the levelling system, these differences can be perfectly absorbed. Even with natural stone tiles, the thickness of the individual tiles is never the same - easily as much as 0.5 or 1 mm difference - but thanks to a leveling system, all tiles are placed at exactly the same level.
Avoid glue between the tile clip feet.
Press the wedges well with the correctly set pliers. Improperly set pliers can cause the tile clips to break off prematurely or not at all.
Do not remove tile clips too early (drying time glue at least 24 hours), but also not too late. But it must be done before the glue is completely cured, because otherwise there is a danger that the tile clip base will dry in the glue.
Again: the tile clip should always be removed in the direction of the joint, and that with a soft, rubber hammer or kicked away by the foot. Never, ever remove the clip in the transverse direction of the joint.
On the packaging of the different levelling systems, the dimensions of the different applications are clearly displayed, while some manufacturers also use colour codes.
If the installation of the tiles cannot be finished at the end of the day, it is advised to resume work the next day as started.
The tile clips have a single use, the spears are perfectly reusable.
On producer websites, on packaging and/or via apps, the installer will find useful tools or tables to calculate the numbers he needs from a particular levelling system per m².
This system is also very convenient for placing thin ceramic tiles with a thickness of 4 mm for façade applications.
Advantages of the levelling system
From the above, it may be seen that the use of a leveling system to install tiles has many advantages.
All tile clips and spears hold the floor together nicely, with the same joint width automatically, so that it can slide apart less easily as can be the case with the non-use of a leveling system.
The result always looks perfect, even if the installer would not be a professional.
A leveling system can also be used for terrace tiles, tiles thinner than 6 mm, ceramic and natural stone tiles.
The installation of the tiles with a leveling system is 20 to 30% faster than an installation without the system.
With a leveling system, the tiles are perfectly placed in one go.
The newly laid tile floor is faster (slightly) walkable than if no leveling system had been used.
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