Abstract: Flooring structure having a rigid horizontal base and a tile or terrazzo top flooring layer. This flooring structure also has a crack isolation layer between the base and the top flooring layer. The crack isolation layer comprises a hard, essentially rigid material which is in load bearing relationship with the base and the top flooring layer and which extends over about 50 percent to about 80 percent of the surface area of the crack isolation layer as measured in the horizontal direction. The crack isolation layer may be in the form of a fracturable sheet or in the form of pilings. The remaining portion of the crack isolation layer may be occupied by a deformable material.

Abstract: The flooring structure herein comprises a rigid base or substrate (typically wood or concrete), an outer course of ceramic tile or other fracturable material, a high impact strength crack isolation sheet interposed between the base and the tiles. The crack isolation sheet is a thin rectangular sheet, typically of plastic material such as high impact polystyrene, having a flat base portion and a plurality of dimples arranged in a regular geometric pattern and projections extending in one direction (i.e., upwardly) from the base portion. Both the base portion and the projections have holes. The base portion of the crack isolation sheet is adhesively bonded to the base or substrate. A substantially incompressible compression bed material, e.g., mortar or concrete, fills the space between the crack isolation sheet and the tiles but not the space beneath the projections of the crack isolation sheet. The latter space is essentially an unfilled air space.

Abstract: Architectural or decorative pavement having thin decorative pavers or "tiles" made of or selected from known materials, from metal and impregnated wood to natural stone to clay or cementitious tiles, are bonded to the upper surface of a sand and cement (and latex, if desired) setting bed before the bed takes its initial set. "Thin" pavers are less than 1/4 inches thick. Stronger materials in these pavers lend themselves to minimum thickness in small to medium sizes. Thin pavers of weaker materials require maximum thickness in large to medium sizes.The pavers are placed in rows and designs as may be pleasing with adjacent side edges spaced apart and forming gaps all around the perimeter of each paver.While the bed and bond are both green, vertical cuts are made through and below the gaps and through the bond coat and appreciably into the setting bed all around the whole perimeter of each paver. The setting beds are supported on appropriate bases or other supporting means.