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Flooring InstallationColumnsTile & Stone FlooringInstallation How-ToCTEF Tile Tip

Do You Know the ANSI Standards for Tile Coverage, Offset and Acceptable Lippage?

By Scott Carothers
tile flooring installed in bathroom

Photo: Getty Images.

March 22, 2024

An excellent quality tile installation will stand the test of time and remain a shining example of the beauty and durability of ceramic and porcelain tile; however, when other installations of lesser quality exist, the tile industry gets a black eye. The tile installation in the below image is an example of a whole host of installation failures that do not follow the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements.

ANSI A108.5 – 2.2.2 Apply mortar with flat side of trowel keying in with pressure, over an area no greater than can be covered with tile before the mortar skins over. Cover surface uniformly with no bare spots and with sufficient mortar to ensure a minimum mortar thickness of 3/32 in. (2MM) between tile and backing after tile has been forcibly embedded. Tile shall not be applied to skinned-over mortar.

 ANSI A108.5 – 2.2.3 Contact area shall not be less than 80%. Contact area on all exterior installations or interior wet installations shall not be less than 95%. The 80% or 95% coverage shall be sufficiently distributed to give full support of the tile with particular attention to all corners and edges of the tile. To achieve the 80% or 95% coverage required in the project specification, select a notched trowel sized to facilitate the proper coverage. It may be necessary to flat back trowel individual tile with bond coat to achieve the proper coverage. Embed the tile or tile assembly in the mortar by pushing in a direction perpendicular to the combed ridges to fully collapse them and achieve specified coverage.

ANSI A108.02 – 4.3.8.2 Running bond/brick joint and any offset pattern: For running bond/brick joint or any other offset patterns (i.e. non-continuous grout joints) utilizing tiles (square and/or rectangular) where the side being offset is greater than 15 in. (nominal dimension), only patterns with an offset of 33% or less shall be specified. If a pattern with an offset greater than 333% is desired, the specifier and owner must approve a mock-up and the resulting lippage.

ANSI A108.02 – 4.3.7 Lippage – guidelines, explanation, and caution: Lippage refers to differences in elevation between edges of adjacent tile modules. 

The chart that accompanies the lippage section includes a list of the allowable lippage. For Pressed Floor and Porcelain Tile, all tile sizes, with a 1/16” to less than ¼" grout joint, the allowable lippage is 1/32” plus the allowable lippage of the tile as permitted in ANSI A137.1.

Given the tile industry standards and best practices that support the proper installation of tile, one would think and expect a stellar installation. Unfortunately, a lesser example catches the eye of the consumer causing them to doubt its integrity. Everyone in the tile industry needs to push the quality bar to the next level and beyond.

poor installation practices result in cracked floor tile

Ignoring the ANSI standards on mortar coverage, 33% offset, and allowable lippage yields a bad reflection on tile work. Photo: Scott Carothers.

KEYWORDS: ceramic tile Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) industry standards installing tile porcelain tile

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Scott carothers 2025

Scott Carothers is the Academic Director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) headquartered in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Nashville area). In 2007, he was hired and tasked with creating the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program and in 2012, he was part of the team that created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program. 

For eighteen years, he has been providing training and education to others in the tile industry. Carothers has been involved in the ceramic tile industry for over 44 years and was the owner of a successful retail store and installation firm prior to coming to CTEF. 

Carothers served as President and Chairman of the Board of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Chairman of the NTCA Technical Committee, named the NTCA Tile Person of the Year in 2005 and received the NTCA Ring of Honor in 2013. He is a voting member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook, and NTCA Technical Committees. 

Scott has authored over 185 articles in tile industry print magazines including Floor Covering Installer, Tile, TileLetter, and eMagazine/Newsletter publications such as Floor Trends & Installation and TIleLetter along with covering numerous topics on the CTEF Blog, thereby sharing his knowledge and installation experience with his readers. Additionally, he recently retired from being a presenter and trainer for the NTCA Workshop and Regional Training programs and the NTCA Technical Hotline.

He may be contacted at scott@tilecareer.com or 864-222-2131.

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