Exterior Applications - Overview
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Ceramic and stone tiles are ideal surface coverings for the exterior and have been used successfully for thousands of years. Exterior balconies and terraces are ideal opportunities for the installation of tiled surfaces. However, these installations have typically presented significant challenges to tile setters. Since hard surface coverings are rigid by nature and have different physical properties compared to virtually every substrate, they cannot be bonded directly to the substrate, particularly in exterior applications where they are exposed to potentially severe climatic changes and the recurring introduction of moisture.
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Schluter-DITRA’s uncoupling function protects the ceramic or stone tile covering by neutralizing the differential movement stresses between the substrate and the tile, thus eliminating the major cause of cracking and delaminating of the tiled surface. This is particularly important since these stresses are magnified by the significant temperature gradients common to exterior applications.
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Schluter-DITRA provides effective waterproofing that will protect the tile assembly from the recurring introduction of water, which is common in exterior applications.
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The free space beneath the Schluter-DITRA matting provides a route for any residual moisture in the substrate to escape. This is especially important when installing tile over a young slab, concrete slabs subject to moisture migration, or a fresh mortar bed.
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Since Schluter-DITRA is virtually incompressible within the tile assembly, the advantages of uncoupling are achieved without sacrificing point load distribution capabilities.
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Because Schluter-DITRA is uniquely engineered to provide uncoupling, vapor management, and waterproofing, all of which are essential functions in exterior environments, it provides a reliable installation system for ceramic and stone tile surface coverings in exterior applications.
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