Tile on concrete slab

agrace

Is there a current product or practice to keep tiles from cracking that are put on a concrete slab foundation.
I'm staying in a Condo unit where the tiles are directly adhered to the slab--the slab has small cracks and the tile has crack lines following them. Is there a way to prevent this as I am going to build in a few months and think I will be using a slab foundation. Any helpful thoughts are welcome.
THanks

ccarlisle

Sure is...nowadays we put down an "anti-fracture membrane", known by at least one trade name: DITRA. There are others but these membranes isolate the cracking that slabs sometimes exhibit and provides a bit of cushion between these two elements. Really works. Technology is about 10 years old maybe less. Google it.

Termite

I'll second that!

agrace

You guys are awesome. Thanks

yesitsconcrete

its expensive but so what,,, it does work well unfortunately its not a silver bullet but certainly better'n a sharp stick in the eye.

all that being said, none of this is applicable to your new project IF the conc's installed correctly AND contraction jnts're placed properly,,, the above cracking's ' reflective ' cause someone didn't,,, just make certain any jnts in your new slab're sawcut/installed the same day - NOT the next day.