cracked tiles due to cooker heat. - TilersForums.com

[Sean Kelly]

I’ve got a customer that had his kitchen tiled only 2 years ago. The tiles at the back of the cooker are cracked and discoloured due to the heat generated by their massive 6 ring gas cooker, and the grease from cooking. At the time he asked the tiler for epoxy grout, but the tiler just grouted with flexible grout.

The customer now wants the tiling done again. Some tiles are cracked, do you think I should use porcelain tiles with epoxy grout?

Also, the previous tiler ran a grout line where the floor changes from a timber substrate to a concrete one. I am guessing that all I can do is scrape out the grout and regrout with superflex w/j grout. I know that this will not be a permanent solution but will it be ok to do?

One more thing. I’ve just been on the Topps website and they are selling an epoxy grout float. I don’t need a special float.......do I?

Thanks
Sean

 

[DHTiling]

Are they are heavy glazed tile that is on..?

It could be glaze crazing and not cracked tiles....worth a thought when advising in the future...

 

[Sean Kelly]

Are they are heavy glazed tile that is on..?

Dave, yes, I believe that it is the glaze on the tile that has cracked. That is why I thought that a non glazed porcelain tile might be harder wearing.

 

[DHTiling]

YEP..porcelain can take more heat than cheapo ceramics....

 

[Olz]

You could also fill the expansion joint left by the previous tiler with silicone that matches the grout colour

 

[grumpygrouter]

....and if you go down the epoxy route, you need to use a hard rubber float!!

 

[doug boardley]

I’ve got a customer that had his kitchen tiled only 2 years ago. The tiles at the back of the cooker are cracked and discoloured due to the heat generated by their massive 6 ring gas cooker, and the grease from cooking. At the time he asked the tiler for epoxy grout, but the tiler just grouted with flexible grout.

The customer now wants the tiling done again. Some tiles are cracked, do you think I should use porcelain tiles with epoxy grout?

Also, the previous tiler ran a grout line where the floor changes from a timber substrate to a concrete one. I am guessing that all I can do is scrape out the grout and regrout with superflex w/j grout. I know that this will not be a permanent solution but will it be ok to do?

One more thing. I’ve just been on the Topps website and they are selling an epoxy grout float. I don’t need a special float.......do I?

Thanks
Sean

Sean, Tiles are fired at a far higher temperature than a cooker will transfer onto a splashback, my guess is that the substrate, rather than the tiles and adhesive, has failed thus leading to more movement than the tiles will tolerate and therefore cracking them