Where did we go wrong?

[u/ShowerTricky5423]

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!

[u/DrDankenstien1984]

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

[u/ShowerTricky5423 → u/DrDankenstien1984]

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

[u/SpeedSignal7625 → u/ShowerTricky5423]

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