I am having a contractor tile my outdoor patio. It is partly covered and
partly subject to rain and sun (Southern California, no freezing). The size
is 11x 40 feet. Tile size is 18" square.

The tile will be installed on a concrete slab, using thinset. Should the
contractor make some provision for heat expansion/contraction? Silicone
grout? Control joints? He says, no provision for expansion is necessary.

Thanks

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-

Walter R. wrote:
I am having a contractor tile my outdoor patio. It is partly covered and
partly subject to rain and sun (Southern California, no freezing). The size
is 11x 40 feet. Tile size is 18" square.

The tile will be installed on a concrete slab, using thinset. Should the
contractor make some provision for heat expansion/contraction? Silicone
grout? Control joints? He says, no provision for expansion is necessary.

Thanks

--
Walter
www.rationality.net
-

Think about it for a couple seconds. Expansion _relative_to_ what_? And
how
much, proportionately? They're on masonry, remember, and both tiles
and masonry are very conductive.


Concrete slab, though, will crack. And if such crack is under center of
tile(s)
I'd expect tile(s) to crack too, depending on the exact type and extent
of deformation.

You hired an expert. I'd listen to him, and get assurances in writing.

HTH,
J

"Walter R." wrote in message
...

I am having a contractor tile my outdoor patio. It is partly covered and
partly subject to rain and sun (Southern California, no freezing). The
size
is 11x 40 feet. Tile size is 18" square.

The tile will be installed on a concrete slab, using thinset. Should the
contractor make some provision for heat expansion/contraction? Silicone
grout? Control joints? He says, no provision for expansion is necessary.

If you suspect your chosen contractor is
lying to you, why not consult the building
permits office? If patio tile cracking required
an expansion joint where you live, the probllem
and its economic solution would be in the building code.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Walter R." wrote in message
...
I am having a contractor tile my outdoor patio. It is partly covered and
partly subject to rain and sun (Southern California, no freezing). The size
is 11x 40 feet. Tile size is 18" square.

The tile will be installed on a concrete slab, using thinset. Should the
contractor make some provision for heat expansion/contraction? Silicone
grout? Control joints? He says, no provision for expansion is necessary.

I'd check into the tile that he is going to use. Thermal expansion and
contraction might be a non-issue.

Concrete slab, though, will crack. And if such crack is under center of
tile(s)
I'd expect tile(s) to crack too, depending on the exact type and extent
of deformation.


For indoor spaces, over a cracked slab, a "membrane" is often used
between the two to keep the tiles from also cracking. This may also be
viable for outdoor spaces, you'll have to check.