Hi,
We recently remodeled our kitchen and hired a contractor to do the job. We have a open kitchen with tile floor that connects to the living room wood floor. However, after a few months of use, the tile and grout in the kitchen is starting to come loose and the floor seems to be shifting as well and making a slight cracking sound every time you make step. We asked our contractor why that's happening and he couldn't give us a reason. I did some research on my own and it seems that the problem might be happening because he didn't use some kind of seperater between the tile and wood floor and now with the heat, the wood is expanding causing the tiles to shift. Can someone please help and let me know if there is a solution to this? What can we do to stop the cracking of the grout?

Thanks,
Kitman

Yes, should have used durock or Hardie board on the wood. Probably didn't because it raised the floor too much. Wood expands much more than tile and that is what's causing the problem. Hard to correct at this stage.

Yes, should have used durock or Hardie board on the wood. Probably didn't because it raised the floor too much. Wood expands much more than tile and that is what's causing the problem. Hard to correct at this stage.

Thanks to your quick response. Yeah, at this point we are pretty frustrated and wish there was a quick and easy way to fix this problem but we know that won't be the case. Do you have any recommendations to possibly help minimize the amount of damage we are experiencing?

Thanks,

A few months? I would take him to Small Claims.
First find out what's under the tile. Also what the subfloor is. Knowing the age of the house might tell us or you can look in the basement.

A few months? I would take him to Small Claims.
First find out what's under the tile. Also what the subfloor is. Knowing the age of the house might tell us or you can look in the basement.

I think the contractor use thin set for the tiles. I'm not sure what the subfloor is.The house is built in the 1950s.

I ask because there might be a problem with what he put down under the tile, on top of the subfloor, if anything. 4 x 8 x 1/4" sheets of a substrate that he didn't leave expansion joints between, which need to be 1/8".
I would take up the loosest tile that is missing the most grout if you can.
He should have stated what he used on the contract.

Thinset is the adhesive. You cannot put tiles over wood and hope for long life.

Sorry Kitman, but a complete tear out is in your future. I can't tell what he did wrong, but obviously the job is trash.

If you'll give us details of what was done, how and with what, we can help you figure this out.

Jaz