Recommended Weights for Tiling Projects.
When working on any tile project one of the key things that need to be considered is whether the wall can take the weight of your chosen tiles.
The maximum weight of tiles that can be supported by a dry and well adhered plaster background is approximately 20kg per m².
This is equivalent to Ceramic tiles with a maximum thickness of 8mm plus adhesive or Natural Stone tiles with a maximum thickness of 7mm plus adhesive.
The weight of tiling to a plasterboard background direct (without a plaster skim) should not exceed a weight of 32kg per m², again this is equivalent to a Ceramic tile and adhesive with a maximum thickness of 12.5mm and a Natural Stone tile plus adhesive with a maximum thickness of 10mm.
It is important to emphasise that the weights quoted in this article all include both tile and adhesive.
Further advice should be sought from the tile supplier/retailer with regard to the suitability of grouts and adhesives, and also guidance may be required from the manufacturer of the board with regard to recommended methods of installation.
The following offers general guidance to the most common types of building board and the maximum recommended weights for tiling.
Wall Substrates with a maximum weight of tiling per m² :
- Gypsum Plaster – 20kg / m².
- Gypsum Plasterboard direct (minus plaster skim) – 32kg / m².
- Plywood (WBP) – up to 30kg / m².
- Lightweight tilebacker boards – up to 40kg / m² – subject to board type and thickness.
- Glass reinforced cement sheets – up to 50kg / m² – subject to board type and thickness.
- Gypsum Fibre Boards – 35-40kg / m² approximately.
Atlas Ceramics would like to thank The Tile Association for providing information for this article.
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Article by Mike Lovatt
Here at Atlas Ceramics we import and distribute high quality products to support the tiling industry. These products include Polished tiles, Matt tiles or Satin tiles for the wall and floor, ceramic and porcelain tiles, natural stone and mosaics, from Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
