Tiling problems

[ringw]

was just about to say the same thas the best advice for sure.

good advice

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Responsibility - ultimately the tiler - he should have known not to tile direct to chipboard.
From your information it would seem that the cracks are appearing along the 600mm widths of the Tounge & Grooved chipboard flooring, and the travertine is too soft a material to withstand the movement in the sub floor - especially with the UFH.
Rather than take up all the travertine - unless it is not well fixed - go for a decoupling membrane over the top (ditra or similar) and fix to this, using a flexible adhesive.
Someone will have to be held accountable for your materials and labour costs of the original job and that will be the person you paid to do the tiling.
The only drawback with this method will be a longer warm up period for the UFH.
Hope you get sorted.

 

[doug boardley]

but the de-coupling won't account for vertical deflection tho John

 

[White Room]

No decoupling membrane then

 

[jay]

best to remove and redo including good prep work (remove chipboard):8:

 

[Time's Ran Out]

but the de-coupling won't account for vertical deflection tho John

That's quite correct Doug and without the benefit of seeing the job I'am only trying to read the description of the 'hairline' cracks at every 600mm as being lateral deflection in the chipboard!
Had the description been of major cracks across the floor I may have suggested a different proposition which may have entailed stripping the floor out completely, adding additional support to the joists, replacing the chipboard flooring with 18mm plywood,overboarding with a 6mm substrate and then a decoupling membrane prior to fixing the tiles with a flexible adhesive ( possibly in white and fast set as a prefernce).

 

[DHTiling]

Lateral is expansion lads.... not deflection.. that is vertical....

Sounds like a bad prepped floor..

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Lateral is expansion lads.... not deflection.. that is vertical....

Sounds like a bad prepped floor..

It would certainly appear that the floor has not been prepared to take the covering chosen!
The term used in my post would be for : Deflection as a phrase to describe the movement from a straight course and Lateral being from the side!

 

[DHTiling]

Yep..lateral is side to side and deflection is up and down..

 

[Aston]

structural floor preparation ..this is a great area for tilers to move into regarding solving deflection issues and it is has very good earning potential because it takes on the structural aspects of floor preparation..you can laminate and strenghten joists simply by cutting strips of 25mm ply down a glueing and screwing then to the sides of the joists to nogging them out at 300mm centers..some surveyors say 400mm for noggins is fine but for the sake of 100mm and and a couple of extra cuts, why not cross the t's and dot the i's....

ed

 

[doug boardley]

Lateral is expansion lads.... not deflection.. that is vertical....

Sounds like a bad prepped floor..

I meant the actual joists Dave, if they twist due to lack of noggins I've always understood that to be called deflection.

 

[Richard Edwards]

Hi Vanessa

If I had a few pounds for every problem I see like yours I would be able to retire. Builders are the worst culprits, using 'their own work force ' - usually a lot cheaper than the Pro's. and cause clients a whole load of grief. Sorry to rant on, its a pet subject of mind.

Either the joists at 600mm centres are flexing and cracking- [Ref Doug's post] the Trav at the stress points. Trav is very soft and breaks down the 'fault lines' at the best of times or when you say Chipboard, you might be referring to Wayroc boards which are also available in 1200 x 600mm T/G sections. They should be layed in the correct pattern across the joists. Then the correct way to proceed is to overlay 18mm WBP Ply opposite way to the Wayroc and prime. You could also use cementous backer boards 12mm min or Hardibacker. The correct adhesive then to finalise.

All the Pro guys on this site basically say the same. The only tech answer would be lift and start again.

Personally, I would place the architect on written notice as he was - or should have been acting as your professional representative and hold them responsible for the costs of remedial action to replace the floor and the costs of removing and refiiting the kitchen.

You might need to speak to your legals / lawers to ensure that the contract you had with your Architect covers this work and that liability is about as firm as it can be.

Not what you needed to hear I'm sure.

Richard

 

[vanessagernat]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I now have to go away and decide what actions to take! I just wish there was something simple I could do to stop it getting worse without having to go through pain and hassle in getting the whole kitchen ripped apart. Anyway thanks again - you Tilers are a very friendly helpful bunch. Ness:hurray:

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Still think my post No. 17 is the way forward - but without seeing the job no advice should be accepted without independant on site investigation!