I have done a 400sqm porcelain floor.
18mm ply has gone down onto joists with 300mm centres
Plywood primed
Ditra down with Ardex af200
Flexible adhesive ontop of the ditra.

Im getting a clicking sound when we walk over the floor for some reason and i havent a clue what it would be. Its not over the whole floor just every now and then
Has anyone else had this happen? Or what it would be.

Also the tiles are starting to get hairline cracks through them.

Don't use the artex stuff so can't comment on the addy, Not a sound I would want to be hearing, The cracking is sure sign somethinks moving

could be something to do with the ply not been screwed don securely m8.I take it the joists were sound before work commenced?

POssibly the clicking noise is the edge of the ply, imagine a laminate floor layed with no expansion gaps and it rubs on the edge of the wall giving a clicking noise, possibly. As for the cracks definetly movement, is it just the glaze cracking or the whole tile, if the latter then the word bugger springs to mind.

Is it that artificial hip joint you had done last year?

Or a stone in your shoe

Originally Posted by JIMBOB187

POssibly the clicking noise is the edge of the ply, imagine a laminate floor layed with no expansion gaps and it rubs on the edge of the wall giving a clicking noise, possibly. As for the cracks definetly movement, is it just the glaze cracking or the whole tile, if the latter then the word bugger springs to mind.

They are fine cracks. there have been alot of builders with heavy pallet trollys going over the floor doing there rubbish runs. Could this also be a considering factor?

The ply was already done when we arrived.

I would, what would be the best way to go about how to finding the problem?
1) Contact schulter about the ditra
2) Contact tile manufacture to come and have a look
3) start pulling tiles up and inspecting the ply wood base

Originally Posted by tilelover

They are fine cracks. there have been alot of builders with heavy pallet trollys going over the floor doing there rubbish runs. Could this also be a considering factor?

The ply was already done when we arrived.

I would, what would be the best way to go about how to finding the problem?
1) Contact schulter about the ditra
2) Contact tile manufacture to come and have a look
3) start pulling tiles up and inspecting the ply wood base

What was your reasoning for the ditra? it doesn't add strength to the floor.

clicking sound is usually loose tiles, anybody been walking on them before they were set ??

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

What was your reasoning for the ditra? it doesn't add strength to the floor.

To stop any chance of tiles cracking. I thought putting this down, i would have a much greater chance than putting it down straight onto the ply.
The way i understand it, if the floor was to move underneath the ditra would take the strain of it.
I understand that the floor cant move up and down like a yo yo, but if it was to move a few mm here and there then it would be ok.

Not with you on this "i would have a much greater chance than putting it down straight onto the ply". Where did you put the ditra, Unless I've misunderstood somethink

Originally Posted by whitebeam

Not with you on this "i would have a much greater chance than putting it down straight onto the ply". Where did you put the ditra, Unless I've misunderstood somethink

Ditra has been laid ontop of the ply

Unless it's somethink wrong with the ply as you stated it was already down or an army of labour marching over to soon as mentioned earlier

Originally Posted by whitebeam

Not with you on this "i would have a much greater chance than putting it down straight onto the ply". Where did you put the ditra, Unless I've misunderstood somethink

Sorry meant to say "i would have a much greater chance of the tiles not cracking and using the ditra than putting the tile down straight onto the ply".

PHEW

did you allow a 3mm gap between the sheets of ply when they were installed how did you adhere the ditra matting to the ply? did you flat the ditra matting off with rapid set then allow this to dry then tile ?or did you tile straght on to the ditra matting with rapid set? what size notched trowel did you use ?

Are you 100% sure the builders had ALL the ply joints right on the joists?
Something is moving..........either A joist or a ply join.

Are the hairline cracks in a straight-ish line?

Originally Posted by tilelover

Sorry meant to say "i would have a much greater chance of the tiles not cracking and using the ditra than putting the tile down straight onto the ply".

Ditra will only help with lateral movement, it will not help at all with deflection. If the ditra deflects even a couple of mm I suspect your tiles will crack.