The Tuscan Leveling System is an innovative product that
will greatly assist most anyone in, the installation of
stone and ceramic tiles. It is designed to create a
virtual lippage free installation with stone and ceramic
tiles. The system interlocks the tiles, virtually
creating a single flat slab surface while the setting
material is curing. The interlocking design of the system
reduces and in most cases eliminates settling from
shrinkage, as well as minimizing the possibility of
warping. The system reduces the need to re-lift tiles to
add more mud and/or the process of shimming tiles; thus
greatly increasing the speed of installation, all the
while creating that much desired lippage free mirror
surface. In addition, the caps are reusable dozens of
times.
Tuscan Leveling System Installation Guidelines:
Downloadable
User Guides and Coverage charts
(English, French, Spanish)
With illustrations at bottom of this page.
For best results, before using straps, the straps should
be soaked overnight (one time), or for an hour prior to
use in hot water. Soaking is one time only; regardless of
how long the straps are on hand. This increases the
straps elastic strength, giving them maximum tension
needed for proper installation.
The Tuscan Leveling System straps will achieve a
1/32-grout joint, if you want a wider joint, you can use
the Tuscan Leveling System with most common spacers.
Simply insert corner or side spacers of the desired
width, up to 3/8 inch.
Most installers find the Tuscan Leveling System works
best when the Thinset or mortar is a little looser, not
as stiff.
To facilitate a speedy instillation, pre-assemble the
straps and caps you will need for the days work, leaving
1 and 1/2 to 2 inches between the bottom of the caps and
the strap bottom plate.
Insert pre-assembled caps and straps under the tile edge,
sliding the straps base plate under the tile being
installed, at least 2 per tile side (more for larger
tiles). The recommended spacing of each strap is 6-8
inches apart.
Important note: when inserting the caps and
straps under the side of the tile, DO NOT place them
at the tile corners.
Inserting them on
tile corners will prevent an accurate installation, and
could crack or break the corners of the tiles when
removed, also it will be very hard to keep the grout
joint line straight.
Once the pre-assembled cap and strap is in place, using
your fingers, slide the cap down on the strap making
contact with the tile. After the insertion of the caps
and straps on the side of the tiles, install the other
tiles that fit against the first tiles. After that
is done, tighten the straps and caps with the
installation gun (manual or ergonomic), make sure you
always back-butter each tile just before
instillation.
Instructions for using the ergonomic Installation
Tool
To tighten and set tile: Set tool lever to STD, then turn
the smaller fine adjust red knob to level #1-5
To increase tension rotate knob clockwise, use higher STD
number for setting bigger tiles. (The HVY setting is used
only for breaking the straps).
Place the installation tool, on the strap to lock the cap
into place. Pull the installation tool trigger until the
desired tension is obtained, creating a lippage free
surface.
Repeat this process, and upon setting the next tile into
place. Make sure you keep your grout joints clean of
Thinset by using a cut off stiff paintbrush or any stiff
nylon bristle brush that will remove any
excess setting material that may have oozed up in
the joints. This is easily accomplished by wiping the mud
away in the direction of the grout line. Always ensure
that the grout joint is clean and ready to grout. It is
very important to keep mud from hardening between the
touching point of the strap and the tiles edge to ensure
a clean brake of the strap.
If you have to quit for the day and you will be
continuing the installation the following day: make sure
you remove the Thinset or setting material under the last
row of installed tile, at about 3/4 to 1 inch with a
margin trowel or other removing device, by leaving a
small hollow spot for the following day to insert the
base of the straps under it.
On the following day, start again making sure you fill
the hollow spots from the previous day with a margin
trowel and ‘pack’ the tile underneath with Thinset.
Insert the straps and caps and start your installation
again, following the same process as before.
To break strap after mortar has set:
After setting material has properly cured, remove the
straps and caps by snapping the strap off at its breaking
point. Set the installation tool lever to HVY, then turn
smaller fine adjust red knob to highest setting #8.
CAUTION:
Breaking the
strap: Some installers have reported that, after mortar
has set, they find it faster to just kick the caps in the
direction of the grout joint
and they easily break away. However, in doing this, one
must use caution to
avoid scratching the tile! With kicking or using a rubber
mallet, you may cause
the metal tongue in the cap to loosen or come out,
rendering the cap useless.
Under normal use, the caps can be reused dozens of times.
Downloadable User Guides and Coverage Charts
(right click to download)