Travertine floor covered in cracks.

[alig9]

I moved into a new build home 7 years ago with tiled flooring and underfloor heating on the ground floor. The kitchen and patio was tiled in travertine; the remainder in porcelain tiles.
After a year hairline cracks appeared in several of the travertine and I had the tile company inspect the problem. They said there was nothing wrong with the tiles and that the problem was the under floor heating and that the porcelain tiles would also crack in time. 6 years later
70% of the tiles have cracks; there are no cracks in the porcelain and there are also cracks in the travertine outside on the patio and multiple cracks within the travertine patterns/fillings.
I am at my wits end about the deterioration of this floor. Is this normal for travertine? Was the travertine faulty? Can it be remedied? I have attached pictures

 

[Andy Allen]

Travertine is a very soft stone and the constant expansion and contraction of the ufh will cause the cracks, a decoupling mat should of been used between the screed and the tile to prevent this.
The porcelain tiles should be ok as there a lot harder than the travertine.

 

[J Sid]

did you have a tiler lay the tiles?
were you advised to use an uncoupling membrane?

 

[Dan]

Sounds like the builders skimped on the travel side and didn't use any uncoupling as said above. Not surprised in the slightest.

 

[J Sid]

not always the tiler/builder Dan, offen the customer will not pay for an uncoupling membrane. I would walk away but many would still fix the stone

 

[Flintstone]

What about the patio, I assume there is no ufh out there ?

 

[Dan]

not always the tiler/builder Dan, offen the customer will not pay for an uncoupling membrane. I would walk away but many would still fix the stone

True actually! I'd assume they'd be expecting this though if that was the case?

 

[J Sid]

you can often talk them , give the the links to different uncoupling membrane company's and still they say 'not paying for that'. Not saying the OP has done this but happens alot.

Andy if the patio was not laid on a well set and compacted sub base and good screed then this would crack up quicker especially thought the winter with water ingress and freezing

 

[Flintstone]

Good point. Are standard travertine like these even suitable for outside? They look like they could be highly filled

 

[J Sid]

not good out , especially in this country.
really surprised the shop said they were, if they did.
not only is the quality not up to external use but you really need to be looking at at least 18mm to 20mm thickness min for any external stone not the 10mm to 12mm for internal which this job probably us

 

[One Day]

I'd say the same as Andy Allen's 1st post there, but I'd also add that the travertine looks low grade, not suitable for external use.

 

[Dumbo]

I'd say the same as Andy Allen's 1st post there, but I'd also add that the travertine looks low grade, not suitable for external use.

I would say the travertine looks low grade and isn't fit for purpose as it has a high amount of filler . Had a customer get a sample of some stone like this once and it fell in half as they took it out of the boot of the car

 

[Flintstone]

id say travertine is the weakest softest stone you can get, the amount I've used that are a crumbling mess.

 

[One Day]

id say travertine is the weakest softest stone you can get, the amount I've used that are a crumbling mess.

Just the stuff we're used used to seeing from the likes of Topps! The coloseum is built from travertine and it's lasted pretty well. Good quality travertine is a beautiful stone and great to work with. Pity there's not much about...

 

[Dumbo]

Some suppliers recommend their stone is only used for walls but still retailers sell it for floors

 

[Andy Allen]

Back skimming to fill in the honey comb effect this Trev was probably full of May of helped......

 

[Dumbo]

With sort of product customers just seem to be buying 50 percent air

 

[J Sid]

fixed correctly these types of stone should give a almost problem free Insulation for internal use

 

[Dumbo]

Almost I don't think is good enough. I just think it is to low grade. Even if back filled a lot of these stone still punch through from the front.

 

[J Sid]

yes that's the almost bit 🙁 but is repairable.

 

[Andy Allen]

The op is to depressed to come back now!!

 

[J Sid]

the internal stones could have it's appearance improved with a bit of work

 

[Time's Ran Out]

The house is only 7 years old - claim through the House builders guarantee.
Check if they are in any association and ask their advice - poor quality stone and inadequate floor preparation seems the census of opinion.

 

[GAZ5518]

I'm sure that I have fixed travertine way back when decoupling was another word for divorce.. But having said that ... Not sure what state they are in now?...That particular stone looks very honed and filled... Very weak....

 

[alig9]

Thank you for all your replies. The tiler who laid these tiles was an expert tiler(unfortunately now decesed) and I would have paid for anything that he suggested so I would be surprised if the membrane wasn't applied. The suppliers(supposedly reputable) stated that the tiles were suitable for indoor and outdoor and under floor heating. Is there any official body I can get to give a view on the whether these tiles are sub-standard as I now have a large area of cracked tiles with more cracks appearing by the day

 

[Andy Allen]

It's difficult really......if the tiles would have been fixed correctly then chances are you may not of had these issues .

 

[alig9]

Is there any way of finding what the problem really is? If so, who is best qualified to do it

 

[Andy Allen]

Problem is the tiles should of been fitted on ditra mat and back skimmed.

 

[Dumbo]

Is there any way of finding what the problem really is? If so, who is best qualified to do it

You could maybe try the stone federation

 

[alig9]

Many thanks for all of your replies and yes, I am VERY depressed at the state of the tiles. I shall contact the stone federation