Limestone tile cracking disaster on UFH

[Time's Ran Out]

Question 1 - they'll crack again
2 - they'll crack again
3 - they'll crack again
4 - sounds about right!

As you were and are now aware the expansion joints should be carried through the surface of the finished material i.e. Limestone.
What you could try is removing the cracked tile and bridging the expansion joint wirh a thin fleece type decoupling membrane - no guarantees but if you try on a test area first it may be sufficient to sto the transfer of movement through to the tile.

 

[splas]

Thank you all for your comments,
Sadly the cracks are not all over expansion joints - some are where the builder extended the slab into new window areas etc - his disorganisation meant this wasn't done at the same time as the slab was poured. He also didn't put the UFH into these areas so we have a few cold spots in window bays, which of course doesn't help.

There is also a very fine crack running the entire width (7m) of the main room, it is v fine at the moment (as are most of the cracks) and this crack is directly over an expansion joint (with a few cracks running off it the other way) but sadly there is a tile joint only 15cm away from a grout line. My husband dremmeled this grout line out with the intention of putting a Silicon seal in it to try & avoid cracking, but clearly this made no difference and the crack appeared a few days ago. This long crack in particular would look bad if turned into an expansion joint as it is so close to a grout line & is 7m long slap bang in the middle of the room.

Three of you have suggested adding expansion joints retrospectively, which we could in doorways but where they fall close to existing grout lines it won't look great but I assume this is always the case unless you tile each room separately with no long runs? Timeless John suggests they will just crack again.
I guess my main question is:
Is creating retrospective expansion joints likely to prevent further cracking as opposed to just leaving & disguising the already cracked tiles? What about the cracks that aren't across doorways or expansion joints - would it be ok just to disguise them & does my theory that filling the cracks with something flexible (and not replacing the tile) will in effect create a small expansion joint where each crack has formed & thus help prevent further cracking? Would doing nothing (bar disguising the cracks) and hoping it doesn't get any worse be wose than doing some of the things you suggest whih is acknowledged might not work anyway?

Thanks

 

[Time's Ran Out]

It sounds a right mess!
Surley the builder is covered by a National House Building Insurance Scheme so get him to rectify his work.
Whatever you do to this floor is only cosmetic and not what you have paid for. Stop any 'bodging' of the floor and take action .

 

[Dave]

Now you have posted further info , I am of the opinion that this install is a major balls up , not on,y by the builder but the tiler employed should have known better .
Imho it needs to be lifted and an anti crack most installed to combat the areas not controlled by expansion joints , like doorways and room change intersections.

 

[splas]

Hi both,

I know it is a mess but at the moment the cracks, whilst numerous are quite fine & not too noticeable - they could easily be disguised as natural veins.

Taking the floor up & starting again is out of the question. This is a 3 month bldg project (refurb, not new build) that after nearly 2 years is only 50% or so finished. We are owed a substantial sum of money by the bldr but he hasn't got any! The tiles alone cost over 5K, just can't afford to do it again in addition to all the bldr owes us. Bldr is a member of all manner of associations - FMB, Guild of master craftsmen, Govt Trustmark etc etc (with whom I have lodged complaints) but to my cost, as the seemingly unimportant customer, all such memberships seem meaningless & the only option is court.
In an ideal world all that you say ref money back, NHBC guarantees etc would be great but sadly for the ill-informed customer this is far from an ideal world and even for inteligent people (I would like to think!) you can be duped in this unregulated industry.

Can anyone say if leaving as is is unwise i.e. MUST I now create retrospective expansion joints or now it has already cracked can I just leave & hope. Also wouldn't lifting the tiles endanger the UFH?

 

[splas]

Sadly NHBC is just for new build - not refurbs.

 

[CJ]

Splas........would you be happy "disguising/making do" with the defects? Or would YOU be constantly checking & Expecting cracks/movement? If so.......then it needs sorting now. If not, then disguise it.

Sorry to P on your chips.

 

[splas]

Trouble is without starting again completely, as others have siad whatever we do to rectify ie expansion joints, adding de-coupling membrane over expansion joints etc,does not gurantee no more cracks - only way to do that is rip it all up - all 120sq metres of expensive limestone and I assume that course of action may risk damaging the UFH?
Can't do it unless it gets substantially worse- 2 years of hell, been living in a caravan, only just moved back in, bldr has fleeced us finacially & we are both in need of a psychiatrist!
I am afraid I am looking for the best option to make do & try to prevent further damage but don't want to do anything that would incurr significant cost/disruption unless it will actually achieve something.
Hope that makes sense

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Tile over the top this time using a decoupling membrane, and only if the limestone is well fixed. You will obviously lose some of the heat benifit from the UFH but you either live with it or change it!

 

[splas]

Solid oak doors etc all already fitted so not an option.