Cracked tiles on UFH

[Spare Tool]

I too have had a problem with using ufh with nmply, and they wernt ceramic, cracks appeared in granite after about a year. On lifting a few i found the cracks were directly in line with the edges of the nmply boards, the nmply was glued and screwed and glued together on the edges. If you had leveled over the mat before tiling you might have got away with lifting the tiles carefully, cleaning up the adhesive, thin slc, fitting ditra or similar then retiling as i did, but in this instance i wouldn't have thought the tiles will come up without ruining the mat. On my job i got the customer to supply the new materials and tiles and i provided the labour free of charge. It was a local job in a small village and it kept my reputation intact to offer free labour.... No problems since

 

[afright]

Yes it does look its cracked on the edge of the mat as the customer laid the mat and nmp maybe I could use this to my advantage and say that he pays for the mat if damaged .

 

[White Room]

As TJ, I would'nt have let him do the prep...

 

[AliGage]

Not sure what nomoreply or hardie etc suggest in their datasheet. But a tile backer (cement type) are still subject to expansion when heated. I'm sure one of the products like this suggest a 5mm joibt between boards.

 

[Sean Kelly]

You will damage the mat when lifting 3 tiles. By pulling up on the tile you will probably stretch the cable. I tried to save a customers UFH mat a few years ago when she had her bathroom re done. It is virtually impossible unless you dot and dabbed!!!!!! (Joke - sorry!)

What's to say you did manage to replace 3 tiles. You will probably need to change another three by Summer.

You will have to go back to the customer and explain about his prep work and his materials. I guess supplying the labour free will put your mind at rest, but I would not be replacing items I did buy.

Was this job done on a tight/small budget? Did you offer to lay SLC?

If it was a bigger room and there was no option but to smash up 3 tiles, and you did stretch or damage the cable then a repair will cost £360.

 

[afright]

Have been back and explained as none of the tiles are loose and he supplied the tiles and also prepared the floor before I tiled,what the outcome would be,the customer is thinking of either, leaving it as it is,have me repair but remove ufh mat or redo the whole floor.

 

[afright]

As TJ, I would'nt have let him do the prep...

I tiled the walls first without the bath fitted then did not return for 10 days as waiting on plumber in this time the customer had laid the nmp and ufh mat

 

[m3fitter]

The problem is expansion / contraction. you say that the heating mat was 1m, I have found that some porc's, and ceramics will crack if not heated evenly. pure physics of expansion and contraction, even if a decoupling is fitted, if the temperature is extreme enough between hot & cold.

 

[afright]

Yes I do understand this ,any way put customer right about this and as he did all the prep he is thinking about leaving it as it is.

 

[Stef]

Yes I do understand this ,any way put customer right about this and as he did all the prep he is thinking about leaving it as it is.

Hopefully the customer will realise it's down to his prep & not your work then.
This is one reason I refuse to tile ufh without being encased in slc, it doesn't matter the size of floor.
If time is tight try the new leveller from TileMaster, once poured you can be tiling it 45mins later..