what do i do now?! - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

pursedog · 18-07-2007

completed my first job yeasterday... or so i thought.
was called back because the 'ganfix flexible' grey grout i used was different shades and cracks were appearing already!
went from feeling great to ****e.
i had to lay the tiles on chipboard and was unable to remove all the addhesive which was there already. thought i had put enough 'granfix ultimateflex' down but with cracks appearing that means movement yeah?
went back today and re grouted again but as i was finishing up and the grout was drying i noticed cracks again!!

prob gonna receive call tomo morn. wat do i do and say now?
will i have to take up all tiles with cracks around them and reset again!!??
help, first job nightmare

**enduro** · 18-07-2007

sounds like you could of mixed the grout to wet, has it got underfloor heating, and did you prime the chipboard.

Dave-T · 18-07-2007

Unfortunatly, if the tiles come up, you have little option but to redo it

If your tiling onto chipboard, you really should have put tile backerboards down first. Also, i know its more expensive, but for movement floors, just stick with bal fastflex. Its so much better than any other flex adhesive. Another thing to bear in mind for the future... (this goes for bal grouts anyway), Normal Grout with GT1, is much more flexible than the standard superflex.
I allways use GT1+grout and fastflex on wooden floors, and if at all possible lay dukkaboard.
This way ive never had problems... but wooden floors are never easy. I wish i could offer you an easy way out. But the best i can suggest, is remove the cracked tiles, and regrout with a GT1 mix, and lay them on fastflex.

**Dave** · 18-07-2007

hi pursedog mate you should really have checked the substrate for any movement and secured it down before tiling, how long was it before you told customer they could walk on floor, if walked on to early this would have caused the inital cracking of the grout, as for differnet shades in the grout did you mix grout properly, i.e correct ratio of powder to ratio of water as defined on grout bag, mixing to dry could also have caused this... and also did you fill joints when grouting leaving no voids in joints etc... hope this helps ....dave..

**Varley** · 18-07-2007

I would have overlayed the chipboard with ply or backerboard, secured properly would have taken all movement out of floor.

18-07-2007

I'd guess that either the grout wasn't mixed to the correct consistency or too much water was introduced during the washing down process. I 'm guessing this as the grout dried different colours as well as cracked.

**guy1976** · 18-07-2007

dont use granfix grey flexable grout its crap used it once customer supplied mats dried different shades all over floor

pursedog · 18-07-2007

cheers for advice guys.
if i have to remove the tiles where cracking appears can i use a different grey grout or will i have to re- do the whole lot?
also how should i handle the customer?! cause she must think i'm a rookie cowboy!

GazTech · 18-07-2007

[quote=pursedog;17760]completed my first job yeasterday... or so i thought.
was called back because the 'ganfix flexible' grey grout i used was different shades and cracks were appearing already!
went from feeling great to ****e.
i had to lay the tiles on chipboard and was unable to remove all the addhesive which was there already. thought i had put enough 'granfix ultimateflex' down but with cracks appearing that means movement yeah?
went back today and re grouted again but as i was finishing up and the grout was drying i noticed cracks again!!:(
prob gonna receive call tomo morn. wat do i do and say now?
will i have to take up all tiles with cracks around them and reset again!!??
help, first job nightmare:wilted_rose:[/quote]not getting old adhesive up will hamper full coverage,firstly prep should have been more thorough,two part flex was the right thing,was it primed with acrylic primer not PVA,and grout should have been flexible wide joint and GT1 is the best.Remove tiles where there are grout cracks,fix back down with BAL fastflex,and add GT1 to your origional grout best of luck PD,next time ask us here on the best way for those kind of jobs[IMG]http://www.tilersforums.co.uk/images/icons/icon14.gif[/IMG]

tjsmiler · 19-07-2007

Pursedog....don't worry about the customer, this is your chance to show what a great tradesman you are...... Re-assure them that although a problem has arrose you are in no way going to do a runner and let them deal with it, you will take complete charge of the situation and will get it sorted out 100% and you will do this free of charge ( you may not want to mate but if it's your early days you are better off doing that, boosting your reputation and gaining valuable experience rather than a pound note)

Tell them you can't entirly explain what has happened but sometimes the materials we use FAIL..... just like sometimes you can by a brand new car and 1 month down the road it burtst into flames, sometimes we purchase grouts or cements that have been manufactured badly, this is out of your hands and over the years has only happened to you a couple of times (over the years!!! reminds them that you are a pro mate) but make it very clear that although it is an inconvenience for them you don't want them to stay awake at night worrying about it...............because Pursedog has a great reputation and sorting out problems free of charge is one of the reasons you come so highly reccomended by others.....

Hope this helps mate and remember that life is one big blag lol

TJ

GazLC81 · 19-07-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjsmiler

Pursedog....don't worry about the customer, this is your chance to show what a great tradesman you are...... Re-assure them that although a problem has arrose you are in no way going to do a runner and let them deal with it, you will take complete charge of the situation and will get it sorted out 100% and you will do this free of charge ( you may not want to mate but if it's your early days you are better off doing that, boosting your reputation and gaining valuable experience rather than a pound note)

Tell them you can't entirly explain what has happened but sometimes the materials we use FAIL..... just like sometimes you can by a brand new car and 1 month down the road it burtst into flames, sometimes we purchase grouts or cements that have been manufactured badly, this is out of your hands and over the years has only happened to you a couple of times (over the years!!! reminds them that you are a pro mate) but make it very clear that although it is an inconvenience for them you don't want them to stay awake at night worrying about it...............because Pursedog has a great reputation and sorting out problems free of charge is one of the reasons you come so highly reccomended by others.....

Hope this helps mate and remember that life is one big blag lol

TJ

Almost profound!

He is right too! Just another thing, i was told on my course that you should mix the grout every now and then while using it as the colour can drop to the bottom, not sure if this is true or not. I used BAL on my own floor in similar circumstances to the one you are in. It hasn't cracked and is all the same colour. BAL is top stuffand I only use it as I know it won't fail me.

Hope you get it sorted mate, don't let it knock your confidence too much. Something like this will happen to us all at some point, just unlucky it is your first job.

Let us know what happens mate.

Gaz

tjsmiler · 19-07-2007

Always be one step ahead mate................turn everything bad into something good....it's so easy once you start doing it......there is not one single situation you cannot make yourself look good out of

TJ