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Grout problems with new tile floor (X-post with remodeling forum)

7 years ago

I hope you all can either help me or direct me to the correct forum. We completely remodeled our kitchen and little over a year ago, and are happy with the workmanship on everything except the tiling.

A few months after it was finished, I noticed that three of the porcelain floor tiles were cracked from one side to another, and that one of the backsplash tiles had the same problem.

I called the contractor, and he sent the tile guys over to replace the cracked tiles. Side note - the main tile guy was a jerk about it and initially told me that short of taking a sledge hammer to the tiles that it was impossible for them to crack.

They replaced the tiles. And, although the new grout (it was mixed using the original bag which is stored in my basement) doesn't quite match, I was satisfied. Except that soon after, the grout from the original flooring tile job is cracked a coming up.

I was just going to try and fix it myself with the bag of grout that I have. But as I look more closely, there are cracks in the grout at each 3-way joints of the tiles as well as through out the straight seams.

Is this normal?

I hate to deal with the jerky tile guy again if it is normal wear and tear.

grout · More Info

grout · More Info

grout · More Info

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Comments (10)

palimpsest
7 years ago
Are the tiles loose? You may be able to use a caulk matched to your grout, if it is just the groutline that is opening. I don't know where these cracks are but at some junctions cracking of the grout is fairly common, like corners and between vertical or horizontal planes. These areas don't look like that but it's hard to tell where they are.
Joan Habel
Original Author
7 years ago
Nope, they are not loose at all.

The grout lines that are opening are the first two tiles that you come to as you are walking into the kitchen from the living room - so basically the first thing that you see.

I would love to be able to use a pre-made caulk instead of attempting to mix my own grout. I invision that it would become a constant repair job for me because I wouldn't mix it correctly.

The one huge line is 18 inches long, so the caulk would have to be a pretty good match.
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Okay-- a couple of things. First, I'm hoping it's only a case of semantics, and your intallers aren't really using mastic (which comes already mixed in a bucket), but are actually using thinset (which must be mixed either with water or an additive). Secondly, no matter how they do it-- flattening out the floor prior to installing the tile, or flattening it out by adding more thinset AS they set the tile-- Either way, the floor must be flat. And not for nothing, but I wouldn't accept 3/16" lippage from NORMAL tile, much less rectified porcelain!! I'd let them know that if they intend to get paid, they need to do something about the lippage, first, and it should be done before they go any further-- get what's done so far to the point of being acceptable, and THEN proceed however they wish to, so long as they get the floor flat, no quesitons asked.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
7 years ago
To test the tiles you need to tap on them with something like the metal handle of a butter knife or something like that. Just go from tile to tile tapping. If you have some that sound hollow they are not fully set in the thinset. Perhaps only one side of the tile was pushed securely in to the thinset. If there are some that sound hollow they have a higher risk of cracking because only part of the tile is supported in the thinset so it can Crack from stress.
divotdiva2
7 years ago
See what the GW tile experts weigh in with, but if it is regular sanded grout you may be able to remove it by scraping it out on those tiles with a utility knife. GRout is not that hard to mix and install - it's just messy and you want to be prepared to wipe down haze. It is possible the bag of grout is a bad batch OR mr jerk tile guy did not mix it correctly/ throughly. Or cured it correctly. Or as Ravencajun says, did not use or push it down into sufficient thin set.

Did he rush this job or take his time to do a good job? Are all the tiles nice and flat throughout or are there others with lippage (edges sticking up slightly above the flat plane of the other tiles)?

bad grout does exist, or it can not be mixed well leading to spots that crack or appear to be a different color here and there.
ILoveRed
7 years ago
Cracking grout lines are often a symptom of underlying floor problems

ask me how I know.

have a different tile setter come in and check for loose tiles.
User
7 years ago
Is this a crawlspace? Not a slab? Do you have pictures during the installation?
Joan Habel
Original Author
7 years ago
I did the tap on the tile with a butter knife test, and those near the damaged grout have a slightly different sound (but not significant.)

Our kitchen is over the finished basement.

It took him 2 days to lay the tile and another 2 to grout it.

We were not allowed to walk on it for another 24 or 48? hours. But, as you can see below, the cats didn't listen very well.

grout · More Info

grout · More Info

grout · More Info

grout · More Info
kirkhall
7 years ago
My tile setter told me a story of his favorite thing to do when he visits places... He takes a golf ball and bounces it on tiles. All the tiles should have the same sound when you do that. If it bounces back with a hollow sound, as mentioned before (with the butter knife) they aren't set well, and will fail.

Also, grout has a shelf life. Is the failing grout only the new stuff he just replaced?

Finally, your best answers from tile experts will be in the bath forum (here on Houzz). Mongoct was one of the experts who spent a lot of time on here when it was GW. Not sure if he's still hanging out there, but it would be good to crosspost to there with a link to this post asking for tile-experts.
User
7 years ago
Looks like the fastener schedule for the CBU wasn't followed. No mesh tape. And I'd bet that there isn't thinset under it. Having all of that skipped leads to wondering what other short cut was taken.
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