Hello,

2 months ago in our new extension we had new ceramic floor tiles in our kitchen's wooden ply floor. Recently first we started hearing popping noise where one of us was standing it did few times when we moved our location. Then it stopped and now occasionally we hear a loud popping noise. Today I have noticed near the washing machine area there is a crack in the grout (not in the tile). My question is why is this happening? And is this a serious problem which will need major work? Or they can be repaired easily? Is this the tile adhesive underneath the tiles, which is cracking?

I live in Greenford in England. Weather has been fluctuating between cold and mild temperatures. Apparently problem is located in one area only.Any help will be appreciated

Many thanks

If your saying the tile was put down over the plywood floor - without backer board - then yes you have a problem. The flooring will flex and eventually the tiles will crack or break loose - or both.

Thought the same thing. Wrong on the get go. There lies the question why was backer board made in the first place. Exactly because its needed for flooring along with walls.

Basic tile history. Set on a sub straight with little or no movement. "Concrete surfaces." wonder/backer board Concrete/cement board.

Signed 21 Boat

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You are not going to be happy. You will not be able to save the floor. Glue/quick set will not stick very long to plywood. You will end up ripping up the floor and replacing it.

Bad installation is seldom repairable. I would demand that the installer come back and fix the problem properly. I don't know at this point exactly how the installation was done, you may even have a corner of plywood raising up. Here is what should have been done. 3/4 plywood glued and screwed to the joists followed by 1/4" Hardiebacker board also glued and screwed. Ply is glued with construction adhesive, backer board is glued with modified thinset, same stuff used for the tiles. I think you have a total failure where little materials can be saved.