cracking tiles in bathroom

[TEZ]

Hi

I have just spent the weekend finishing off the family bathroom from its work in progress status as left by the builder, Whilst doing the final clear up ready for the unveiling I noticed a crack across the middle of one of the large rectangular floor tiles. The tiles are laid in a brickwork pattern so the path of the first crack continues through the grout of the next and then the next tile is also cracked through the middle and there is also a third one cracked.

Martyn's report (conducted in September 2007) did indicate that the flooring in the bathrooms did need some clarification with regard to construction methods and materials used, I guess this is the reult of one or both being inadequate.

The building reg drawings did also call for additional support if a bath was fitted, not sure if this is conforming either.

Any comments appreciated

Regards

[Martyn]

HI TEZ

too many bathroom floors on the first floor are simply tiled straight onto the chipboard flooring.

new homes can move and settle in the first few months and this can often cause problems with tiling in bathrooms

the problems are two fold
1, lack of a sub floor...either plywood (nhbc preferred option or a ditramat flexible mat)
2, the adhesive and the grout must also be flexible

the consequences are cracking through the tiles (not the joints) but actually the tile becomes the weaker material

baths ....yes they should be battoned out under the legs .....usual to see a bit of skirting used ...so check this has been done
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[TEZ]

so who's responsibility should it be to correct the cracked tiles?

The belief is that all of the first floor boards have not beenfixed properly or glued together, obviously I wont know for sure until some boards are lifted.

Regards

[Martyn]

sorry tez...

my answer did not go back far enough in the construction cycle to answer your question

so here goes....

in my opinion chipboard flooring should always be glued along its edges and screwed down to the joists....many builders forget to or cant be bothered to glue.

if the flooring is'nt screwed it should be nailed , with the nails going in at opposing angles.... so as not to allow the floor to lift.....but you guessed it ...using a nail gun it takes a little more effort to do it at an angle , so most get nailed vertically and hence the floor can rise.

if the flooring was poorly protected from the elements during construction then it can have a high water content ...and chip board does not like water at the best of times ....and swells.

the cracked tiles then are the builders fault ......as they would be a direct result of laying on an unprepared or poorly laid floor .....depending on the cicumstances outlined in this or the previous advice
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[TEZ]

Thank you Martyn

Another one to add to the list, I think that will be number 318.

Regards

[PhilW]

Take off your bath panel and you may be able to have a look and see if any ply overlay have been used and maybe even the type of adhesive as this should protrude under you bath.

That is unless you have one of those ..... standing open baths on legs.

Martyn, all builders use glue for the chipboard joints - some just dont use enough or just do the top edge of the tongue.
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[TEZ]

I have a bath that stands in a cradle, so I cant see whats underneath. The surveyor that has prepared the report on my house believes that the boards either havn't been fixed/glued or both throughout the upstairs.

[Martyn]

its been my experience unfortunatley that joints do get missed...i am saying that they do on every site ....

creaking and rising floor boards are one of my pet hates...so i am always on the look out of good glueing , nailing and screwing where it can be identified.

ive even seen floors going in without the protective ..... on for weather protection....completley open to the elements until the roof goes on ....

ive seen floors covered in water rain getting in through windows where floor has been put in after roof went on

theres a whole range of skills in builders and managers out there ...some i would not give a minutes time to ...

some just dont understand how things are done on a larger scale, some are just extension bodgers
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