Hollow porcelain tiles.

[UnhappyCustomer]

What's the dimensions of the tiled area?

Roughly 40m2.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

Your questions can't really be answered without lifting a tile to find out what's going on. It's a bit unfair to try and get one of the guys to commit to saying you shouldn't pay as nobody really knows what's happened, only you can decide that one. i would say a tile needs to come up, until then your doing the preverbal into the wind.

so I'm correct in wanting the work inspected then.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

I think a full story would be appropriate

Obviously you're not wanting to pay someone. But an explanation of the full story might help gather proper opinion.

IMO !

The full story is basically bs from the supplier which isn't really the point. Basically they won't return calls or deal with the issue.

 

[gamma38]

You have to give the tiler a fair crack at the whip to rectify the problem, i.e. change out the individual tile, then you could quiz him about the rest of the tiles sounding hollow. Then if he refuses or just isn't interested you are within your rights to sound out your concerns and say you would like an independent opinion.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

Here's a question for those doing it every day.

Would the use of a notched trowel trowel make a correctly laid floor sound hollow?

 

[Rookery]

No. A hollow sound is most likely heard with either spot fixing or a screed failure.

 

[gamma38]

You are going round in circles here. A tile needs removing, it is pretty much as simple as that. But the answer to your question a notched trowel is the correct tool, but the person holding the tool may not be the correct person.

 

[Rookery]

As others have said already, it's all guess work until the damaged tile is lifted. Only then can a cause be determined.

 

[orange peel]

do the tiles sound hollow round the edge of the tile are just the centre ?,
sound odd to me that a glass would break the floor tile could do with posting a pic of cracked tile and of the laid floor

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

do the tiles sound hollow round the edge of the tile are just the centre ?,
sound odd to me that a glass would break the floor tile could do with posting a pic of cracked tile and of the laid floor

No the hollow parts are random. They have attempted on repair by putting something under the tiles on one edge so I know at least they were hollow. Some of the repair still is which leads me to believe the rest may not be correct.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

Is there any expansion joints ? , could purely be stress debonding .. Or commonly known as tenting.

Having looked on the TTA site I see what an expansion joint is. There aren't any and we are talking about maximum dimensions of 6.5m by 6.2m with electric underfloor heating.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

Oh and no response from the supplier today.

 

[Dave]

How old was the new screed before tiling commenced.?

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

How old was the new screed before tiling commenced.?

A couple of months as it was done as the kitchen was fitted.

 

[White Room]

I've looked at all the posts and hav'nt seen my question or perhaps missed something, what size are the tiles and what type are they....

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

I've looked at all the posts and hav'nt seen my question or perhaps missed something, what size are the tiles and what type are they....

These. http://www.viewceramiche.com/prodotti/cotswolds/serie_cotswolds.htm mixture of all four sizes.

 

[UnhappyCustomer]

Ok, place the palm of your hand on the floor and chap the tiles with your other hand, can you feel a small vibration? If so then it sounds to me like the tiles have not bonded to the floor. In this case I'd start some exploratory work and get a tile lifted to see what's going on.

Checking again today theres deffinately a vibration.