American National Standards Institute / Tile Council of North America
ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards
The ANSI A108 series and the TCNA handbook together describe how ceramic and stone tile is installed: what the substrate has to look like before any tile goes down, how mortar and adhesive are spread and how much of the tile back they have to wet, and where the assembly needs a movement joint. Most tile callbacks trace back to a substrate that was never flat enough, a bond coat that only touched the tile at the corners, or a hard grout joint run wall-to-wall with nowhere to move.
Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
What it covers
- Substrate flatness, deflection and preparation before setting
- Waterproofing and crack-isolation membranes at wet and moving areas
- Mortar and adhesive selection, open time and back coverage
- Movement and expansion joints at changes of plane and perimeters
- Lippage, grout joint width and finished-surface tolerance
What the evidence looks like
- Substrate flatness checked with a straightedge and shown in frame before tile hides it, not asserted after the fact.
- A tile pulled and flipped during setting to photograph actual mortar coverage on the back, the honest test of a bond coat.
- Movement joints photographed where the layout calls for them, kept soft rather than filled solid with grout.
- Lippage across finished joints checked at the light-grazed walls where it shows, with the reading visible.
- Membrane at showers and floors documented before the tile goes over it, since after cover it can only be trusted, not seen.
Checklists that verify work against ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards
4 free checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Tile and stone Rough-in· Tile and stoneTile and stone rough-in inspection checklistSubstrate, setting-bed system and dry layout confirmed before the first tile is set4 items7 photosTile and stone Pre-cover· Tile and stoneTile and stone pre-cover inspection checklistWaterproofing continuity, slope to drain and the flood test observed before tile hides them4 items9 photosTile and stone Final· Tile and stoneTile and stone final inspection checklistFinished tile checked for lippage, joints, honored movement joints and hollow-sound spots6 items10 photosTile and stone Punch· Tile and stoneTile and stone punch checklistCloseout walk for cracked or loose tiles, grout haze and sealant at plane changes4 items5 photos
Common questions
- What is ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards?
- Ceramic and stone tile installation: substrate flatness, mortar coverage, movement joints, lippage. It is published by the American National Standards Institute / Tile Council of North America. The ANSI A108 series and the TCNA handbook together describe how ceramic and stone tile is installed: what the substrate has to look like before any tile goes down, how mortar and adhesive are spread and how much of the tile back they have to wet, and where the assembly needs a movement joint. Most tile callbacks trace back to a substrate that was never flat enough, a bond coat that only touched the tile at the corners, or a hard grout joint run wall-to-wall with nowhere to move.
- What does ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards cover?
- Substrate flatness, deflection and preparation before setting; Waterproofing and crack-isolation membranes at wet and moving areas; Mortar and adhesive selection, open time and back coverage; Movement and expansion joints at changes of plane and perimeters; Lippage, grout joint width and finished-surface tolerance.
- What does a field inspection against ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards look at?
- Substrate flatness checked with a straightedge and shown in frame before tile hides it, not asserted after the fact. A tile pulled and flipped during setting to photograph actual mortar coverage on the back, the honest test of a bond coat. Movement joints photographed where the layout calls for them, kept soft rather than filled solid with grout. Lippage across finished joints checked at the light-grazed walls where it shows, with the reading visible. Membrane at showers and floors documented before the tile goes over it, since after cover it can only be trusted, not seen.
- Which edition of ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards applies to my project?
- Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Which checklists verify work against ANSI A108 / TCNA tile standards?
- 4 free checklists in the RTI library reference this family. Each is listed on this page with the photo evidence every item needs before it can be submitted.
A standard is only met if the evidence exists
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.