Today we wanted to share with you some quick tips on how to use the T-Lock Tile Leveling
System.
So why should you use a tile leveling system?
Well one of the biggest reasons is not your error as a tile setter but because these tiles
are getting really, really big.
So you’ve got large format tiles, let’s say 12 x 24, 12 x 36 inches, or even larger.
Oftentimes these tiles are cupped; they’re bowed; they’re not perfect.
So even though you might be a great tile setter, it’s really hard for you to overcome the
imperfections in the tile.
And that’s where a tile leveling system, which is a tile tuning system, will help you
avoid tile lippage or when two adjacent tiles are uneven.
So one of the best systems out there today is T-Lock, the T-Lock Tile Leveling System
by Perfect Level Master.
And the whole reason why we gave this system a shot is because of our friend, Sal DiBlasi.
Sal encouraged us to give this a try; we did; and we fell in love.
It’s phenomenal!
We’ve been using another system, and we actually compared the two side-by-side, and
we really, really stand by T-Lock.
And it’s a two-part system.
It’s a strap and a wedge.
You can either put the wedge through the strap by hand or with one of the tools that Perfect
Level Master makes.
Now the great thing about the T-Lock System is the plastic is really strong.
So the straps do not break.
I mean you’d have to be very, very strong to break a strap.
And we were really impressed by that because if you’re not breaking the straps, you’re
saving money, right?
So if you’re breaking the tile leveling system—let’s say a few of the straps break
or they’re not performing correctly and you’re wasting them—you’re wasting your
money, right?
And we don’t think that’s the case with T-Lock.
The other great thing is the straps serve as the spacers.
So you can get the straps in three different sizes.
We used 1/16 inch straps.
And that’s great because now you don’t need to really use horseshoe shims in between
your tiles.
Now you can still get the horseshoe shims because you’re going to need them between
tile in your tub or tile in your shower pan.
But you don’t necessarily need them if you’ve been using the T-Lock System because when
you break the strap, you can use it as a horseshoe shim.
So you’re actually using them as horseshoe shims, and you can reuse them over and over
again if you clean them off.
The same thing goes with the wedges.
You can reuse the wedges, and that’s great because you can take them from project to
project.
So here’s a big tip that Sal shared with us: You want all of your wedges to face the
same direction so that whenever you compress the wedge into the strap you’re going to
tighten up those grout joints and make them nice and even.
So for example on this vertical wall that Steve set in a shower, you can see that all
the wedges are facing downward so that when he compresses the wedge through the strap,
he’s also compressing that grout joint and making it nice and even.
Follow this procedure also on floors—you’ll see this in some of Sal’s videos on the
T-Lock Sysytem—and you’ll be good to go.
Then when you’re done—so whenever your straps and wedges set up overnight—you can
come back, and you want to hit those straps in line with the grout joint to break them
off the base.
So break the strap off from the base of the strap, and now you’re left with an even
grout joint.
And because of the way that the straps are perforated, they break off underneath the
tops of the tile and you don’t have any issues with having to cut those out with a
utility knife.
So this is a really great system.
We think that you should check it out if you’re going to be tile setting and you’re using
large format tiles and you want to avoid lippage or the tiles from being uneven.
It’s a strong system, and we think it’s worth every penny or we wouldn’t be making
this video today.
We’ve just been very, very impressed with T-Lock, and just the strength of the product
and the results that you’re going to get when you use it.
So let us know what you think about the T-Lock System down in the comments.
If you want to actually buy the system, I’m going to refer you over to Sal’s website
which is dibsmart.com.
I’ll put a link in the description here.
But again it’s just dibsmart.com, and he’s got all the different straps and wedges and
tools that you need for the T-Lock System and for your next tile project.
So that’s it for today.
Again let us know what you think about T-Lock down in the comments, and we’ll see you
in the next video.