Shower Tiling problem

[Grahamc1]

Some help please: I have had a loft conversion done, including a shower, which was tiled. The rear wall of the shower was, I believe, made of 2 sheets of marine ply with a horizontal join about 1m up. So far as I know, the tiles were fixed straight onto this. There is now a perfectly straight crack across the tiles where the join goes. The loft company say it is my fault for getting cheap tiles (Wickes standard) and are refusing to fix. I belive it was not adequately done and it is their responsibility. So firstly, is there a way I can prove it is their fault, but more importantly, how best to sort it out, preferably without having to strip the whole thing and start again? Would replacing the cracked tiles using a more flexible adhesive prevent them from re-cracking?

All thoughts welcome.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi... Timber expands with thermal and humidity.. so yes if they installed the plywood , then they are at fault..

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

Find out what adhesive they used and then ask a rep to inspect the work that way u will have proof its not your fault.

 

[AliGage]

If the crack follows the join its substrate.
The adhesive manufacturer will probably accept plywood as suitable to tile onto.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

But tjey could of used tubed adhesive which aint suitable for ply.

 

[AliGage]

But tjey could of used tubed adhesive which aint suitable for ply.

Can't speak for all manufacturers of tubbed adhesive but not sure you're right there.
I personally would overboard ply and i dislike using tubbed adhesive. But pretty certain most are suggested suitable for ply of exterior grade

 

[Gazzer]

But tjey could of used tubed adhesive which aint suitable for ply.

I think BAL white Star for one would disagree but tiling onto ply is stupid IMO.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

I only mentioned this as a route to sort his mess out if it is down to adhesive then the builder is to blame. Could be a range of issues but its all about narrowing it down.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

no if they have given once the will give again the problem here is the join was not solid blocket and you did not pick this up so you put this down to learning the hard way we all have to pay in one way or another for the skill we pick up along the way next time do not beleive what the builder tells you he just whats out with the most proffit its your job and your job only to check every think as its your neck on the line when things go wrong and only you can let that happen its a small shower wall learn that lesson but learn it well and move on wiser and smarter than you where before and thank your lucky stars you leanred this early good luck but thats the luck you make

 

[ian158]

Why would they use ply on the walls anyway !

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

The builders done the tiling and hes asking how he can prove iys their fault. We all know its either the ply or adhesive but he needs to prove its not the cheap tiles for them to repair the job.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

Builders love ply and Silicon thats all they know 🙂

 

[AliGage]

As i say if the crack in the tiles follows the line of the join then its pretty clear that the wall/ply and construction of is the fault.
If glazing on the tiles had cracked all over the tiling then maybe not.

Take some pictures and document it well. Remove one or two of the cracked thousand see where the join lies.
Is there any discolouration in the grout? And what grout was used? What sort of shower was installed? Was the area waterproofed? Or tanked?

Might be an idea to get a tiler out for an hour or two to investigate and see if they are willing to document issues for you so you can be armed with the information you need.

 

[DHTiling]

Do not remove any tiles , do not allow anyone to touch the installation.

Firstly contact trade and standards and seek legal advice.

They installed your tiles to plywood , so they accepted they were suitable , otherwise why fit them. ?

 

[AliGage]

Fair point actually Dave. I suppose if you interfered you could then be blamed for the crack.

Could look into getting a quality surveyor or a specializing building inspector in to do a report?
First port of call is to write and send a letter of complaint to the builder. That is if you have an address for him.

 

[Grahamc1]

That's where I came. Basically he says the loft extensions is mainly wood, which is bound to expand and contract, but if we'd used heavier tiles they wouldn't have cracked. Which sounds like rubbish to me. Apart from wishing I'd come on here earlier, what's the best way to find someone local who knows what he is doing to take a look?

 

[AliGage]

There's a "looking for a tiler" section on this forum. You could try there?

 

[SJPurdy]

When plywood is used as a substrate for wall tiling then as far as I can remember (my online library access seems to have disappeared so I can't check) British standards recommends that it should be limited to small areas that can be made from one sheet, and that if there are joints in the sheets then they should not be tiled over (unless a movement joint is put in). Where plywood is used it should also have been coated on the reverse (un-tiled) side and all edges with a suitable primer/sealer - which in my experience never happens.

 

[Stef]

This install has failed because they have used Ply in a shower area,
End of.

Listen to Dave, it's down to expansion of the substrate,

Ply is not suitable in a wet environment, ie shower, it expands & contracts & that's why the line has appeared along the joint in the substrate.

The builder would have been better off using plasterboard, even without tanking it would have lasted longer.

Builders think that if they use Ply then it strengthens the wall.

This failure is down to the builder.