Weight of Ceramic Floor Tile

[AELLC]

I am coming up with 3.6 psf, not including mortar setting bed. (1/4" thick)

Does that seem correct?

 

[AELLC]

It comes to 171 pcf - a bit heavier than I originally assumed.

 

[a2mfk]

Totally depends on the type/thickness of tile, there are an infinite amount out there now...

 

[AELLC]

I meant the usual cheap standard Builder's grade such as in tract homes - I have one right here that is 1/4" thick.

 

[EngineeringEric]

171 pcf doesnt seem odd. I got the following from Boise Cascade

Ceramic or quarry tile (3/4") on 1/2" mortar bed (1) 16 pcf
Ceramic or quarry tile (3/4") on 1" mortar bed (1) 23 pcf

 

[AELLC]

Eric

You mean psf, right?

 

[EngineeringEric]

Yes! Sorry should read 16 PSF and 23 PSF (Area loads, pounds per square foot)

 

[EngineeringEric]

So since 1/2" of mortar is about 7psf, then 3/4" tile is about 9psf, then 1/4" tile is about 3psf.

 

[AELLC]

1/4" tile on 1/2" setting bed is 3 psf for tile+mortar? How is that possible?

I weighed a 12" x 12" x 1/4" standard ceramic tile this morning, it was exactly 3 lbs 9 ounces. So I got 3.6 psf for tile only.

 

[EngineeringEric]

The math I was doing/referring to was for the tile only.
1/2" of mortar is roughly 7 psf, the tile worked out to be 3 psf. so together they weigh 10 psf.

So the Boise Cascade value of 3 is really close to your weighed value of 3.6 pounds (although concerning that a manufacture's load is less than actual).

 

[XR250]

Most people set those with thinset - which weighs basically nothing.
Don't forget about any underlayment.

 

[AELLC]

If the floor has 1-1/2" of gypcrete everywhere, including non-tile flooring, then the tile is placed with thinset, right?
There is no 1/2" setting bed? This is wood floor, the floor plywood is 1-1/8".

 

[IRstuff]

Are you asking whether the tile weight is correct?

Looks that way to me:

http://www.leafcutterdesign.co.uk/tiling-weight-guide

TTFN
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[AELLC]

Thanks, IR.

I was just surprised that tile weighs 15% more than reinforced concrete, but after reading how it is made, I suppose the process makes it so dense.

 

[AELLC]

Now the builder is telling me there will also be natural stone flooring, and the supplier of the stone mentioned floor live load deflection limited by L/720. I always thought L/600 was the tightest practical limit.

This is a very large ultra high end spec home.

Good thing the floor trusses aren't fabbed yet.

 

[IRstuff]

Yeah, we had some natural flagstones, and those things were pretty darned heavy.

TTFN
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