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Hi--we had our ceramic tile on our new home crack--in a line running from across the house the entire width (wherever there was tile). We had it pulled up and replaced, and the contractor used a thick padding/paper that he said would prevent future cracks. Well, it cracked again within 6mo of replacement.
Should I be worried that there is a sinkhole under my house? Or is the foundation bad? What should I do?
Your slab is obviously still moving.
I would suggest a structural engineer to give you an evaluation. I would look for a firm that also has a soils/ geo-engineer on staff. They can help with the evaluation. And will probably be well versed with the soil conditions in your area.
It could be as simple as they didn't put in an expansion joint. This is done by filling a grout line with color matched caulk that can expand and contract. I think it's usually done when the tile length is greater than 10'.
Thanks for your responses. The home is in Florida. The crack is more or less straight, running through a bathroom where there's tile, then through a kitchen and breakfast area, all pretty much on a line, sometimes along the grout but mostly right through the tile. It's a hairline crack.
Gosh, I don't remember. I am pretty sure the foundation had a crack in it all along where the tile was cracked. Then the contractor put down the black paper stuff (forget what it's called or even its makeup) and said it would prevent future cracks, but it didn't.
Thanks for your responses. The home is in Florida.
Well, obviously a structural engineer in R/D isn't going to do you any good for a house in FL.
Anyway, find a PE in the area of the house to help with an evaluation.
Hi Annesg,
Without knowing what the paper is; it may or may not have helped. There is a stronger paper with fiber reinforcement, it may not help either, it has to be installed correctly with consideration to what is happening and how to prevent it from happening again. All slabs crack, that is really only a problem in cases like yours. The telegraphing of the underlying crack is due to the bond between the tile and the slab. I have seen this remediated successfully by laying down a fiber reinforced paper,but, not securing the paper to the slab along the cracked area but making sure the tile is secure to the paper at all areas. If your tile man is not sure of how to address this properly, find someone else.
A "hairline" crack is not unusual and is not cause for calling in an engineer. If it gets wider than 1/8 of an inch, then call. For now , you just want a tile floor without cracks!
But, considering that some type of membrane was used and it cracked again says to me that the slab is moving at a rate greater than the membrane can tolerate. Is the crack in the tile just opening, or is it displacing (although you really need to look at the slab- but the tile should give some indication)?
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