Help!: problems with recently laid floor, tiles cracking or working loose

[endurorally]

Hi All
I need some advice.
We have recently had a large kitchen extension built which involved the knocking though of two rooms and a large new section. Total area is 45m square. The new section has a concrete block and beam floor. In one of the original rooms the existing screed floor was dug out and a leveller applied to get it approximately level with the rest of the extension. Whilst the last remaining section was left as existing screed floor. Electric heat mats were laid throughout the area and a levelling solution was applied over the heat mats. Due to fact the floor was still relatively uneven and in some parts the electric heat mat was still exposed, the tiling contractors said that they were going to have to use a "spot and dab" method to achieve a level floor and not damage the heat mats.
The tiles are ceramic, 560 x 310mm laid in brick style.
The floor is very level and looks good, however three months later a couple of tiles have cracked exposing holes underneath and in another area the tiles are beginning to work loose. Tapping a number of tiles they sound quite hollow and I am worried that I may experience several more loose or cracking tiles over a period of time.
What is the best way to proceed? The tilers were recommended by my builder (his brothers!) Who do you think is at fault? Should the builder have made more effort to make the floor level in the first place and cover all of the heat mat? The adhesive is up to 30mm thick in places. Should all the hollow sounding tiles by pulled up and re-laid?

Help!

[Dave]

Hello and welcome..


Sorry to say that that fixing method is not an industry standard and hence you have problems... floors should be solid bed fixed and not spot fixed..

I suggest you call back your installer.

[diamondtiling]

As above your tiles have been incorrectly fixed. What adhesive and self leveller were used? I ask because it should have been a flexible varient and if not then you will face further problems.
Did you do any research into the tilers past work?

[pjc]

I would of thought if the builders and tilers are at fault and I would think you will other problems if they have laid your floor as you have described and I wouldn't think they have the knowledge to put it right I would suggest you need professional maybe legal help first where are in the uk ?

[pjc]

Thought you lot would have in in bed it takes to long to type on this iPad lol

[Daz]

An incorrect fixing method has been used and as Dave advised, you need to discuss this with the installers.

If there has been 2 separate pours of levelling compound the floor should have been fairly flat, so has the installer tried to bring it up to level rather than leaving it flat? (there is a difference). The bottom line is that an experienced tiler will advise if a floor is not suitably prepared and suitable for tiling prior to commencement.

It sounds as though further preparation work should have been carried out before tiling commenced, IMO.

[hillhead]

There will be no end to problems on that floor, most adhesives are in no way meant to be built to 30mm either.
As Dave above said, solid bed fixing required.
The heating mat should have been covered too.
With so many air pockets under your tiles too the heat distribution is totally wrong.

[jay]

as above and sorry to say only one fix
rip it all up and start again

[nybor62]

as all above wrong fixing method used , what the point of using slc to level floor ,then dot and dabbing tiles to get it level
crazy , get the tilers back to sought it out ,as for heating matt it should have been fully coverd with slc , as you say parts of matt were exsposed , then they dot and dabb over it , the matt may burn out if not full covered

[Bathfix Bob]

I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of that phone call, its going to cost them a fortune to sort it.

Best time to ring will be about 10:00am on Tuesday, don't give them bad news like this in the evening!

You are well within your rights to call them back, don't feel guilty!

Good luck.

[Del W]

You need to get the "tilers" back to redo the floor.Dot & dabbing is a quick fix that quickly goes wrong.All the advice youll need is on this site,keep updating as im sure they will be telling you there only going to replace the bad tiles,and no more will go wrong.Welcome to TF.

[endurorally]

Thanks for all your advice, I will let you know how I get on next week,

Regards

Mark

[Mike]

also the bison beam section of the room will probably be a floating floor so you will have 2 different substrates. was an expansion joint used over the transition? sounds a total botch job i.m.o.

[Phil Hobson]

Sorry to hear of your problem, hope you get you get it sorted

[jay]

any chance of some pictures of the work in question thanks

[Phil Hobson]

good one Jay, pics will help. How come I didn't think of that,