cracked travertine

ms.tiles · Mar 1, 2012

Hi
to be honest i don't know. if it was wood then heating then screed what could be the cause.
Could it be the house has just settled and created all the cracks,it's a new build about 4-5years old. although the cracking has got worse over the last year

jay · Mar 1, 2012

You need to find out more info on the substrate and what has been done was it commissioned right pics might help try a straight edge on the floor is it falling away in areas

widler · Mar 1, 2012

trav on wet UFH is not the best in the world,the SLIGHTEST movement and they will crack,no expansion joint flexi addy or decoupler will prevent this

bugs183 · Mar 2, 2012

Uncoulpling membranes do work, and are good for peace of mind. I've fixed loads of floors without them and had no problems (luckily!), but now it is common practice with good tilers to at least suggest to the customer that at a membrane is needed, balls in the customers court then. ways
Use an uncoupling membrane on the new floor, especially on an area of that size and with various door, these add stress points, expansion joints can be tricky because of the UFH, but certainly leave an ungrouted gap (10mm) between the tiles and the walls.
If the cracks in the tiles are in lines, then it's the screed thats moved or moving. Travertine is very unlikely to crack a screed.

ms.tiles · Mar 2, 2012

Hi All

I dont think there is a decoupling membrane under the tiles. There is 2-3mm grout gap cut through the tiles in every door way. i have photos but cant upload them as it says they are to large.

Ajax123 · Mar 2, 2012

ray t t said:
sounds to me like the screed has sunk and is pulling a part you wil have to chop up a line of tiles and a patch of the screed to see if it surported under neath get a bucket of water tip in hole see if it flows a way quikly or the sceed holds it good luck

Hmm interesting test. What will it hope to demonstrate??

ms.tiles · Mar 2, 2012

jay · Mar 2, 2012

Thanks for the pics have you worked out the substrate yet

ms.tiles · Mar 2, 2012

The tiles by the door,with the foot in the photo was only replaced a few weeks ago. the first photo,i know its not clear but has a crack running just in front of the top grout line all along the tile about an inch inside the edge of the tile

Ajax123 · Mar 2, 2012

ms.tiles said:
Hi
to be honest i don't know. if it was wood then heating then screed what could be the cause.
Could it be the house has just settled and created all the cracks,it's a new build about 4-5years old. although the cracking has got worse over the last year

That is probably quite a key peice of info. I suspect it is the shrinkage and movement associated with the screed. Up to a couple of years ago in the time frame we have had relatively mild winters but the last couple and most particularly last year we have had much colder. This would necesitate turning the heating up to compensate. This would encourage additional movement and possibly cracking of the screed due to thermal issues. An uncoupling membrane was probably essential in this installation as it would have helped alleviate the lateral stress created by the shrinkage.

One other question, if you place a straight edge over one of the cracks at right angles to the line of the crack is there noticable deviation across the crack. This would indicate some curling which is also a function of cement screeds.

I personally think thetimber bit is a red herring but i am willing to be proved wrong.

Ajax123 · Mar 2, 2012

whitebeam said:
I think the screed should be a minimum 65mm with fibres....

Correct. Although with ufh would expect 75mm screed

ms.tiles · Mar 2, 2012

The job ive got to do is a 75mm screed over ufh on block and beams,plumber said no wood all concrete, screed has been down atleast 8 weeks but ufh heating hasnt been turned on yet,shouldnt be long before the system is ready to be filled up and turned on to test and see how the floor reacts. its a new build so nobody in there for a while.
The customer is worried if he goes with travertine his floor will crack like his fathers. i probably wont go back to the house with the cracked tiles now. some of them look like the tiles are dipping down into the cracks.

jay · Mar 2, 2012

Bingo..

ms.tiles · Mar 5, 2012

Hi All

The customer with the cracked tiles would like me to put in writing what i think is wrong with the tiling.
They have said only if im ok with it as they need to go back to the tiling company with something worth while saying.
Im not sure what to say, if i took up a tile which is cracked and there is no decoupling matting and no crack in the screed then could it be that its caused by no decoupling membrane? Also could they blame the tilers?? im not sure i want to put anything in writing against a tiler.
If i managed to take up a tile and took some photos would it help to answer the problem or could there be loads of things causing the cracking.
I dont want to start a argument between a tiling company and my customers father with me in the middle but i'd like to know what has happened there.

Your advice will be very helpful and please be honest, if you think im wrong to help the customer and stitch up a tiling company or doing the right thing just say so. im really stuck on what to do.

many thanks

White Room · Mar 5, 2012

If this ended up going to court do you feel qualified to give evidence, the TTA can do a report but it can be expensive....

TF

jay

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bugs183

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jay

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White Room

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