COVER STORY
GEOMETRY SHAPES SUCCESS
After nearly two and a half decades in the market, Schlüter®
-DITRA
remains the leading unsurpassed uncoupling membrane for tiled and natural stone installations. But rather than just its name or distinctive orange colour, it is the unique geometry of this product that has really shaped its success over the past twenty years.
For centuries tiles have been successfully installed by incorporating an uncoupling layer between the tile assembly and the substrate, however this alone does not ensure a high-performance tile installation. The tile covering must be well supported so that loads can be distributed through the assembly to the base substrate without damaging
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the tile covering. This is where Schlüter®-DITRA comes in. It is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. The tile adhesive mechanically locks with the cut-back indentations on the topside of the matting, eliminating
the need for further anchoring mesh, which would inhibit the movement capabilities of the mat. This unique, patented geometry allows Schlüter®-DITRA to absorb lateral movement in each direction, something that other products cannot reliably achieve.
The uncoupling effect that this provides neutralises tensions between the substrate and tiled covering, whilst also providing a high load resistance. It’s also waterproof with a high vapour diffusion rating, and with the added benefit of interconnected air channels it allows moisture to evaporate from the substrate, e.g green screeds.
Ian Knifton, Technical Manager at Schlüter- Systems, comments:
“As the market leader in innovative tiling products
we are aware that the primary reasons for cracked, loose and uneven tiles are movements caused by loading, changes in temperature and changes in moisture content. When an installation is subjected to these movements, stresses can develop between the layered components, meaning that a tile assembly must be able to perform well under load whilst also provide flexibility within the shear plane.
“This is where Schlüter®- DITRA shines through. It has succeeded over the last 20 plus years because of its unique geometry – a patented dovetail shape design within the square recesses, plus a single laminated anchoring fleece on the underside. We’ve looked at similar products on the market but there is simply nothing else like Schlüter®-DITRA. Since it utilizes geometric flexibility in the shear plane rather than material flexibility, the advantages of uncoupling are achieved without sacrificing load-distribution capabilities of the tile assembly.
“Thus it is this combination of geometric flexibility in the shear plane and support in the normal direction that
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