Tiling on a suspended floor

[Sukie666]

Hi John, the kitchen company did not supply any calculations. I don't remember if they ask about the floor at all. They are a reputable company and delivered Imo a very good level of service so I have never questioned this. The builder who did the flooring was also used for removing a supporting wall to open up the kitchen into the dinning room. The island is basically where the supporting wall was before. A structural engineer did the calculation for the steel beam only. I wasn't aware nor informed by the builder that additional calculations were required. The builder also fitted the kitchen units.
What do you suggest I do now?
Thanks

 

[Scott]

Just read this from start to finish and must have missed this thread!

Dom, i think Russ is refering to using the PVA between the sheets of ply and not on the top

Sukie, if the joists are supported on brick piers under the floor and there is still vertical deflection then it may be possible to add in additional support between the piers and the joists to pack them up. Is there a large void under the floor? Typically houses of these era did have large voids so tt may be possible to access the underside of the floor from a different room? The noggins could also be added in this way.

TimelessJohns comments are valid point but there isnt a set requirement for any calculations for building regs for this, so no one has missed anything out. TJ is very good at seeing things from a different angle to a lot of us and when you think about it, it makes sense for it to have been taken into account. Although with a largge weight in the midle of the floor this should have cured some of the deflection to a certain degree. Sadly what that degree is i dont know

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Re reading the facts as printed it would seem as though the tiles have not stuck to the plywood. It could be due to the pva adhesive,the adhesive type, dust on floor/back of tile and certainly the dot and dab method of fixing. If it is only 18mm plywood fixed direct to the joists and tiled direct to this - as previously stated - a deflection issue may be the cause. Is there any cracks appearing at 120cm widths or just loose tiles and is the grout cracking out of the joints?
My earlier post was just concerned that the weight of the new kitchen/worktops had increased the movement in the floor and has the area of supported wall removal been adequately reinforced to hold the central island.
Following Daves advice I would certainly request a site visit by an experienced tiling contractor and he /she may be able to confirm some of the issues you may face.
Your builder -the main contractor- is the person with the answers so I'd ask him if he is a member of a Building Federation so you may be able to ask their advice:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Sukie666]

Scottey, better late than never!
The void is about 60-70cm off the ground only. What is considered adequate?

TJ - there are no cracks in the tiles. In many places, the grout has cracked or seem to be stuck to one side only. I DON'T ' think the grout (Mapei utracolor plus) was a flexible one so this is expected given flexing in the floor. In some area its whole groups of tiles together - in others 120-180cms width.

Looking at some pictures, it seems to me the tiles that have lifted the most have been where two sheets of plys meet. It seems to affect the whole row of tile. Tiles adjacent to these are less affected.

Thanks
Sukie

 

[Scott]

Thats plenty large enough to get under the floor, not the nicest place to be ill admit but if it gets the job done. As long as you have somewhere to get under it of course!

 

[grumpygrouter]

Scottey, better late than never!
The void is about 60-70cm off the ground only. What is considered adequate?

TJ - there are no cracks in the tiles. In many places, the grout has cracked or seem to be stuck to one side only. I DON'T ' think the grout (Mapei utracolor plus) was a flexible one so this is expected given flexing in the floor. In some area its whole groups of tiles together - in others 120-180cms width.

Looking at some pictures, it seems to me the tiles that have lifted the most have been where two sheets of plys meet. It seems to affect the whole row of tile. Tiles adjacent to these are less affected.

Thanks
Sukie

Ultracolor Plus is a highly flexible grout.

 

[Ceramico tiling]

I would be tempted to use mappei kerraquick mixed with mappei latex plus.Im not sure if it would be more efficient/flexible than Bal but it apparantly equals a mappei s2 adhesive.I think it will work out cheaper than BAL,

 

[Sukie666]

Guss & grumpygrouter thanks!

Guys, if my builder has public liability insurance (which he said he does), would my case be covered? Having heard all your advice, it really does seem that there is no easy way around this and will need to start from scratch. The tiling job was part of the kitchen renovation project but the UFH was done by a separate firm. To do it properly would mean redoing everything. Would the insurance cover the UFH replacement etc or just the tiling? Sorry - I am really quite clueless on these matters. I just want some ammo before I speak to the builder (if he picks up my calls) about this. How would I kick start this process as well?

Any advice & thoughts would be most appreciated.

many thanks
Sukie

 

[diamondtiling]

Guss & grumpygrouter thanks!

Guys, if my builder has public liability insurance (which he said he does), would my case be covered? Having heard all your advice, it really does seem that there is no easy way around this and will need to start from scratch. The tiling job was part of the kitchen renovation project but the UFH was done by a separate firm. To do it properly would mean redoing everything. Would the insurance cover the UFH replacement etc or just the tiling? Sorry - I am really quite clueless on these matters. I just want some ammo before I speak to the builder (if he picks up my calls) about this. How would I kick start this process as well?

Any advice & thoughts would be most appreciated.

many thanks
Sukie

I am not sure if admin can publish Pm's Sukie but it would help if our conversations were made available, you have gone into great detail whilst talking with me, If the forum could read these then I am sure they would comment correctly.

 

[Sukie666]

Not sure how to do that - but all the details are on the thread anyway.