Porcelain Floor Tile - Fixing Sanded Grout Cracks

ETHICS05

Need advice:

20" porcelain floor tile - new construction - about 15 mos has elapsed since it was installed (south Florida).

I have one small hallway area where 3 - 5 grout lines around 3 tiles where the grout is starting to crack/pull away from the entire edge of the tile. Also, 1 tile in the same area sounds "hollow" where the others around it do not.

I'm guessing that new construction settling is going on in this hallway.

What is the best way to repair the cracked sanded grout in this area and what do you think is going on with that "hollow" sounding tile?

Thanks for your advice!

Mike Finley

Does that hollow tile look just a tiny bit lower then the rest? I'd guess they forgot to thinset it. Taking for granted that the settling has stopped and repairing the grout will be all that is needed, the easiest method involves just putting some caulk that is color matched to your grout into the joint, rubbing it into the cracks with your finger and cleaning off the excess. The repair will be invisible.

Now that all assumes there is no issues with the tile being set improperly and the grout is structurally sound.

MattCoops

That hollow sounding tile is due to having NOT 100% thinset coverage.

Do you have a picture of the grout problem?

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
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ETHICS05

From your experience does a caulk come to mind that would match well?
Floor Tile = Contrade Beige
Grout = #251 Canvas (sanded)

Grout is in good shape - nice straight line small crack along a side of several tiles. Nothing major. Its a clean straight opening.

Thinset - agreed on the hollow tile. Guess I'll live with that one unless someone else can't.

Mike Finley

You simply buy the grout manufacturers color matched caulk.

C-cure grout Indian beige, you buy a tube of C-cure caulk in Indian Beige. Tec grout taupe, you buy a tube of Tec caulk in taupe. That's going to be a no-brainer. If you don't know the manufacturer or it's some odd ball manufacturer that doesn't offer color matched caulk then you will have to eye-ball the color and try to match it.

Keep in mind that hollow sounding tile could keep being a problem. If they did simply forgot to thinset it, it will always keep cracking the grout no matter how many times you patch the grout. I don't know how much experience you have in tile, but as strange as it might sound, it isn't that rare to have a tile set without any thinset under it. It's easier to happen then you think. Not that I would know about it personally or anything.

ETHICS05

Thanks, guys! Great help.

Mike - when the thinset is "missed" under a tile and the customer callsback on it, how do you usually handle it?

Mike Finley

What do you mean?

I fix it, what else is there to do?

PrecisionFloors

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MattCoops

First you have to hear an earload.
Then struggle to keep your earned sale, rather than paying them off.
Then you fix it.

Or you could send them chocolates. That'll shut em up.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

grusel

1)Make sure you have a replacement tile on hand.
2)Break the hollow sounding tile. Be careful. You may need to drill holes in a line and crack it if it's really hard porcelain. Whacking it with a hammer is not a good option on plywood substrates.
3)Remove the pieces with a pry bar, hand chisel... whatever works best for you.
4) Chisel off the surrounding grout lines. Get them clean.
5) Scrape/chisel the thin-set mortar away making sure to get as much off the substrate as possible. The cleaner the better.
6) Mix and apply your thin-set with the appropriate trowel.
7) Set your replacement tile.
8) Grout 24 hrs later.
9) I wish I had 3 more steps to make it a 12 step process.

Rich Turley

Remove the grout around the tile being removed first. This will isolate it from the others so there is less likely to be any damage to them during the demo. And use fast setting thinset, then grout 2 hrs. later.

Rich

ChrWright

For the cracked grout I would remove all the areas with cracks and re-grout.

Color matched caulk is good for corners and plane changes but field repairs tend to "flash". Most color matched caulks are close in color but not dead on--unless you're working with epoxy grouts which are much more true to the manufacturer's chart.

More importantly, when a HO knows there's a flaw--you can be sure they'll be getting down on their hands and knees to look at it after you've fixted it. Better to take a little extra time now than to have them complain that you're fix doesn't cut it.

The good news is the hollow tile should be easy to dig out & replace since it's not bonded well. The trick is not damaging the tiles around with while your scraping grout & going at it with the pry bar. A one tile replacement can easily turn into two....or three....or four..... not saying I've done that either...

Just my two cents...

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