flooring problem - advice needed please

gregg1

18 months ago we had a kitchen extension. We had limestone tiles laid by the builder who had done all the rest of the work. He laid plywood sheets over the floor beams before he laid the tiles. 3 times during the last 12 months we have had to call him back to sort out the grouting between the tiles which was crumbling. Subsequently we have had tiles starting to crack in half. One area has a straight line of cracks along about 10 tiles (I am thinking this is the area which is over a join which is why they are cracking in a straight line). There is obviously too much bounce on the floor and we are pretty confident that this is what is causing the problem both with the cracking tiles and the grouting coming out.

The thing is that the builder is adamant that this is a product fault with the grouting. We are pretty confident the floor has not been laid properly prior to the tiles being put down. We are currently at a bit of a stalemate with him and have no idea where to go from here (to add to the problem builder is ex-family member!). As the tiles cost about £4,000 in the first place and it is becoming increasingly obvious that the whole lot will need to be got up and replaced when the floor has been made good, who should pay for this. The builder is saying we will have to pay for any further work he carries out on the floor. Also, any ideas where and how we start. Builder can be fairly intimidating when he wants and I just know he is going to probably walk off in a strop when we suggest he should put it right and probably tell us to get someone else to do it.

Would our insurance cover this (or his insurance).

We have photographs which we took at the end of every day the extension was being built which show exactly how he laid the floor (not sure if this will help but it might).

Very grateful for any helpful advice.

andyhop

Sounds like a installation fault

What thickness of plywood did he use and what was the span between joists?

Any idea of the adhesive used?

Post what pics you have on the forum im sure we can help

gregg1

Thanks for your reply.

Having a problem getting the images uploaded but will work on it and try and post soon.

No idea what adhesive as he used his own. Do you happen to know of any independent body we could get out to give us a report on the floor by any chance?

andyhop

TTA but there charge approx £800

Get a proffesional tiler round to look and ask for a written quote to correct

Stone should always be fitted to 18mm marine plywood and fixed with a 2part flexible adhesive

Some installations also require a decoupling membrane such as Ditra

gregg1

andyhop wrote: »

TTA but there charge approx £800

Get a proffesional tiler round to look and ask for a written quote to correct

Stone should always be fitted to 18mm marine plywood and fixed with a 2part flexible adhesive

Some installations also require a decoupling membrane such as Ditra

Good idea about the tiler - will get onto that today. Thanks again for the information - you have certainly given me valuable info to work with.