Perfect Level Master - T-Lock™ Leveling Clips

The manufacturer sizes T-Lock™ clips by tile thickness: S for 3 to 8 mm (1/8 to 5/16 in), M for 8 to 14 mm (5/16 to 9/16 in), L for 15 to 25 mm (9/16 to 1 in) and XL for 25 to 30 mm (1 to 1-3/16 in). Size M matches the usual tile thickness in North America; it is the size in the 300-clip, 100-wedge kits.

If your tile thickness falls between two sizes, go up a size and add T-Lock™ base plates to restore proper tension.

From the manufacturer's consumption chart: about 2 clips per sq ft (22 per m²) for 12 x 24 in tiles, 1.8 per sq ft (20 per m²) for 18 x 18 in, 1 per sq ft (12 per m²) for 18 x 36 in, 1 per sq ft (11 per m²) for 24 x 24 in and 3 per sq ft (33 per m²) for 8 x 39 in planks.

The 300 clips in a T-Lock™ kit therefore cover about 150 sq ft of 12 x 24 in tile. Clips can be bought again in bags of 100 to 1,500; the wedges are reused.

The manufacturer recommends using a clip with a narrower joint and adding reusable tile crosses to reach the width you want. It is also the answer with S and L clips, which only come with a 1 mm joint. That way one clip size covers several joint widths.

Yes. According to the manufacturer, the T-Lock™ system works on any surface, floors and walls alike.

Yes, the T-Lock™ system suits indoor and outdoor installations. For outdoor work, the manufacturer recommends size L clips (15 to 25 mm tiles).

No. T-Lock™ clips are malleable and install without tools: you push the wedge in by hand until you feel resistance. The T-Lock™ pliers are designed to speed up installation on larger projects.

Check the direction of the wedge. The manufacturer says to insert it toward the tiles already set; the other way, it pushes the tile you just set and widens the joint.

Strike the clip with a rubber mallet (or the side of your safety shoe), parallel to the grout joint: that is the manufacturer's method for breaking the clip below the surface.

The other common cause is excess thin-set on the tile edges. Remove it with a putty knife while it is still fresh: once dry, it prevents a clean break.

The base plates protect delicate materials such as natural stone or glass from scratches and marks during installation. On thin tiles, they raise the wedge so you can use a taller clip with the right tension. They also double as a shim and as a spacer for 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 mm joints. They work with every Perfect Level Master clip.

The T-Lock™ wedges are reused from job to job and carry the manufacturer's lifetime warranty. The base plates and tile crosses are reusable too. The clips break off below the tile surface once the thin-set has cured, so they are single-use.