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Bathroom Fitting

Cracking grout - porcelain tiles

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.09 PM

Hi there, We have just had a new bathroom installed in February this year and a couple of weeks into the completed installation, we started to notice crumbling grout between the large format porcelain floor tiles (grout gap 1mm). When walking into the bathroom you get this feeling that the tiles are slightly moving. I'm not sure whether this has anything to do with it or not. Anyway we called back the fitter to regrout over the crumbled area and he said that it would happen again as the installation is over a wooden floor which means it is likely there will be some movement. During installation however, we remember him putting a layer of plywood down before the tiles. Since then, the issue has gotten worse and worse, and now there are holes in the crumbled grout sections, a visible difference in the height of some of the tiles and the whole thing looks a mess. Furthermore, one of the walls actually feels bouncy when leaning against it and makes a clicking noise. I can only assume that, if he has covered the walls with wood too, that the wood hasn't been screwed on securely which means that the tiles on top are wobbling. I would appreciate any advice on this issue as I'm due to call the fitter back and need to be informed about what could be the issue before he fobs us off! Thank you so much. Mel

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3 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi Mel It does sound as if there is some movement of the subfloor. However if the tiler had laid the plywood properly then this should not happen. It sounds like the plywood was either not properly secured to the original floor or the plywood was too thin and is flexing slightly. It is unlikely but possible that the main floor underneath the ply may be uneven - however if thick enough plywood was used and properly secured, it should not flex. These are the main problems and most likely cause. I hope this helps.

Answered31 May 2017

D & R Property and Plumbing Maintenance

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

New Romney

securing ply to the floor is ok only if the floor is ok and secure.

Answered31 May 2017

K Building

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Aylesbury

You have no choice but taking tile off and do it again if wobbling. When you will lift the tiles and clean the adhesive, you could see if there was too unstable subfloor, too thin plywood or bad fastened to the subfloor.

Answered31 May 2017