Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles Moisture Problems Movement Joints Tenting

Can moisture in a Concrete Floor cause the Thin-set Adhesive to Deteriorate and result in Hollow and Tented Tiles?

ANSWER - Thin-set mortars should not deteriorate from being exposed to moisture.  Most thin-set mortars are used in showers and in pools and fountains. Moisture that migrates into the concrete slab from the ground and…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Installation Guidelines Showers Standards Waterproofing Workmanship

How do we determine what caused our Tile Shower to Fail?

ANSWER - You are asking a lot that can't be answered without performing a forensic inspection to determine what is causing the failures.  I can make some general statements that may or may not apply…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Concrete Substrate Slab Debonding Tile Efflorescence Staining failures Moisture Problems Testing Vapor Barrier

What is the Acceptable Moisture Content in a Concrete Slab for a Tile Installation?

Answer - The ASTM F1869 Calcium Chloride membrane was the dominate test for years and depending on the tile installation manufacturer they would request a value of anywhere from 3% to 12% per 1,000 sf…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Insurance Claim Leak

Can a water pipe leak cause my tile to delaminate and will the insurance cover the loss?

ANSWER -  If the tile was installed correctly and had adequate movement joints installed, the water flooding should not have caused the tile to debond.  Unless the water leak in the slab created a hydrostatic…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles installation Repairs

What can I do about my failed tile floor in the home I bought 1 year ago?

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding. It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed. The substrate may have not been properly prepared. The tile…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout installation Movement Joints Tenting

What can I do about my 2 year old tile installation that is coming loose?

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding.  It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed.  The substrate may have not been properly prepared.  The…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles Tenting

What caused our tiles to Tent and become Hollow Sounding?

ANSWER -  When tiles tent/buckle up it is normally due to the combination of lack of resilient movement joints and due to the tile not being bonded as well as it should. Movement joints are…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Hollow Sounding Tiles

What has caused some tiles in my Ceramic Tile Floor to become Hollow Sounding and the Grout To Crack?

ANSWER -  Hollow sounds  on a ceramic tile isn't a defect in itself, but it can be a symptom of a defect depending on the circumstances.   If portions of a tile is hollow sounding or…

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cleaning Debonding Tile Efflorescence Staining Expert Answers Exterior failures Inspections Maintenance Stains stone

Why is my Bluestone Patio Tiles coming Loose and Have Efflorescence?

ANSWER - If the flagstone shaped Bluestone is loose and has excessive efflorescence staining then it wasn't installed correctly.   If the patio had been designed correctly and the stone installed properly it should perform well…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Movement Joints Tenting

What caused the Tile Floor to Tent up / Debond?

ANSWER - Tiles tent for several compounding reasons. Lack of Movement Joints (also known as expansion joints) - When tiles absorb moisture or gain temperature they expand.  The more porous the tile the more it…

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