The Lippage-Free Tile System

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.

General Tuscan Leveling System Installation Guidelines:

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.