cracked floor tiles new build

[Neil fraser]

Two floors in upstairs new build have a hairline crack along plywood edge in middle of the floor. The builder laid 6mm ply and screwed it down, flexible cement used. The question is who is at fault tilers or builder.

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome....6mm ply is no way enough, BS states 15mm.

 

[Ian]

As above, the ply is the problem here.

- - - Updated - - -

Just to add, the tiler should have known not to tile to 6mm ply.

 

[Neil fraser]

That was spec builder wanted all floors have dropped as silicone has burst round floor edges

 

[White Room]

Is this a new build....

 

[CJ]

Another case of "The builder knows best"

:mad2:

 

[Ian]

That was spec builder wanted all floors have dropped as silicone has burst round floor edges

The spec is wrong, min 15mm ply or use a 6mm cement board.

 

[Neil fraser]

Yea a new build now 10 months ago I have seen this happen on 18mm ply before but it was years ago. A small hairline crack but the tile is sucked down ay the crack like a v

 

[DHTiling]

New builds with timber floors etc are prone to shrinkage when the heating is turned on, it happens quite a bit , yes the ply is the wrong thickness and could have contributed to the cracked tile/tiles...

 

[Neil fraser]

So who is to blame the builder for supplying wrong spec or me for tiling it

 

[Ian]

For me the blame lies with the tiler. Any tiler who is up to date with current fixing regulations, would have known that 6mm ply is not suitable to tile to, and insisted on the prep being done correctly. You say you tiled it yourself, are you a tiler or just a DIYer?

 

[Neil fraser]

I'm a tiler I know the bs but was told tIle to the spec

 

[Alan.P]

Ultimately it is down to the tiler, you should have refused to fix to it. Sorry but the buck stops with you.

 

[Andy Allen]

if you knew it was wrong why did you tile it..?

should of told the builder to prep it right, or walked away.....

 

[Martyn Leeds]

were you subbying to the new build company?
or was it prepped & left by them, and then you've been hired from the customer directly?

 

[AliGage]

What is your obligation? I would personally say it's the tilers responsability to ensure the surface/substrate is suitably prepared to accept what you are fixing.

However, if the customer is that off your builders, and the builder contracted you to tile it as it stood then the onus is on him. As far as the customer goes. If you raised concerns before hand and was told to go ahead then i would hope you wrote into your quote "to tile onto wooden floor, floor to be prepared by 3rd part/builder" really depends what conversations you've had.

If the builder instructed you despite raised concerns, and you have it in writing you can breath a sigh of relief. If none of the above happened and you don't have anything in writing then i would say you you're obliged by your trade knowledge to ensure it was done correctly.

 

[Andrew]

Even if you a have something in writing signed by a client stating that "against your professional advice they choose to ignore it and work to to there spec" isn't worth the papers it's written. You should simply walk instead of completing something you know is wrong.

 

[bugs183]

Yep looks like the buck stops with you i'm afraid, there's been a few links on here regarding who is responcible during problem specs.

Even if you knew it was wrong and wrote a disclaimer, it is down to you as you still deemed the prepwork suitable, not fair, but just how it is.
You can't afford to touch anything these days that you know isn't right.

 

[Spud]

Neil if its any consilation its only a few years ago that 6mm ply wood overlay over chipboard fixed with ring shank nails was an acceptable fixing method from the tile association I tiled over it many times in the past ,this doesnt help you in your situation if its just a couple of bathroom floors I would bite the bullet and change them it will be good for your relationship with the builder and next time he asks you to do something you can insist on belt and braces and he wont be able to argue it