badly laid tiles - help

[milomanski]

HI - Need Ive recently had 12mmx600x600m white polished quartz tiles laid in my kitchen.

My contractor, I was told, was a good tiler however the tiles have been really poorly laid. I have some that are 2mm higher than others and different joint sizes ranging from 2mm to next to nothing.

I have underfloor heating which I fear may be damaged by removal of the tiles. So I have two quesitons

1. Is there any mileage in pursuing lifting up the tiles or not?

2. I understand that it may be possible to have the tiles sanded and polished down to take out the different levels - is this true? and can anyone point me in the right direction of someone who does this in the Brighton area?

I think I can live with the variations in joint size but I am really keen to level the tiles.


Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer

 

[Gazzer]

Hello milomanski, welcome aboard TF.

 

[Gazzer]

I would say removing tiles is a risky job and would damage the UFH if the tiles have been laid direct to the cables.

I really dont think polishing the lippage out is practical.

 

[peteablard]

2mm is too small for floor joints, should be 3mm minimum. How big is the floor and is it the UFH electric? Also have you paid the builder yet? Unfortunately this is a problem that we see again and again with builders who think they can tile.

 

[charlie1]

Are polished quartz ok for underfloor heating?

 

[Bubblecraft]

Quartz is not recommended for UFH. There is an increase on cheap Chinese quartz & other composite resin based tiles which can curl at the corners. Resin based tiles are not recommended with UFH. Other composite tiles such as Galaxy, Starlight & Stardust are also not suitable due to the metal flakes which can cause the floor to spark.
Agree with all statements above. There is a good chance that the UFH could be damaged when removing if tiled direct on top of electric UFH. If a screed on top of the UFH, there is a chance it could be removed without damage. It all depends on the type of adhesive used. With it being a contractor who cannot tile, there is a chance that he may have used the incorrect type of adhesive, ready mixed/tubbed adhesive for example, which will work to your advantage & make removal relatively easy. Did you see what type of adhesive was used?
2mm or less is far too small for a floor. 3mm should be minimum. I would not recommend trying to level this floor by buffing & polishing. It would be impractical.

 

[cam_low]

So sorry to hear this. I'm sick of hearin it!!!

 

[White Room]

Quartz is not recommended for UFH. There is an increase on cheap Chinese quartz & other composite resin based tiles which can curl at the corners. Resin based tiles are not recommended with UFH. Other composite tiles such as Galaxy, Starlight & Stardust are also not suitable due to the metal flakes which can cause the floor to spark.
Agree with all statements above. There is a good chance that the UFH could be damaged when removing if tiled direct on top of electric UFH. If a screed on top of the UFH, there is a chance it could be removed without damage. It all depends on the type of adhesive used. With it being a contractor who cannot tile, there is a chance that he may have used the incorrect type of adhesive, ready mixed/tubbed adhesive for example, which will work to your advantage & make removal relatively easy. Did you see what type of adhesive was used?
2mm or less is far too small for a floor. 3mm should be minimum. I would not recommend trying to level this floor by buffing & polishing. It would be impractical.

You could'nt expand on that one please.....

 

[Bubblecraft]

Do you mean elaborate Mark? Tiles with metal flakes such as galaxy granite, starlight conglomerate marble etc are prone to spark with electric underfloor heating & so is not recommended. The current that flows through the UFH causes the flakes to magnetically charge & spark.

 

[DHTiling]

Well everyday is a learning day


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[White Room]

Do you mean elaborate Mark? Tiles with metal flakes such as galaxy granite, starlight conglomerate marble etc are prone to spark with electric underfloor heating & so is not recommended. The current that flows through the UFH causes the flakes to magnetically charge & spark.

Don't tell the customers otherwise there'll all want it:smart:

Never heard that before.

 

[Bubblecraft]

Lol, I've told 2 separate customers this year to either change there tile or do not fit the UFH. One was just the other week. It is a true fact. Must be awesome to see a floor spark all over the place though.

 

[White Room]

I'd like to see it......

 

[milomanski]

hi all thanks for your replies.

To answer your questions.

1.I believe the builder used rapid set adhesive, mixed from the bag on site
2. The UFH was laid, then a thin layer of self levelling compound laid over the top by thin I mean a matter of a few mm.
3. The tiles were approved by the supplier for use with electric underfloor heating - I have tested it now the tiles are down and it works really well - no sparking, room warms quickly.
3. I told the builder that I wanted as small a joint as possible to which he advised me 2mm was the minimum distance.
4. I take it the general consensus is
polishing out impractical
removal is likely to damage UFH

so live with it and next time take the tiling work out of the builders remit?


thanks again for you help

 

[StevieBoy]

Hi, I've just read through all this and would just like to offer my opinion.

If the floor was primed prior to the ufh and self levelling going down, you may be lucky in that the tiles when removed, may not disturb whats underneath.

Its a long shot, as I doubt that primer would have been used so therefore if you try to lift the tiles, its likely that the adhesive (presuming the correct one was used) will have stuck to both tile and self levelling compound.
Resulting in all of it coming up, and damaging the ufh.

Its so frustrating to hear of stories like this, as I'm sure this is not the first time.

Sorry I can't offer a positive on this, but hope this helps somehow.