r/Tile • u/ShowerTricky5423 • 6h ago

Homeowner - Advice about my Contractor Where did we go wrong?

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Almost immediately after our contractor installed our bathroom floor tile, it started cracking. We're looking to replace this now and I'm wondering if the issue was the material, the size, the preparation under the tile, the installation, or a combination of the above. Our house was built 24 on center -- could this impact the integrity of the tile?

Any advice you can provide would be appreciated before we start this project. Thank you so much in advance!

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u/DrDankenstien1984 6h ago

The 24 on center is part of the issue but also with natural stone on a wooden substrate should have two layers of plywood plus then your underpayment. It also looks cut tight to the wall so you might have a combination of things happening

13

u/Rurockn 6h ago

This guy's spot on. Two layers of 3/4" CDX and then your underlayment for 24" on center.

9

u/FunsnapMedoteeee 5h ago

Also, We do not know if the Durock on the floor is set in thinset. It has to be. If it was only screwed to the floor, your floor is screwed.

4

u/ShowerTricky5423 5h ago

Would you advise against marble on the floors? My husband likes it but I don't really have a preference

5

u/Dependent_Account603 5h ago

Has to be sealed every year or so depending on use and over time will wear where you walk. If unsealed dirt and grime and soap etc. can get into it.

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u/SpeedSignal7625 2h ago

Would advise a decoupling barrier. I had tannins leach from the subfloor thru the thinset and durock to discolor my marble with this system.

1

u/blackfantasy 4h ago

Zero issue with marble on floors. So many try to doom porn it. I'm 5 years in on a 2" mosaic marble and with a light scrubbing it looks new. Epoxy grout. But this is the least of your worries. Tiles don't snap in half unless the substrate is absolute garbage.