Someone please help me! I had 12x12 tiles laid in my kitchen and down two halls almost two years ago. About one year ago, I noticed a few cracked tiles - called the contractor - he replaced them. A few months later - more cracked tiles, some of them make a popping sound when walked on and the grout is coming out around some of them. Called the contractor - he decided that the FlorCraft Ceramic Tile Floor and Wall Mastic was bad and contacted the manufacturer.
These tiles are in various places throughout a 450 square foot project - not in one place, not just in areas where there is a lot of traffic, etc.
The manufacturers rep is saying this:
The test results on the bucket of Mastic your contractor sent to us came back within normal limits as I told him. It was at the bottom of the spec, but it was within normal limits.
The errors that were made on the part of your contractor during the installation are as follows:
ØHe did not use a supporting bed of cement based thinset underneath the Hardi Backerboard, instead he used a skim coat of our mastic underneath the backerboard. The Hardi Backerboard instructions say “Apply a supporting bed of mortar or modified thinset to subfloor using a ¼” square notched trowel.”
ØHe did not leave a 1/8” gap between the individual sheets edges of the backerboard and between the walls and cabinet bases. The Hardi Backerboard instructions say that they recommend 1/8” gap between sheet edges.” Furthermore, they say, “ Keep all sheet edges 1/8” back between walls and cabinet bases.”
ØHe did not use the fiberglass mesh tape where the backerboard sheets meet. Hardi Backerboard instructions state that you are to use a 2” wide high strength alkali resistant glass fiber tape at the joints of the backerboard.
ØExpansion spaces not left around the perimeter of the room
ØTrowel patterns were irregular.
The above noted items would be consistent after time with tile disbonding and cracking.
The manufacturer is offering to pay 1/2 materials and labor to correct this problem "as a gesture of goodwill". My contractor wants me to hire an attorney to send a letter requesting that they pay for everything because he is convinced that he has done nothing wrong.
Can someone with lots of tile laying experience please advise me of what they would do if this was their floor?
Thanks!
These tiles are in various places throughout a 450 square foot project - not in one place, not just in areas where there is a lot of traffic, etc.
The manufacturers rep is saying this:
The test results on the bucket of Mastic your contractor sent to us came back within normal limits as I told him. It was at the bottom of the spec, but it was within normal limits.
The errors that were made on the part of your contractor during the installation are as follows:
ØHe did not use a supporting bed of cement based thinset underneath the Hardi Backerboard, instead he used a skim coat of our mastic underneath the backerboard. The Hardi Backerboard instructions say “Apply a supporting bed of mortar or modified thinset to subfloor using a ¼” square notched trowel.”
ØHe did not leave a 1/8” gap between the individual sheets edges of the backerboard and between the walls and cabinet bases. The Hardi Backerboard instructions say that they recommend 1/8” gap between sheet edges.” Furthermore, they say, “ Keep all sheet edges 1/8” back between walls and cabinet bases.”
ØHe did not use the fiberglass mesh tape where the backerboard sheets meet. Hardi Backerboard instructions state that you are to use a 2” wide high strength alkali resistant glass fiber tape at the joints of the backerboard.
ØExpansion spaces not left around the perimeter of the room
ØTrowel patterns were irregular.
The above noted items would be consistent after time with tile disbonding and cracking.
The manufacturer is offering to pay 1/2 materials and labor to correct this problem "as a gesture of goodwill". My contractor wants me to hire an attorney to send a letter requesting that they pay for everything because he is convinced that he has done nothing wrong.
Can someone with lots of tile laying experience please advise me of what they would do if this was their floor?
Thanks!