Tiled Floor Assembly With Indexing Pads For Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suspended timber frame decks face challenges with moisture penetration and drainage issues when using ceramic tiles, as tile underlay interferes with rainwater flow, and existing fastening methods are difficult due to tiles' hardness.
Innovation Solution
A tiled floor assembly with a substructure featuring locating indexing features and multiple tile footing pads, where each pad supports tiles and is indexed to the substructure, allowing for adhesive fastening without obstructing drainage and enabling easy tile placement and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If tile sheet underlay is used to adhesively fasten tiles, then tiles can be securely attached to substructure, but drainage of rainwater through the deck is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous tile sheet underlay is segmented into discrete individual pads positioned only at tile corners or edges. This segmentation creates gaps between pads that allow rainwater to flow through the deck while the pads provide sufficient attachment points for tiles.
Solution Approach 2:
Adhesive support is concentrated at specific locations (tile corners or edges) rather than being distributed across the entire tile surface. This localized approach provides adequate tile attachment while leaving the majority of the tile area and the spaces between tiles open for water drainage.
2Reliability
If ceramic tiles are fastened directly to substructure, then durable flooring is achieved, but drilling holes through hard tiles is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Individual pads serve as intermediary elements between the tile and the substructure. These pads can be pre-positioned on the substructure before tile installation, eliminating the need to drill through hard ceramic tiles during installation while still providing secure attachment.
3Ease of operation
If tiles are adhered to pads, then easy tile placement and removal is enabled, but additional components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The flooring system is segmented into modular components (individual pads and tiles) that can be independently installed and removed. This modularity simplifies installation and maintenance operations while the standardized pad design keeps the added complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A suspended timber frame deck comprising a timber frame of interconnected timber beams. Tiles are located on top of the beams indirectly at at least two locations by a tile support pad located between the tile and an underlying timber beam. Each pad includes a protrusion located in a hole of the timber beam to register therewith to the timber beam and registered to the tile to help locate the tile to the timber beam and help prevent the tile from sliding over the timber beam.