S
Stef
Looking through your check list, did the screed have the laitance removed prior to tiling & how many coats of primer did the tiler use?
Cracking in Tile Grout
J
jesteh
There is no lip or height differential. To be quite honest - I am disappointed with BAL. Yes they did send the rep round very quickly but both the tech support and rep seemed to be very much on defensive and were really looking for issue thats not their problem. The rep did check whether there is a lip on the crack - there wasn't but still concluded that its vertical movement. So not their issue. Also, I don't really get the 'grout cracks with UFH' answer. It really tells me that Rapid Mat was a waste of money - tiler could have laid the tiles straight onto screed (which is what he wanted to do) and grout would have cracked all the same - I would have just saved some money.
Weber seemed much more unbiased and interested in getting to the bottom of it (even though I just used their grout). They suggested to bring the tiler round to lift the damaged tile and have a look underneath whats going on and take a few picture and samples to analyse - so this will be the next step.
Weber seemed much more unbiased and interested in getting to the bottom of it (even though I just used their grout). They suggested to bring the tiler round to lift the damaged tile and have a look underneath whats going on and take a few picture and samples to analyse - so this will be the next step.
J
jesteh
W
White Room
How did you go about removing the laitance and how many coats of primer was applied...
J
jesteh
Laitance - hired a floor grinder.
Primer - one coat diluted 50-50 in one direction then another coat undiluted in other direction
Used BAL Prime APD
Why would this make a difference to grout cracking though - the tiles are not moving, they are completely solid, no hollow sounds at all anywhere. Or are you suspecting they are moving with cracks forming?
Primer - one coat diluted 50-50 in one direction then another coat undiluted in other direction
Used BAL Prime APD
Why would this make a difference to grout cracking though - the tiles are not moving, they are completely solid, no hollow sounds at all anywhere. Or are you suspecting they are moving with cracks forming?
S
Stef
I had to use Bal rapid set on top of an anhydrite screed to push a job on, I only ever use a compatible addy (AnhyFix),
I gave that 6 coats of primer.
I personally haven't used Bals rapid mat & I don't think I ever will as I can't truly understand how it works as I use Ditra & when you see the technical side of it you realise how that works & how it decouples.
I would get someone to stand on a tile & move their weight whilst you check very closely to see if there is movement in the tile.
Don't know why bal rep would suggest that when they don't recommend adding gt1 to there own modified grout ( super flex)
J
jesteh
I did consider using gypsum based adhesive. Problem is no mat manufacturer will say their mat is compatible with it. If you ask Schluter whether you can use Ditra with gypsum adhesive, they'll say they do not recommend it. Same with BAL Rapid Mat. So you are going against manufacturer recommendation by using that. I did ask both before the job started.
As far as using 6 coats of primer - why only 6? Again, if I asked Bal or Schluter whether to use 6 coats of primer they will say we do not recommend this - use 2.
I am not saying you are wrong. But you are going against manufacturer recommendation. Probably because you know better.
I on the other hand don't have a clue. I am not a tiler, I don't years of experience or time or inclination to start testing different mats with different amount of primer and different adhesives and see what works best. My tiler also has no interest in material science - he buys tile adhesive in bulk whatever works out at good price. Which is fair enough.
So what I did was to select a supplier and follow their instructions to the letter, trusting that they know what they are talking about. Where I am getting ****ed off is that now I have a problem, they are very quick to say its nothing to do with them and walk off. The entire investigation from BAL consisted of knocking on the tile (it was solid) and poking a nail at the grout. Then blame vertical movement for crack an say that grout is not flexible enough.
I am not saying its a problem with BAL mat or adhesive, I have no idea and neither do they right now. What I am saying is that BAL have shown no interest in finding the root cause which right now puts a very low value on their 25 year material guarantee.
As far as using 6 coats of primer - why only 6? Again, if I asked Bal or Schluter whether to use 6 coats of primer they will say we do not recommend this - use 2.
I am not saying you are wrong. But you are going against manufacturer recommendation. Probably because you know better.
I on the other hand don't have a clue. I am not a tiler, I don't years of experience or time or inclination to start testing different mats with different amount of primer and different adhesives and see what works best. My tiler also has no interest in material science - he buys tile adhesive in bulk whatever works out at good price. Which is fair enough.
So what I did was to select a supplier and follow their instructions to the letter, trusting that they know what they are talking about. Where I am getting ****ed off is that now I have a problem, they are very quick to say its nothing to do with them and walk off. The entire investigation from BAL consisted of knocking on the tile (it was solid) and poking a nail at the grout. Then blame vertical movement for crack an say that grout is not flexible enough.
I am not saying its a problem with BAL mat or adhesive, I have no idea and neither do they right now. What I am saying is that BAL have shown no interest in finding the root cause which right now puts a very low value on their 25 year material guarantee.
R
Rich Midge
The arrogance of these big manufacturers is a joke. We've had similar problems with Norcros. They actually came out and inspected floors in a new build, produced a detailed plan of how we should tile including location of expansion joints, primer, adhesive and even what size spacers. Needless to say the floors failed, not just cracking but lifting in all areas. They came out to it and diagnosed vertical movement so not in any way their fault! The main contractor sent some adhesive samples off for independent testing which found a low polymer content so said manufacturer did their own test. Surprise surprise that test showed the adhesive to be perfect in every way. Vertical movement, a licence to get away with all sorts.
