trouble with encaustic tiles cracking.

[John P]

We have recently had laid a kitchen floor with encaustic tiles from fired earth (20mm x 200 x 200), they went down on a stable slab that had had tiles on before. the encaustic tiles have cracked in places almost along contour lines, in multi directions. They are still in place, but deteriorating, has anyone had trouble with encaustic cracking? we are in a strange triangle between our builder, sub contractor and tile provider. Experience and anecdote welcome. Many thanks

 

[Dan]

Welcome to tilersforums.com | Tile Forums | Tiling Forum!

Welcome to tilersforums.com John P. Thanks for introducing yourself.

 

[mikethetile]

welcome to tilers forum John

what adhesive was used and were they laid on a solid bed

 

[John P]

Hi,
solid bed - yes, adhesive brought by the tiler, would have to inquire further as to make and brand.

 

[suave]

:welcome:

 

[DHTiling]

Hello John and welcome...

We could do with knowing what adhesive was used.. and maybe some pics please..

Do the cracks form a certain repeat pattern or are they random... was the slab cracked before hand..?,,,I say slab.. it was concrete.?

How old is the floor.?.. any under tile heating.?

 

[John P]

I will post pics later - I have to go out now, thanks for your thoughts so far. there is no underfloor heating, the concrete is before 1970's extension - tiler 'levelled' before laying. it was mid summer and hot.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

:welcome:will look forward to more info, pics maybe?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Not quite sure about the term 'contour lines' - encaustic is a liquid cement and should therefore be flat on the surface!

 

[CJ]

How thick was the levelling compound? Did the tiler prime the floor before levelling.

Possibly not......and then the hot weather dried it out tooo quickly.

Can you lift a tile to investigate???

 

[John P]

encaustic tiles cracking: Pictures of the floor in question
pics of the floor in question.
If we lift a tile - then that's the lot coming up, and want to know who is at fault... thanks for thoughts so far - the 'contour' is slight - it is flat, but micro deviations that the tiles seem to have snapped around, and settled. still don't know the adhesive make. the levelling was from 0 - 15mm in some areas/

someone mentioned expansion joints, tiles go as far as just under base units but not to walls of room - tile edge to walls was concrete.

 

[DHTiling]

Looking at the pics... it is a similar pattern to what SLC makes when it fails..

The pattern of the cracks is what i mentioned earlier and it seems to confirm the SLC has failed underneath and stress cracks have transferred to the tiles..

 

[Perry]

if it has come through as stress cracks because of the slc i presume the tiles will be hollow and if one would take a tile should it come up easy ? never had much to do with encaustic tiles that i can remember but had a lot to do with fired earth in the past and always found them ready to blame everybody else and never take responsibility them selfs IMO

 

[Richard Edwards]

I'm puzzled as to why you or Fired Earth are reffering to these tiles as Encaustic Tiles ? Encaustics are normally a two or more coloured tiles ie Victorian Encaustics where the coloured (up to 6 different colours on the same tile) design is made throughout the surface of the tile using different coloured clays and slips in the firing process.

Are these tiles Unglazed Porcelain or Unglazed Clay Tiles in one colour.

 

[Richard Edwards]

These tiles are Not Encaustic Tiles - Check Wikipedia

Not that this helps with the problem - Lift a couple and the reason will be obivous -

Suggest a joint meeting at a specific time and all parties involved stand around the tiles and lift a couple. No argument then ! Hope all envolved are professional and responsible and if so the guilty will hold hand up and offer to fix it.

Sorry with two separate messages - hit the Return button by mistake !!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Although I would agree with your definition of encaustic they do make these tiles in plain colours to compliment some of their more elaborate patterns.
However unless the process has changed 20mm thick is somewhat thin for an encaustic!


Just been on their website - looks a though its Verdigris and its 18mm thick!

 

[Spud]

were the tiles totally dipped in sealer/impregnatorr before they were fitted ?

 

[Spud]

Encaustic cement tiles manufacturer, traditional European floor tiles from the XX century. Mosaic Tiles all the info you need on these tiles should be available on this link

 

[John P]

the tiles are one colour - made this way
"
Fired Earth Encaustic tiles are produced using a technique similar to marquetry, except the local Alentejo marble, coloured with oxides, is still in a semi liquid state while the design is formed. As a result of this process the designs exhibit a characteristic 'soft merging' of colopur areas: very much in keeping with the antique classical idiom. A sand and cement backing is then applied to the underside to produce the finished tile."


the tiles were not imersed in sealer - sand and cement backed.

http://www.firedearthshop.com/epage...tic_Quarry_&_Porcelain/Encaustic&PageSize=200