Porcelain tile installations for vehicular use

Abstract

A method includes compacting an aggregate bed to obtain a compacted tile bed surface of a tile bed; installing a plurality of porcelain tiles between a plurality of spacers on the compacted tile bed surface, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises: a base component; and a plurality of vertical components supported by the base component, each vertical component comprising a tapered shape on an interior end of the vertical component; adding a polymeric sand composition to a first joint in an intermediate porcelain tile installation to obtain a first joint-filled porcelain tile surface; compacting the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface; and activating the polymeric sand composition in the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 compacting an aggregate bed to obtain a compacted tile bed surface of a tile bed;   installing a plurality of porcelain tiles between a plurality of spacers on the compacted tile bed surface, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises:
 a base component; and 
 a plurality of vertical components supported by the base component, each vertical component comprising a tapered shape on an interior end of the vertical component; 
   adding a polymeric sand composition to a first joint in an intermediate porcelain tile installation to obtain a first joint-filled porcelain tile surface;   compacting the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface; and   activating the polymeric sand composition in the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises placing a filter fabric comprising a polypropylene in woven form on the tile bed prior to installing the plurality of porcelain tiles between the plurality of spacers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one element of the plurality of vertical components is removable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning the porcelain tiles in an interlocking pattern to improve structural integrity of adjacent ones of the porcelain tiles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of vertical components have a thickness of between 2 mm and 4 mm to facilitate the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface of between 2 mm and 4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the vertical components comprises four elements arranged in a plus (+)-shape. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the polymeric sand composition in the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface comprises wetting the first joint with water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein wetting the first joint with water comprises wetting the first joint with a predetermined amount of water over a predetermined period of time to ensure maximum durability and joint locking. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein activating the polymeric sand composition in the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface further comprises covering the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface for vehicular use with a water-resistant material for a period of 12 to 48 hours. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a second stage of compacting the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface, wherein the second stage of compacting comprises a second stage of activating the polymeric sand composition in the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface to achieve a more uniform porcelain tile surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a composition of the tile bed comprises a granular material comprising finely divided rock and mineral particles. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a composition of the tile bed is a concrete sand composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the concrete sand composition comprises particles having a maximum particle size of between about ¼ inch and ½ inch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a composition of the tile bed comprises particles having a maximum particle size of about ⅜ inch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the particles having a minimum particle size of about ¼ inch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing one or more edge restraints to a border surface in a position adjacent to a sidewall of the porcelain tiles on the border surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein compacting the aggregate bed to obtain the compacted tile bed surface of a tile bed comprises:
 compacting a native subgrade surface with a compactor to obtain a compacted subgrade surface;   covering the compacted subgrade surface with aggregate to form the aggregate bed; and   compacting the aggregate bed with a compactor to obtain the compacted tile bed surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of porcelain tiles comprise a plurality of unpolished sidewalls. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising supporting a vehicle on the first joint-filled porcelain tile surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein an interlocking pattern of the porcelain tiles resists movement of the porcelain tiles when the vehicle makes a movement that delivers substantial weight, force, and/or pressure near a non-central, peripheral portion of one or more of the porcelain tiles.