Grout cracking round single tile on kitchen floor

[KJ08]

Hi all,
My husband recently tiled our kitchen floor using 30x30 porcelain tiles from homebase.

Our kitchen has floorboards so we used backerboard - the stuff with the foam & metal grid. He also screwed all the boards down at the joist and used flexible porcelain adhesive.

Having grouted we have one tile that seems to move up and down slightly and the grout around it keeps cracking out. :furious3:

Does anyone have any solutions - hopefully ones which avoid pulling up the whole floor! - to stop this from happening??

As you can probably tell we are not exactly experienced tilers, so apologies if any vital info has been missed.

Any suggestions gratefully received!!
Thanks
Karen

 

[Gazzer]

Seeing as this is an isolated tile i would first try replacing the tile and regrouting. It could simply be a case of the tile was fixed after the the working time of the adhesive.
When the tile is removed you will be able to see if there are any other clues as to why this happened like cracks or any other damage.
All the best

 

[KJ08]

Thanks, will try that tonight.

We'd previously scraped out the grout and replaced that but not actually changed the tile/adhesive.

Karen

 

[DHTiling]

Also karen tap on the surrounding tiles to see if you get any hollow sounds as you tap...it might be more wide spread than you think.........let us know how it goes.........

 

[KJ08]

Will do, thanks Dave.

Karen

 

[CBTC]

Karen,
What name was the backer board? With WEDI board for instance you have to use particular type adhesives to stick it to the floor, then use mechanical fixings - screws and washers.

Colin

 

[KJ08]

Hi all,
Just wanted to update, I think we have fixed the problem...
Took up the tile and the board underneath (which is WEDI) was snapped.

Luckily the floor board was over a joist so were able to fix that down more firmly laid new board and tile. Re-grouted and all is looking good so far.

Thanks for your help.

Karen.

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks karen for the update.....fingers crossed eh!!!!!!!....