What Is An Expansion Joint?
12/03/2026
When you’re excited about the style and finish of your tiles, it can be easy to forget the practical steps, like installing expansion joints, that help protect and extend their lifespan. Whether you’re tiling walls, floors or patios, all tiles are vulnerable to structural movement. But by including expansion joints throughout your tiling, you can reduce stress on your tiles and ensure a beautiful tiled finish for years to come.
In this guide, we explain what expansion joints are, why they are essential for successful tiling, and how you can install them correctly.
What Is An Expansion Joint?
An expansion joint is an intentional gap between your tiles that allows for natural movement, expansion and contraction. By including this planned space in your tiling, you reduce stress on the tiles, which could lead to cracking or buckling.
There are a variety of expansion joints, from silicone inserts installed after tiling to plastic, stainless steel, and aluminium expansion joints that have anchoring lateral legs that sit under your tiles. All are designed to fit inconspicuously within your tiles while absorbing any movement, vibration, or thermal variations away from them.
Why Are Expansion Joints Needed?
Whether you’re installing a garden patio, a tiled hallway, or tiling a shower unit, your tiles are vulnerable to structural movement and external elements, such as:
Thermal fluctuations
Moisture and humidity levels
Structural movement
Material expansion and contraction
Underfloor heating systems
If you do not account for these at the early stages of your tiling project, you risk your tiles cracking, moving, or falling away.
Different Types Of Tile Expansion Joints
At Premium Tile Trim, we offer a wide range of expansion joints. Available in a range of sizes, colours and materials, they offer structural support while complementing your overall look.
Aluminium Expansion Joints
The strength and durability of aluminium mean this expansion joint works well for tiles in high-use and high-stress areas. They suit both domestic and commercial tiling projects, absorbing movement, vibrations, and heat fluctuations.
Sourced from the leading brands including Genesis, Mapei, and Schluter, our aluminium expansion joints are available in Black, Grey, Silver and Beige to match your style.
Plastic Expansion Joints
Made from rigid PVC, plastic expansion joints are a highly flexible and cost-effective solution. They accommodate large movements and varying moisture levels, making them ideal for interior and exterior use.
Shop from premium brands, Dural, Genesis, and Schluter, who offer a range of colours to complement your project, including Beige, Black, Graphite, Grey, and Peach.
Stainless Steel Expansion Joints
These are a popular choice for domestic and commercial tiling projects, thanks to their strength and flexibility. They also work well in high-moisture environments such as bathrooms, kitchens and around window frames.
Choose between our Genesis and Schluter ranges, which offer a variety of colours to match your tiling design. Colours include Beige, Black, Graphite and Grey.
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Where To Use Tile Expansion Joints
Interior Walls
Structural walls are constantly under stress and risk of thermal or vibrational movement, so expansion joints are essential. Key points for positioning your expansion joints include where the wall and floor meet – specific skirting profile expansion joints can assist you here. Corners can be a weakness, but if an expansion joint is not suitable in these spaces, a silicone insert can help absorb movement. For large areas, keep expansion joints aligned with existing movement joints in the wall’s construction.
Interior Floors
Floors are vulnerable to moisture levels and thermal fluctuations, especially if you have an underfloor heating system. With flooring, you’ll often come across two different types of flooring that can respond differently to movement. Expansion joints help accommodate these differences without affecting the appearance or performance of either material. Similar to walls, expansion joints for floors work best when aligned with the existing structural movement joints. As a rule of thumb, expansion joints should be installed every 8 to 10 metres, but always check your tile manufacturer's guidance.
Areas With High Temperature Fluctuations
Places like bathrooms and kitchens will be more susceptible to changes in moisture levels. Expansion joints can help absorb any expansion or contraction caused by changes in moisture and temperature. If you have underfloor heating, this will also influence temperature levels, so expansion joints are highly recommended in these rooms.
Exterior Floors
External tiling and paving are exposed to a variety of elements, including extreme temperatures, varying moisture levels, and high foot and vehicle traffic. Expansion joints can help extend the durability and appearance of your tiled surface, such as patios, pathways, and driveways, by transferring any stress or movement away from your tiles. Due to the exposure of exterior tiles, it's recommended to place expansion joints every 2 to 3 metres.
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How To Install Expansion Joints
Tools required:
Pencil
Tile adhesive
Trowel
Sponge or cloth
Spirit level
Protective clothing
Hacksaw or electric trim cutter
Expansion joints sit on top of your substrate and tile matting (if you are using matting). Once you reach this point in your tiling installation, follow the steps below to fit your expansion joints.
Clean the area, removing dust, dirt and debris.
Measure and mark where you need to position your expansion joints.
Apply a thin layer of tile adhesive to where your expansion joint will be placed.
Place the expansion joint in position and press firmly into place. Use a spirit level to ensure it’s laid straight.
Start tiling the area up to and around the expansion joint.
Benefits Of Using Expansion Joints
Increase the longevity of your tiles
Reduce the risk of cracks or buckling
Reduce stress on the tiles
Strengthen the bond between tile and substrate
Can be incorporated into your design
Available in a variety of colours and finishes
At Premium Tile Trim, we offer a wide range of expansion joints to suit every style and preference. If you're unsure which expansion joint is right for your tiling project, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team.