Picky or Problem? (Crack in Shower Board)

9 years ago

As a new construction town home buyer, I have yet another question. I found a 26 inch crack in the board in the master shower that goes all the way through. It's the board that's supposed to be water tight and that will have the tile over it. I've attached a photo; it's on the mid to upper left side of the shower. The builder said it's not a problem because it's normal(!) for board to crack and that it will be sealed with a joint membrane prior to tile installation. I checked the adjacent units, and mine is the only one with a crack. I have a friend who lives there already and has cracking tiles in her shower pan, which makes me particularly sensitive in this area, especially given the possibility of mold etc. Am I being TOO sensitive or is it unreasonable to expect that board to be replaced?

Also, this is only my second post, but I have to say thank you to everyone on this site for all the helpful information. I've been lurking since I signed the contract, but it's only lately as things get closer to completion that I've needed to post.

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Comments (13)

ryseryse_2004
9 years ago
I would certainly insist the contractor replace that board before installing the tile. A very minor replacement now --- very major once the tile is installed.
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User
9 years ago
That's some pretty serious structural settling before the house is even dried in. I'd want reassurances that it's not symptomatic of a larger structural issue. As in an inspection by a structural engineer.
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Well doesn't look like holding back is an option so if a few things we care about we may have to push closing up. I'm still waiting on a response from the builder. Usually I have an instant response so my guess is that he is looking into things to give us an idea. It is possible closing could be pushed up no matter what too. I'm not sure if sloppy is it either, but rather us visiting sooner than expected for a walk through. Actually there are several items on the list that I would expect the builder to want to collect together such as wanting the painter to come out only once so I can understand waiting and piling some items up. Same with electrical items, flooring people to finish and fix their screw-ups. I have no idea what the splatter is, but my guess is paint. It is white so seems like a reasonable thing. Could be drywall mud too at least in kitchen from patching drywall after granite install. The things that concerns me as far as closing are: 1, 12, 23, maybe 24-26 and possibly the exhaust fan. The reason for the first ones are the disruption to us especially if they are ripping the floor up to fix and having the light moved will create a mess. Same if they have to pull out the oven cabinet. My DH lifted the oven up some so it is possible if the bottom vent of the oven is large enough they can shim it up a little to cover the cut. The hood vent would be an issue if we'd be cooking immediately which we won't due to not fully moving in for a few weeks. Exhaust fan in bath by wet areas I'm not sure if we have a case or not as there is no code requiring one, but I put it on there anyways. We changed the appliances from Stainless to black and I was told I had to get the same oven except the color due to the cut already being done for that particular oven from the cabinet maker. I'm thinking somebody did a bobo messing up on the installation of the oven and why it is missing some of the pieces that attaches to it. Builder may already be on top of this one and hence install isn't finished. As for the trim guys, I don't think they are the ones that chipped the corner trim. I think it was the wood flooring installers when they installed the quarter round. I have a photo of that corner (just by chance) and it didn't have the corner chipped in the photo before the floors. Floors were just done last week so still possible builder knows about it and just trying to get them back to fix and finish. Seems the real sloppy ones so far are the wood flooring installers since there are several items related to them. The closet rods - I've never lived somewhere where they were not poly'd at least. I agree on paint, but so easy to get splinters without some kind of finish. That one is the least of my worries though and if it is common in other areas that may be so here too. We are 90 miles away from where we currently live so ...
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EmmJay
Original Author
9 years ago
Interesting point, live_wire_oak. My husband was thinking along those lines, but in terms of something being wrong with the area behind the board. The crack had to have appeared immediately or within a day or two of the board going up, since I'm over there almost every day. There's also one very small and not deep crack in the downstairs slab, but I know that's common here, so I'm going to keep my eyes out for any other signs that we might have a deeper issue.
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crackermoo
9 years ago
EmmJay, a crack like that is unacceptable. If anyone calls you "too picky" ask them if they'll be picking up the bill when subsequent damage occurs from such a defect down the road.
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karyn
9 years ago
Is it cement board - or drywall? It may have no structural repercussions, and no structural function, but sealing issues are obvious.
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cold_weather_is_evil
9 years ago
Sealing against water intrusion is done on many (somewhat redundant) levels: tile and grout, mud, backer board, plastic sheeting, and so on. The cement board not only seals but is structural as well, and it's failed. "seal with a joint membrane" can mean pretty much anything.

There are three ways cement board can crack. My suspicion is that the piecework tile guy did it and was fully aware of it and expected to just cover it over with mud and tile later. The reason I don't think this was what happened is even a hack would still be aware of things enough to smear on some mud, with or without cement board tape, to cover it.

Secondly, it could be from being stressed by being bent under heavy fastening to a shabby understructure (assuming warped wood?). The third is via the stuff it's fastened to moving. These later two can happen after the installer has packed up and left. None are acceptable as a tile base on an overhead or a vertical shower wall. They all smack of middle finger workmanship.

It would take a very few minutes for the worker to come back and rework that spot at this stage, and a huge number of minutes to do it later when you contact the builders to remind them of the concerns about excessive movement and shabby installation that you pointed out in the registered letter you sent them today. Make sure the repair guy doesn't just fill in the crack.
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EmmJay
Original Author
9 years ago
It's the waterproof backing board, not just drywall. I'm shocked they left it like that (if it cracked before they left) since they saw me at the house several times while they were working. Do they really think I'd just shrug and ignore a 26 inch crack in a water area?

I haven't sent anything formal to the builder, but I have tons of photos and our whole correspondence is documented in emails. I'll take it to another level if needed, but I'm waiting for the response to my "Um, no" reply to the "It's fine, that crack is acceptable" email. I figure that until they take care of it, I'll have to loudly discuss it with the hubby whenever I'm in the model and potential customers are there. I work at home, so I can make it my business to be there even more often than I am already. This is a top builder with a good reputation, so I just don't get the resistance on something so obviously screwed up as this.
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kirkhall
9 years ago
The point of the above is that you will be sending them a registered letter today...

And, it isn't waterproof anything. It is just cement backerboard. Once it is repaired, it will be covered by something waterproof (hydroban, redgard, kerdi) before it is tiled. Or, your shower walls will not last.

Good luck. (And, maybe hang out in/read up on tiling showers in the bathroom forum).
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EmmJay
Original Author
9 years ago
Great suggestion on reading that forum! Building a new home is definitely turning into an education. I'm just glad there are so many resources and helpful people here. My last home building experience was both pre-internet and long distance, and the house literally almost had a fire due to what must have been drunk electricians.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
I definitely would not allow that to go with out being replaced immediately, do not go one step farther in the shower till it is all repaired and can be properly sealed for water tightness.
That is ridiculous that anyone would tell you it is ok. I would be really suspicious of any other work if they think that is ok.
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ncrealestateguy
9 years ago
Shower leaks can be nasty! You usually do not realize the leak is happening until the studs are rotted and the floor joists start to show signs of rot too. There is only one way to repair studs and joists in this situation...
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User
9 years ago
Cracks in multiple units is a big red flag on the quality of the overall project. It's not just about the shower being watertight. I'd be concerned with the overall structural integrity of the building.
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EmmJay
Original Author
9 years ago
I thought I had posted a follow-up on this, but apparently not. They replaced the board, and I've been poking around the adjacent units to make sure there are no cracks or other bad signs in any of them. The way the crack was near the screws makes me lean toward sloppiness as the cause in my unit.
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Picky or Problem? (Crack in Shower Board)

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