Trace each scheduled tile type into its substrate, setting method, and membrane requirements, then compare tile assignment, moisture testing, setting material, waterproofing, grout, movement joints, and transitions for the same area before treating a repeated tile tag as one uniform assembly.
Assemble the review package
Gather finish plans, the tile schedule or legend, wet-area and shower details, substrate type and moisture-testing data, the structural or slab control-joint layout, and the issued ceramic, quarry, or glass tile specification. Review one tile type and area completely before assuming a similar-looking finish call-out elsewhere carries the same setting method and membrane requirements.
WBDG publishes UFGS 09 30 10: Ceramic, Quarry, and Glass Tiling as a public guide-specification reference (accessed September 16, 2026). Use your project’s issued specification and amendments for the actual comparison; the guide specification does not automatically govern your project. The checklist below is an original suggested review workflow, not a reproduction of the UFGS requirements.
Eight checks to run against the issued set
Use one record per location or system. The CSV contains the same eight prompts plus fields for source revisions, observed evidence, the review owner, the decision, and closure references.
| Check | Sources to compare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Tile type and pattern assignment | Finish plan tile tag + tile schedule | Does every scheduled area resolve to a defined tile type, size, and pattern, including quarry or glass tile used as an accent? |
| Substrate and moisture testing | Substrate note + substrate-preparation and moisture-testing clauses | Is the substrate (slab, cement board, mortar bed) identified for each area, with required moisture or vapor testing called out where the specification requires it? |
| Setting method | Tile size and location + setting-material clauses | Does the setting method (thin-set, modified thin-set, medium-bed, mortar bed) match the substrate and tile size shown, including any large-format tile? |
| Waterproofing and crack isolation | Wet-area plan + membrane clauses | Is a waterproofing membrane specified at wet areas such as showers and floor drains, and a crack-isolation membrane identified where the substrate is expected to move? |
| Grout and joint width | Finish schedule + grout-product clauses | Does the grout type (sanded, unsanded, epoxy) and joint width match the tile size and exposure, such as wet versus dry or foot traffic? |
| Movement and control joints | Floor plan layout + movement-joint clauses | Are movement or expansion joints located through the tile field consistent with the specified spacing and any underlying structural or slab joint? |
| Transitions and thresholds | Door and threshold detail + transition clauses | Are height transitions, thresholds, and edges against dissimilar flooring detailed consistently between the drawings and specification? |
| Submittal and mockup scope | Specified samples or mockup + scheduled tile types | Do requested submittals and any mockup represent every distinct tile type, pattern, and location shown? |
Worked example: a setting note carried over to a larger tile
Illustrative example: a floor plan shows a 24-inch by 24-inch porcelain tile field with a thin-set note carried over from a smaller tile detail elsewhere on the same sheet, while the specification requires a modified thin-set or medium-bed mortar for tile that size. The same wet-area plan does not call out a crack-isolation membrane at a slab-on-grade area over a known control joint.
Confirm the actual tile size and required setting material from the specification for each area, correct the generic setting note, and coordinate a crack-isolation or waterproofing membrane at the slab joint before installation begins. Recheck grout joint width for the corrected tile size before closing the item.
Avoid a false conflict
A setting-method note carried over from one tile size does not necessarily apply where a larger or different tile type is scheduled elsewhere; substrate movement, tile size, and wet-area exposure can all change the required membrane and setting material for what looks like the same finish call-out.
When requirements disagree, follow the project’s document-control and clarification process. Do not assume that drawings always override specifications, or the reverse. Identify the exact sources and request an authorized decision.
Close the issue across the affected documents
Record the location or tag, drawing and specification references, issue dates, observed difference, and the decision needed. Assign an owner and keep the item open until the response identifies the governing requirement. Check the revised drawings and specification references together; a response email alone may leave the issued package inconsistent.
For the overall process, use the guide to drawing and specification conflicts. Mark an inapplicable checklist row with a reason, and distinguish a verified correction from a question that still needs design information.
Where Groundbook fits
Groundbook’s drawing and specification review helps investigate potential disagreements in the documents you supply. Include the relevant specification sections and drawing references, then verify the cited evidence with the responsible reviewers before acting on a finding.