That's in the back of my mind if there was some sudden movement,the cracks are on 3 of the 4 walls not on the same one.
It confuses things when the prep and the tiling have been poor.
Yes there all stud walls,no exsternal walls.
It's a bungalow thats been converted the roof has been raised to accomadate 3 rooms and a bathroom and the exstension at the back to give it some width.
Didn't take photos as the cracks aren't open and dont think it will pick them out.The crack is more prominet in the middle then fades out.
It's really hard to give an opinion without seeing it first hand. But it seems more and more to me that the building has moved
I assume given your description the cracks are vertical. If it is worse in the middle that would suggest the wall has been put under pressure either from above or below, (pinching it so to speak) causing it to bow and the greatest area of movement would be in the middle. Timber stud work can be supporting although it is of poor construction so I don't think it is as building control would not sign it off.
As you say it is confusing as the work done so far by the builder and owner are not the best so they could have caused it rather than the building being on the move, which would be worst case senario.
Have any tiles popped off at all?
This could be something major or nothing at all so I wouldn't walk away from the job but it would be best to find out first, do you know any builders that could visit with you?
EDIT: The weroom is on the groundfloor right? do you know the size of the joists above the room?
Morning CR
The cracks are vertical and non have popped.
The wetroom is upstairs.
Is this scenario common with new builds and exstensions-can anything be done to protect wall tiling from structural movement?
Cheers
Morning CR
The cracks are vertical and non have popped.
The wetroom is upstairs.
Is this scenario common with new builds and exstensions-can anything be done to protect wall tiling from structural movement?
Cheers
Structural movement is common but, what you have described is not. I think the stud work has been done inadequatly. There will be too much bounce in the walls if no noggings have been incorporated, the studs will probaby be more likely to twist and bow.
I would suggest striping out the room and reinforcing the stud work to the best of your abilty, you may even consider reccomending to the customer that they find a reputable joiner to look at the studwork and put it right for them prior to you finnishing the tiling work.
Is it possible that the ply was left out in the rain before being fixed to studs? as this would also cause them to warp after installation if not before, as a resut the ply may pop away from the screw fixings.
You metnioned that the customer squegees water away into a grout joint, this woukld penetrate through the grout and cause damage/ expansion to the timber behind the tiles. You mentioned they grouted in internal corner which have now cracked, water will be getting in there also now.
ASK THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE THE ARCHITECT COME OUT AND HAVE ALOOK AT THE WORK! The acrchitect should be happy enough to do this
