QUESTION

Flood Damage - I have been asked to look at couple of interior ceramic tile floors in Central Florida that have had flooding occurrences, then noticed loose, lifted and/or cracked tile (not just cracked grout joints). In the flooding cases, the thin-set is bonded partially to the tile and partially to the substrate as well as small areas of debonding at the tile. These cases are residential so typically the room dimensions are less than 20 feet thus not requiring expansion joints. Are different types of tiles and mortars used in outdoor applications versus indoor? I am being pressed to explain why the tiles outside do not fail.

I have done some reading on alkalinity degrading adhesives. Is thin-set an adhesive or a mortar? And does alkalinity affect (degrade) thin-set?

ANSWER