Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    cjacks's Avatar
    cjacks Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Mar 5, 2007, 08:50 PM
    Lots of Cracking in Floor Grout; New Home
    My mom's new home has a lot of cracking in the grout between the large tiles through out the house. Is this a sign of a big problem?
    Thanks!
    nmwirez's Avatar
    nmwirez Posts: 453, Reputation: 20
    Full Member
    		  
    #2

    Mar 5, 2007, 10:07 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by cjacks
    My mom's new home has a lot of cracking in the grout 1.How wide is the grout spacing and what kind of grout was used?(sanded or premix acrylic) between the large tiles through out the house.2.What size are the tiles and have any of them cracked? Is this a sign of a big problem?

    Depends.... if cracks are fine and consistent throughout the house, this may be a bad mix and shrinkage cracking. If these cracks separate the tiles in a lengthy sawtooth jagged fashion and are tilted, then this may need real attention to subfloor conditions. 4. Is the tile on a slab floor? 5. Is the subfloor wood? 6. what was the scratch coat surface or was any mortar coat used, and how thick?
    Thanks!
    Sometimes an installer will put down tile using only a mastic to the subfloor and then grout the tiles with a fine non-sanded premix. (like toothpaste) This is not a recommended approach and can have the above results described. Give an idea of the details above, answers may come forth. :D nm
    j buchanan's Avatar
    j buchanan Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Mar 20, 2007, 12:56 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by cjacks
    My mom's new home has a lot of cracking in the grout between the large tiles through out the house. Is this a sign of a big problem?
    Thanks!
    If house is that new, then yes it could be a big problem. Contact builder w/ in the 1st year for that should be a warranty issue. Depending on the state you live. Is the subfloor wood/ concrete. The thinset used may not have been for that app.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #4

    Mar 20, 2007, 01:04 PM
    This sounds like a bad installation. We would need to know more info to answer you better but I would most definitely call the builder and demand a cure. What is the sub floor? Mud, plywood,hardibacker?
    glavine's Avatar
    glavine Posts: 895, Reputation: 87
    Senior Member
    		  
    #5

    May 19, 2007, 11:02 AM
    It Possible That The Installer Didn't Nail Or Screw The Subfloor Down And Your Getting Movement, Also If He Used Mastic Instead Of Thinset. That Is Also A Problem And This Is Why Mastic Is For 6x6 And 4x4 Wall Tile If You Use It On The Floor It Want Dry, The Tile Will Float Against The Grout Showing Cracks.
    Most Likely The Floor Had Some Humps In It Or The Floor Isn't Fastned Down. Does The Floor Squeak? If So There Is The Problem
    And To Fix That You'll Have To Pull The Floor Up,
    Hope This Helps, Nichols Trim And Carpentry
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Loud cracking noise under ceramic tiles on concrete slab floor. [ 1 Answers ]

Hi, I live in Florida and my home was built in 1994. Last night I was woken up by a very loud cracking noise under my floor tiles in the laundry room off the garage. None of the tiles broke,but now when I walk on them it sounds like there is loose mortar underneath them. My question is... what...

New home cracking! [ 4 Answers ]

Im not sure if this is the right place fore this post... but here goes. We bought this house in September. It was a new home built on an existing foundation (old home burned down). Now normally I have been told of the "settling" that's to occur, But should everyjoint in the home be literally...

Old home floor heater [ 2 Answers ]

Hello, my mom lives in Fresno Ca, she has a floor heater, on both sides of the wall, probably 1950 ish, makes lots of noise, she is worried about it, pg@e comes out every year to check it, can it be replaced with a new one, and if yes, where does she call ? Thank you. John

Shower floor tile and grout remain wet looking [ 1 Answers ]

I have a new shower with 2X2 marble slate flooring. After each shower I take an area of "wet looking" tile and grout expands. I read up on it and seem to think that the drain weep holes may be clogged but my contractor doesn't think so (but hasn't checked to see which would mean taking out the...

Shower tile floor and grout remains wet looking [ 1 Answers ]

I have a new shower with 2X2s marble floor tile. Every time we take a shower an area of dark, wet looking tile and grout expands. Soon my entire floor will look that way. I've done some research and think that the drain weep holes may be clogged causing water accumulation to saturate my floor...

View more questions Search