underfloor heating......do I have a potential problem ?

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

Hi All

I recently had my home refurbished which included the majority of downstairs with UFH and a tiled surface.

There was the membrane for the UFH (a red plastic tray) placed everywhere downstairs and then the pipe laid in situ, then the screed and 3 weeks later the Ditramat or similar (was yellow) went down then the tile on top of that (600x600 porcelin)

the floor looks lovely and the UFH is excellent, its just over the last month i have noticed that certain tiles seem to creak....sounds like grit rubbing together in your hands and this has spread to other areas.....

is this me just being paranoid and this is natural movment as and when the heating goes through its daily cycle or not ? it's worth mentioning that the hallway which is also part of the downstairs area that is tiled does not have UFH and none of these tiles move.

any input appreciated from you pros before i speak to my tiler.

thanks

joe

**Dan** · 14-12-2010

Sounds like they're starting to de-bond to me, sorry to say that! Tiles shouldn't creak even with UFH. The expansion and retraction shouldn't be noticeable, it's a tiny amount but enough to fail if the wrong gear has been used.

Do you know what adhesive was used, and if the floor was commissioned before tiling?

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

i know that the heating was not turned on until the tiling was all done

what would be the wrong gear for example ? i'm not sure what adhesive was used

will this only get worse or ?

**Dave** · 14-12-2010

Hi Joe..

Can i ask what screed it was please..?

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

hi dave

im sorry i really would not know....what type should it be or do you mean thickness...not sure on that either

**Dave** · 14-12-2010

Was it a cement based screed as in laid and troweled out.. or was it a poured wet screed.?

**Sir Ramic** · 14-12-2010

Was the heating commisioned ( Run up to temp and back down) before tiling ?

**Dan** · 14-12-2010

Probably only get worse to be honest yeah. Wrong adhesive would be something not flexible. Doesn't sound like it's just grout issue either. If the floor is huge and no expansion joints have been used you may get away with putting some in now. That's a long shot and it's only if that is actually the problem.

You shouldn't turn on the heating right after the tiling is done, it needs a couple of weeks to really cure before turning it on. And when you do turn it on you're meant to gradually build the heat up and then gradually turn it down each day so it's expanded and restracted to it's fullest extend. And only then should you use it as you would want to, on and off each day.

Screeds are out of my league but Dave's spot on with 'em. And we have a member on here who works for Lafarge and they're all about screeds! So I'm sure we'll be able to help find the issue, but I don't think we'll manage to stop you re-tiling it the right way and / or with the right gear.

Got any adhesive bags lying around somewhere still by chance?

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

yes laid down and trowled came on a tipper lorry...put on the drive and barrowed it in

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

Originally Posted by Sir Ramic

Was the heating commisioned ( Run up to temp and back down) before tiling ?

no 100% not

**jonjo** · 14-12-2010

Originally Posted by Dan

Probably only get worse to be honest yeah. Wrong adhesive would be something not flexible. Doesn't sound like it's just grout issue either. If the floor is huge and no expansion joints have been used you may get away with putting some in now. That's a long shot and it's only if that is actually the problem.

You shouldn't turn on the heating right after the tiling is done, it needs a couple of weeks to really cure before turning it on. And when you do turn it on you're meant to gradually build the heat up and then gradually turn it down each day so it's expanded and restracted to it's fullest extend. And only then should you use it as you would want to, on and off each day.

Screeds are out of my league but Dave's spot on with 'em. And we have a member on here who works for Lafarge and they're all about screeds! So I'm sure we'll be able to help find the issue, but I don't think we'll manage to stop you re-tiling it the right way and / or with the right gear.

Got any adhesive bags lying around somewhere still by chance?

its 100sqm in total and is in one continuous run (kitchen through hall to l/room into diner) all ditra matted which the tiler said expelled the need for expansion joints ??

it had about 2 weeks after tiling done until heating was turned on.

i burnt all the bags !! bugger.....i remember them being white and blue with coloured stripes in the corner or something like that

**Dave** · 14-12-2010

Originally Posted by jonjo

yes laid down and trowled came on a tipper lorry...put on the drive and barrowed it in

Ok Cement based screed, then your issue is more than likely a non-commissioned floor as Neale has stated .. This can cause thermal shock to the adhesive bed and this in turn can De-bond from the substrate,, so what you have is the matting floating in areas on the substrate.. this might not be any more now than this crunching sound you have..but it is still worth calling back your installer..