D
DAK
We have had a single story extension done to our house which has left a 40M2 kitchen area which we have tiled. The problem is that the tiles and grout have cracked in line with the wooden joists which are under the floor.
In terms of the build my understanding is the following:
- Wooden joists are in place under the floor with some noggins and two areas where it is bricked to re-inforce. There is concrete underneath the joists.
- On top of the joists are insulation and then underfloor heating has been laid on top of this
- Chipboard engineering grade tongue and groove chipboard has then been put down to board out and has been screwed in (this and all of the above was the responsibility of the builder)
- The tiler has then laid and (I think) used adhesive to stick down a Ditra mat then laid the tiles on top using flexible adhesive and fully buttering the tiles.
The tiles and grout have cracked in parallel over where the joists appear to be - we now have a situation whereby the structural engineer has looked and said he doesn't think it is down to deflection from floor as the tiles are cracked along the line of the joists rather than horizontally across the tile (see pictures attached). so we are re-laying some tiles and re-testing if there was some settling movement. Personally I think the floor is a little 'bouncy' but given the structural engineer has said he doesn't think it is down to the building work the builder thinks he has delivered.
Would a layer of plywood or cement board on top of the chipboard have helped here?
Other suggestions welcome and appreciated and apologies for the long post !
In terms of the build my understanding is the following:
- Wooden joists are in place under the floor with some noggins and two areas where it is bricked to re-inforce. There is concrete underneath the joists.
- On top of the joists are insulation and then underfloor heating has been laid on top of this
- Chipboard engineering grade tongue and groove chipboard has then been put down to board out and has been screwed in (this and all of the above was the responsibility of the builder)
- The tiler has then laid and (I think) used adhesive to stick down a Ditra mat then laid the tiles on top using flexible adhesive and fully buttering the tiles.
The tiles and grout have cracked in parallel over where the joists appear to be - we now have a situation whereby the structural engineer has looked and said he doesn't think it is down to deflection from floor as the tiles are cracked along the line of the joists rather than horizontally across the tile (see pictures attached). so we are re-laying some tiles and re-testing if there was some settling movement. Personally I think the floor is a little 'bouncy' but given the structural engineer has said he doesn't think it is down to the building work the builder thinks he has delivered.
Would a layer of plywood or cement board on top of the chipboard have helped here?
Other suggestions welcome and appreciated and apologies for the long post !
