Floor areas

The key to preventing cracked tiles and stone lies in what is installed beneath the surface. Fixing the tile or stone directly to the underlying surface (known as a substrate) is a mistake. The substrate will have different material properties to the tile or stone, and they’ll expand and contract at different rates as the temperature of the room changes. The tension that is built up between these two layers is what leads to unsightly cracks.

With this in mind, it’s important to separate the movement of the substrate from the tile or stone and that’s where a protective membrane comes in. Known as an uncoupling membrane and sometimes called an anti-fracture mat, it’s installed between the two layers to let each one expand and contract on its own terms. For more than 30 years, Schlüter-DITRA has been widely used across the UK to provide reliable uncoupling for tiled floors.

Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT combines electric underfloor heating with the same functions and benefits of DITRA to provide tiled floors that are as warm and comfortable as they are durable.

Offering a stylish finish with a distinct air of quality, tiles and natural stone are the ideal pairing to a bathroom or wetroom. On their own, however, they do not constitute a waterproof finish. These materials, and the grout often used alongside them, are only water-resistant which means that moisture can pass through over time. Inadequate waterproofing in bathrooms and wetrooms can spell disaster, not only for the room in question, but also the building as a whole.

In order to achieve a waterproof result, tiles and natural stone require support behind the scenes. This comes in the form of waterproof membranes which, when properly installed, prevent water ingress for the lifetime of the installation. The Schlüter-KERDI and -DITRA families of products offer waterproof solutions that work together to alleviate the issue of moisture. DITRA is your go-to product for waterproofing floors. Also acting as an uncoupling membrane, DITRA is a fantastic all-rounder for protecting your tiled or natural stone floors. Components are available that help to waterproof tricky areas such as joints and floor/wall transitions (Schlüter-KERDI-KEBA) as well as corners (Schlüter-KERDI-KERECK).

For waterproofing walls, head over to our wall areas page for more info on KERDI.

Tiled floors are easy to maintain but do require adequate protection to ensure they last for the lifetime of the installation. Our Schlüter-SCHIENE floor trims (sometimes called profiles) are designed to prevent tile edges from chipping and cracking. They also ensure a smooth, attractive transition without any trip hazards between floor coverings of the same height. If the adjoining floor coverings are of different heights, then take a look at the Schlüter-RENO series.

All buildings and their materials expand and contract with temperature changes. This “movement” must be managed by installing movement joints to prevent tile and stone from cracking under stress. There are many factors to consider when deciding where movement joints should be located and we are happy to advise on your project. The Schlüter-DILEX collection includes various types of movement joints for different applications – connection, perimeter, structural and intermediate.

The edges of stairs are exposed to heavy mechanical stresses and reprsent a high risk for injuries if not finished properly. Offering slip-resistant design and excellent visibility, the Schlüter-TREP range of stair nosing trims improves safety on staircases and includes retrofit options if the tiling has already been completed.

Finally, if you’re using LVT instead of tile or stone, Schlüter-VINPRO can be used to protect the edges of the LVT covering.