Comments on: Why is my Floor Grout Cracking? http://floorelf.com/why-is-my-floorgrout-cracking Help with all your tile needs (and extreme jackassery!) Sat, 19 May 2012 21:56:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Roger http://floorelf.com/why-is-my-floorgrout-cracking/comment-page-4#comment-11563 Roger Tue, 15 May 2012 00:49:23 +0000 http://floorelf.com/?p=646#comment-11563 Hey Joey, The particular type of thinset and grout rarely have anything to do with it - it is all due to the installation method. When properly installed you can (literally) drive a forklift - or a Boeing 747 over it and it won't crack. The washer is not to blame. It really sounds to me as if he did not install thinset beneath the backerboard. If that's the case then yes, the washer can work the floor loose enough to cause movement. The movement is causing the cracking grout, unbonded tile is causing the creaking (assuming it's actually more of a 'crunching'). If there is not thinset beneath the backerboard that floor will not remain bonded over the long-term, no matter what type of thinset and grout he uses under the tile. An installation is dependent upon the substrate - that begins at the plywood under the backer. Hey Joey,

The particular type of thinset and grout rarely have anything to do with it – it is all due to the installation method. When properly installed you can (literally) drive a forklift – or a Boeing 747 over it and it won’t crack. The washer is not to blame.

It really sounds to me as if he did not install thinset beneath the backerboard. If that’s the case then yes, the washer can work the floor loose enough to cause movement. The movement is causing the cracking grout, unbonded tile is causing the creaking (assuming it’s actually more of a ‘crunching’). If there is not thinset beneath the backerboard that floor will not remain bonded over the long-term, no matter what type of thinset and grout he uses under the tile. An installation is dependent upon the substrate – that begins at the plywood under the backer.

]]> By: Joey shetty http://floorelf.com/why-is-my-floorgrout-cracking/comment-page-4#comment-11538 Joey shetty Sun, 13 May 2012 13:47:50 +0000 http://floorelf.com/?p=646#comment-11538 Hello Roger, We have a new build. We selected large rectified porcelain tiles (12x 24 for bathrooms and 18x 18 for kitchen. Right from the beginning the grout has been cracking and the tiles creak when we moved over it. The tile layer came back and pried out some tiles and regrouted them. I know he used backerboard and thin set during installtion. When he came back to reset it he used a different thinset and grout because he thought it would work better. it did not solve th problem and continues to crack and move. We have a laundry room on the first floor that has LG washer that vibrates during the spin cycle. The whole house feels the vibration and you can feel it in the floor joists. Do you think this could be making the floor or tiles move and causing the problem? Please advice. Hello Roger,
We have a new build. We selected large rectified porcelain tiles (12x 24 for bathrooms and 18x 18 for kitchen. Right from the beginning the grout has been cracking and the tiles creak when we moved over it. The tile layer came back and pried out some tiles and regrouted them. I know he used backerboard and thin set during installtion. When he came back to reset it he used a different thinset and grout because he thought it would work better. it did not solve th problem and continues to crack and move. We have a laundry room on the first floor that has LG washer that vibrates during the spin cycle. The whole house feels the vibration and you can feel it in the floor joists. Do you think this could be making the floor or tiles move and causing the problem? Please advice.

]]> By: Roger http://floorelf.com/why-is-my-floorgrout-cracking/comment-page-4#comment-11528 Roger Sat, 12 May 2012 20:47:47 +0000 http://floorelf.com/?p=646#comment-11528 Hey Jim, Dry grout may be the cause, but it's rare. More often than not it is either improperly bonded tile or a substrate which is not properly supported (no thinset beneath the backer). There is no way to remove tile which is properly bonded - it'll come up in pieces. If it is not bonded well you may be able to pry it up with a screwdriver. You'll likely need to replace the tile. Hey Jim,

Dry grout may be the cause, but it’s rare. More often than not it is either improperly bonded tile or a substrate which is not properly supported (no thinset beneath the backer). There is no way to remove tile which is properly bonded – it’ll come up in pieces. If it is not bonded well you may be able to pry it up with a screwdriver. You’ll likely need to replace the tile.

]]>