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Answers (10)
Best Answer
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
It also sounds like the tiles were placed too close together, almost like a home owner did it rather than a professional tile setter. The placement of the tiles is supposed to compensate for temperature changes by giving them room to move without popping up. They even sell little "+" guides to keep the spacing even. Even if a home owner does set the tiles, they are supposed to read about the techniques first, and get some pointers from the sales people.
Anyway, it sounds like "slab on grade", and that the slab was substantially colder than the room, mostly due to the room not being heated for a while, and then heating the room too quickly without letting the slab temperature rise at the same rate.
If it was installed 6 years ago, there likely is no longer any valid warranty, and you will just need to deal with redoing the floors yourself. But if you did buy from a builder, you might check your contract anyway.
Anyway, it sounds like "slab on grade", and that the slab was substantially colder than the room, mostly due to the room not being heated for a while, and then heating the room too quickly without letting the slab temperature rise at the same rate.
If it was installed 6 years ago, there likely is no longer any valid warranty, and you will just need to deal with redoing the floors yourself. But if you did buy from a builder, you might check your contract anyway.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
As far as I know, all builders and developers have a Civil Engineer and/or Soil Technician check the soil compaction, both before building and before the slab is poured. Of course, they may not check the utility trenches under the slab for proper re-compaction. Check to see if the cracked tiles are in line, and possibly the location of sewer pipe...
Request copies of the soil compaction report. At least get the name of the Civil Engineer or Geo-technical Engineering firm used.
At this point, I would not blame the tile setter, but the general contractor for not having the soil properly compacted before pouring the slab.
(And yes, 5 to 7 years is fairly typical for these types of problems to show up. Sometimes they will show up in 2 years. One reason I prefer to buy quality used rather than "new". If it was built in the 20's, you can be pretty sure most of the settling already occurred, unless of course a tree dies or is removed, and the roots rot underneath, or an underwater stream changes directions and is now under the house).
Request copies of the soil compaction report. At least get the name of the Civil Engineer or Geo-technical Engineering firm used.
At this point, I would not blame the tile setter, but the general contractor for not having the soil properly compacted before pouring the slab.
(And yes, 5 to 7 years is fairly typical for these types of problems to show up. Sometimes they will show up in 2 years. One reason I prefer to buy quality used rather than "new". If it was built in the 20's, you can be pretty sure most of the settling already occurred, unless of course a tree dies or is removed, and the roots rot underneath, or an underwater stream changes directions and is now under the house).
- biggnick
- Contributions:6
Thank you all for your contributions; they have been enlightening. The 'cracking' sound started in one room and then was heard in the second room. The 4 tiles which broke across the middle and 'tented' are in the second room but there are a number of loose tiles in both rooms.
We are still awaiting an official response from our insurance company, but the initial information from the adjuster is that they are denying our claim on the grounds that the problem was caused by improper installation of the floor. This is hard to believe and quite surprising because when we decided to buy this house - 14 months ago - the fact that it was in the Silver Palms community (built by one of Florida's biggest developers) and only 6 years old, weighed heavily in our decision. The last thing we expected was a problem like this and then to hear that the builders did a poor job on the floor.
We are still awaiting an official response from our insurance company, but the initial information from the adjuster is that they are denying our claim on the grounds that the problem was caused by improper installation of the floor. This is hard to believe and quite surprising because when we decided to buy this house - 14 months ago - the fact that it was in the Silver Palms community (built by one of Florida's biggest developers) and only 6 years old, weighed heavily in our decision. The last thing we expected was a problem like this and then to hear that the builders did a poor job on the floor.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
I certainly have seen the issue with settling slabs, and cracked slabs. But for to tiles to make a pronounced upside down "V", it certainly sounded like they didn't fit, thus too close together. And if a tile cracked in half and formed a "tent" without anyone walking on it, that still sounds like too much pressure from adjacent tiles, meaning not enough space. But you state the tile spacing is normal, thus thermal expansion should not have been sufficient to cause the tiles not to fit, even if the slab was 32°F and the tiles were 85°F.
I certainly agree with Shasta Steve, that if you have a cracked slab, you should put a filler over the entire slab for the room before resetting the tiles, or the exact same problem will occur again very soon. All slabs settle, even if the ground was well compacted prior to pouring the slab.
The "chain reaction" mentioned has me somewhat baffled, unless it just appeared to be starting at one end and moving toward another.
I certainly agree with Shasta Steve, that if you have a cracked slab, you should put a filler over the entire slab for the room before resetting the tiles, or the exact same problem will occur again very soon. All slabs settle, even if the ground was well compacted prior to pouring the slab.
The "chain reaction" mentioned has me somewhat baffled, unless it just appeared to be starting at one end and moving toward another.
- Claudia DeBruyn, "FLwaterfrontRE"
- Contributions:112
Ive seen it in a lot of homes. Your foundation is settling.
- Vince Curtis, "SoCal Appraiser"
- Contributions:4699
..or poltergeists....
- shasta_steve
- Contributions:448
Not trying to beat up on Pasa'sanswer here but unless you had bonfire on top of your tile I really dobut that thermal expansion was your problem, especially in Florida. I think Dan hit it on the head and your foundation settled.
I have laid lots of tile and I have never seen a slab foundation that did not have cracks in it. It is usually not a major problem unless you have vertical displacement. I am guessing that when you say you had "tenting" part of your slab dropped. You should be able to see if you have a problem because the crack or displacement should be right under the displaced tiles.
When I bought my current house I replaced all the downstairs flooring with either hardwood or granite tile. Hardwood was easy but I am getting old and the tile sucked. Usually you just cover the cracks with a filler and lay the tile but I decided to cover the whole floor so I would not have to worry about the tile cracking in the future. It was only about an extra $100 and money well spent in my opinion.
- biggnick
- Contributions:6
Thanks very much for your replies......they were most helpful and your explanation about thermal expansion/contraction seem to explain what happened. The tiles were installed by the builder and they appear to have been placed correctly. We do have a situation of slab on grade......there is no crawl space underneath. The property is in Miami and it was built in 2006; we purchased it in Nov 2010 from the lender, prior to which it was locked up for a while. The rooms with the proplem were not heated; the thermostat is set at 77 and has been that way since we moved in. The only unusual occurrence was that we cooked more than usual for the week prior to the problem developing. the cracking sounds started in the family room, just off the kitchen, and then spread to the living room.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
Sounds like thermal expansion, or thermal contraction to me. Any substantial changes in temperature in the living room recently? Any lack of use of the living room for extended periods of time? What do you have the thermostat set to? Did you have the heat off for a while?
Is it slab on grade, or do you have a raised floor with crawl space underneath?
Is it slab on grade, or do you have a raised floor with crawl space underneath?
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4694
The only thing I can think of that would do that would be the house settling. It could be a serious structural issue. If the house moved the floor would be stressed. As the floor also moved the tiles would be in trouble. The builder may have a warranty that covers this.
Maybe you have expansive soils there? If so a very wet or very dry weather pattern could cause the dirt to move and that could move the house.
Maybe you have expansive soils there? If so a very wet or very dry weather pattern could cause the dirt to move and that could move the house.
Has anyone ever heard of tiles on the floor breaking/tenting after making cracking sounds?
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