Advice Please - Is This Tiling Acceptable?

[Andy Allen]

I imagine a flexible grout was not used .........are the tiles loose.?

 

[dynamictiling]

I would say the tiles are loss, causing excessive movement and ultimately the grout is failing.

Try 'chapping' the tile with your knuckles or a rubber hammer. If the tiles move or make a ping noise they haven't been fitted right. A few things can cause this- tiles not installed properly, plywood not fixed to the floor properly or wrong adhesive used.

Grout cracking like that after two days is bad news. Sorry

 

[javeiro]

I would say the tiles are loss, causing excessive movement and ultimately the grout is failing.

Try 'chapping' the tile with your knuckles or a rubber hammer. If the tiles move or make a ping noise they haven't been fitted right. A few things can cause this- tiles not installed properly, plywood not fixed to the floor properly or wrong adhesive used.

Grout cracking like that after two days is bad news. Sorry

I would say the tiles are loss, causing excessive movement and ultimately the grout is failing.

Try 'chapping' the tile with your knuckles or a rubber hammer. If the tiles move or make a ping noise they haven't been fitted right. A few things can cause this- tiles not installed properly, plywood not fixed to the floor properly or wrong adhesive used.

Grout cracking like that after two days is bad news. Sorry

yes they do move slightly. He told me a flexible adhesive was used on the tiles

 

[dynamictiling]

Judging by the pictures the tiles haven't been installed correctly. The only way to stop the grout cracking is remove and replace the tiles that are loose. You could mix gt1 admix through the grout and reapply the grout but you will have problems with it in the future.

 

[javeiro]

Thanks for the replies. The floor is sloped slightly but he put the tiles on anyway. One has cracked. I have just hoovered the floor and the grout has been cured out of the gaps with little effort. See photo. He is coming tommorow. What do I tell this incompetent buffoon. ?

 

[One Day]

Pull a loose tile up and let's see a photo of the back of the tile and the floor where it was lifted from? Pretty sure I can guess what you'll find. If you simply let him regroup it tomorrow, then it'll be a total waste of time.

 

[javeiro]

Pull a loose tile up and let's see a photo of the back of the tile and the floor where it was lifted from? Pretty sure I can guess what you'll find. If you simply let him regroup it tomorrow, then it'll be a total waste of time.

Your wish is my command. Here are some photos of under the tile. The water is because I wet the floor to clean it.

 

[Meddler]

I didn’t realise that this new self levelling material (for those difficult tiling jobs !!) had reached the market yet. Your guy is using the latest technology.

 

[On one]

Just like the lyrics in the Orange Juice song Rip it up and start again

 

[javeiro]

Why were they so easy to rip up? Shouldn't that adhesive (concrete) have set? Or it it usually normal to be able to rip up a tile?

 

[On one]

The adhesive has set,it just hasn't bonded to your floor substrate......whatever that may be

 

[javeiro]

The adhesive has set,it just hasn't bonded to your floor substrate......whatever that may be

Thanks for the reply. I believe it is wood. Appreciate all the replies I'm learning more and more about this profession.

 

[Dhtiling]

That tile is from Turkey....that's your problem...well at least for poor joints, that stuff is never square, but as said already, sorry for your troubles but this job needs to be redone by a professional tiler. It doesn't meet coverage standards, even here in America, and we are new to this relatively speaking, so probably doesn't meet yours either.

 

[Dhtiling]

Also appears to be some paper between the mortar and floor? The brownish material?

 

[Andy Allen]

Looks like hard board.....nothing surprises me anymore. .

 

[Dhtiling]

Excuse my ignorance, what is hardboard? Whatever is there can't be very thick.

 

[Dhtiling]

Just did some research. does look like hard board. Wow. You folks put tile on that? I mail packages with better...

 

[Andy Allen]

Er no we don't. .....just the cowboys I'm afraid to say.

 

[Dhtiling]

I know what you mean. It happens. I'd say lowest bidder wins, but some folks pay top dollar for bottom shelf.

 

[javeiro]

So instead of hardboard what should he have used?

 

[dynamictiling]

So instead of hardboard what should he have used?

If your going to the hassle of stripping all the tiles and hardboard off, use ditramatting

 

[dynamictiling]

That tile is from Turkey....that's your problem...well at least for poor joints, that stuff is never square, but as said already, sorry for your troubles but this job needs to be redone by a professional tiler. It doesn't meet coverage standards, even here in America, and we are new to this relatively speaking, so probably doesn't meet yours either.

As much as I hate the turks. Every Turkish tile I have used has been spotted on. Sizing spot on and easy to cut.

 

[SJPurdy]

I don't think that's hardboard in the pic. It looks like a piece of corrugated cardboard - probably a bit of the box that the tiles came in that was stuck to the back of the tile when it was placed onto the adhesive bed.

I can't see from the photo what the actual floor surface was before the adhesive was spread but the bedding of the tile is not satisfactory. The adhesive should as far as is reasonably possible be a solid bed with no voids - you should not be able to see the ribs of spread adhesive anymore, they should have compressed to give a solid bed -you should not be able to see the back of the lifted tile, it should all have been covered with adhesive.
That said I think there is a bigger problem here with eg movement/bounce in the substrate that has broken the adhesive bond and fractured the grout

 

[javeiro]

One of the tiles has cracked from walking on it. Grout coming out everywhere. To all you decent professional tilers I appreciate the replies on here, very educating stuff I appreciate it. Heres a video I uploaded to youtube for what it's worth. Have a good laugh
View: https://youtu.be/6wkA7jts6sg

 

[Rich Midge]

As has already been pointed there are numerous mistakes all round here. Was the adhesive used a fast set or a standard set? A standard set can be 24 hours going off, could it be that the floor was just walked on too soon and that's why the bond has broken. You also say this painter/tiler is a friend of the family,.......... still the case?!

 

[Meddler]

I hate to say it but it appears your chap has over-extended himself on your job. Did he also fit the shower enclosure as that doesn’t appear to have been sealed properly either.

I suspect he is a wanadoo painting and decorator (as opposed to being formally trained / self taught) as if he had worked on sites with other trades he should have had a greater awareness of the issues. It wouldn’t surprise me if he can “paint” but is clueless regarding preparation and compatibility of paints.

The guys have already given reasons for why the tiles have not stuck – and would need to inspect the floor to confirm the reasons. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that the whole floor needs to come up (don’t let him convince you otherwise) and appropriate treatment and adhesives used for whatever sub-strata you have. If he is unaware of the general issues (I expect you will now have more knowledge than he does) don’t use him anymore and get someone in that knows what he is doing.

 

[SJPurdy]

Was the adhesive used a fast set or a standard set? A standard set can be 24 hours going off, could it be that the floor was just walked on too soon and that's why the bond has broken.

Very good point (which I didn't think of). If it was slow set then not suitable for walking on after 12 hours (as stated in the video clip). The fixings was still very poor though.

 

[javeiro]

Thanks for replies, I agree it appears he has over extended himself. My dad paid him £1000 up front before he started for the materials. Dad member owes him £1250, but i am thinking of deducting the price of the floor from his pay. Is this the best way to go about it? Once again thanks for the help here.

 

[Italy]

I I would pay him a plane flight to Sicily.
at least be sure that do not more damage ..........
what a disgrace

 

[Rich Midge]

Very good point (which I didn't think of). If it was slow set then not suitable for walking on after 12 hours (as stated in the video clip). The fixings was still very poor though.

Couldn't agree more, the whole job is a shambles. Can't help but feel sorry for the fella, sometimes being loyal to a family friend isn't the way to go. Probably thought he was doing him a favour by employing him and keeping any money within a circle of friends. Real shame.