What to Know About Profile Selection for a Successful Tile Installation
With a broad spectrum of profiles available to meet the demand of different materials and environments, an installation will last for years to come as long as the appropriate one is chosen for that particular application
by Kali Pharand, technical services department, Schluter Systems

With a range of styles, colors and designs, Schluter profiles help protect tile assemblies over a wide variety of areas of use.
Photo courtesy of Schluter Systems
Profiles are strips of metal or plastic designed to cover and protect the edges of a tile or other surface covering in floor and wall applications. Often, they are used as an alternative to bullnose, cove base, and other traditional ceramic trim shapes. With an increasing number of tile installations coexisting with other surface coverings, the need arises for appropriate transitions within and around the tiled surface. Profile pieces provide aesthetically pleasing transitions between a wide array of surface coverings of varying thickness, such as tile, stone, carpet, laminate, gauged porcelain tiles and tile panels, a wood flooring and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). Regardless of the chosen surface covering on both floors and walls, profiles add value to any tile project without compromising the budget.
Movement Joints
In addition to allowing for transitions to other surfaces, some profiles include movement joints either at the perimeters or within the tile installation. These profile pieces include strips composed of flexible chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) within the center of the profile that expand and contract based on the temperature, moisture and other factors that can contribute to movement within a tile installation. Movement accommodation is necessary in all floor tile applications, as it prevents tile from cracking and tenting (tile bending and moving upwards) due to movement. The requirement for movement joints for the tile industry is covered in the EJ-171 detail in the Tile Council of North America’s (TCNA) Handbook. However, some installers fail to incorporate movement joints into tile or natural stone installations due to lack of knowledge and/or misunderstanding. In areas subject to freeze/thaw, structures are more prone to expansion and contraction due to the drastic change in temperature, and movement joints will accommodate this movement to protect the tile or stone field. Failure to incorporate the necessary movement joints will result in damage to the surface covering over time. Movement joint profiles are recommended to be installed at a maximum of every 20 feet in any direction based on the size of the tiled surface, and EJ 171 explains when more frequent movement joints may be required, such as in areas with full sunlight. For more information on movement joints, such as how to install them and where to apply them, refer to the Schluter Systems®-DITRA Installation Handbook (enter QR code for handbook) and the TCNA Handbook.

Failing to provide the adequate movement joints in an application can lead to cracking tiles.
Photo courtesy of Schluter Systems

