Due to the growth of large-format and gauged porcelain tile (GPT), the use of self-leveling underlayments (SLUs) have also become more frequent in tile installations. A properly installed SLU can provide a flat, smooth substrate, ideal for tile. Depending on the need of the project and skill of the applicator, a properly mixed and applied SLU can provide a level substrate, ideal for hanging commercial fire doors and laying out interior walls, in addition to providing an excellent substrate for our tile installation. It is for this reason, that the Materials, Methods, Standards Association (MMSA) decided to pursue an ANSI standard for both the self-leveling underlayment product and installation standard back in 2012.
Listing SLU standards in our own industry’s ANSI documents can be very beneficial to the tile contractor out there fighting for a decent substrate on which to install that large-format 2- x 4-foot porcelain tile. It can also be extremely beneficial for the design professional as standards provide a basis of quality and a proven set of test methods to verify that quality. Reference standards also allow specifications, and those who write them, to remain neutral and refrain from becoming proprietary.