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Question:

My tile constantly cracks?

I live in a split level 3 story house, the outside of my house is concrete, the walls inside are concrete and the floor is tile. Several weeks ago the tile in our laundry room cracked, as if something was pushing up from underneath. This morning the exact same thing happened in our top story living room. We had tilers come out to re-tile and they said that this happens all the time, but the concrete underneath the tile was untouched and un-warped in any way. Please help? What can we do to fix this from ever happening again?

Answer:

.If your home was recently built, it may still be settling. Homes, especially those built on fill often take several years to settle. The fact it happened in both the basement and the third floor makes me suspect this is the case. Keep in mind that concrete will expand and contract with temperature changes. If you live in the northeast the rapid temperature changes we've been experiencing could also have something to do with it. As far as happening ever again, the best policy is to wait and see. Wish I had an easy fix for you. Good Luck.
your house has settled. Nothing can remain level if the foundation is shifting underneath it. tile men are wasting your money. Permanent fix? Ramjack, maybe.
1. If there are cracks under the tile, the cracks will just keep happening. 2. I have had success in fixing this problem by using a rubberized carpet cement rather than the unforgiving thinset. The adhesive stretches rather than the tile cracking.
Tile is failing and the slab has no cracks? Your thinset mortar application was wrong. Suggest you use an acrylic latex admix in your thinset mortar rather than just straight water. Also consider using a 1/2 notched trowel. Stay completely off the tile for 72 hours......that will give you an 80% cure.

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