Need some feedback in ceramic install gone bad.

[cproader]

How wide are the wheels on the massive refrigerator........and are these cracks just now showing and were cracked when the refer was rolled accross the tile after the installation.........I don't see how the osb joints are going to come into play under to layers of mortar and cbu......

[Orlando]

fridge isnt it, one line of cracks is under the overhang of the countertop on the island. I'll try to get out and take pics of it

[redrock56]

I'm new 'round here, so not to sound like a wiseguy....a raised floor- do you live in a severely drought stricken region?

[Orlando]

No sir, we do not

[Jerry Thomas]

I'd like to welcome you over here redrock

[Jerry Thomas]

I'm going with the house settled just enough to cause that.

[Kman]

I'd have to agree with Jerry.

If the subfloor and joists were sagging, I would think you'd have a single crack (or a tightly grouped number of cracks) confined to a specific area. Without seeing a picture, from what you've described, it sounds like one side of the room has sagged, causing cracks similar to what happens if you were to take a piece of hardibacker and broke it over your knee.

Since there are several layers to hardibacker, it breaks in different places along the stress point. The subfloor also has different layers and would break in a similar fashion.

If it's settled considerably, you might be able to take a long straight edge with a level and be able to tell. If my theory is correct, it would have to settle a lot to crack the tile, what with the CBU to uncouple it and all.

Just one man's opinion, hard to say without actually seeing it.

[Orlando]

I'm going to get pics soon guys.

[stullis]

Originally Posted by Orlando fridge isnt it, one line of cracks is under the overhang of the countertop on the island. I'll try to get out and take pics of it

Cracks don't always occur right where the weight is applied usually occurs at nearby joist lines.
The fridge weight if it is large could very well have caused the floor to flex thereby causing the panel to flex at the OSB joint which could transfer through to tile.

Your cracks don't follow the joist though and is also strange in that you say the tile is depressed or sunken at the crack line.

The fix? I'd remove the lines of affected tile and put in new ones. Possibly putting in a soft joint.

[Orlando]

Yep, just dont make sense. Cracks run opposite of joists and I'm saying no bounce to this floor.

[stullis]

Also start using ditra and quit using CBU and hardibacker.

[Orlando]

Used CBU for the height this time. Seriuosly doubt the outcome would have been any different

[Kman]

Stullis, take a look at this. It's from another website tile forum.

Ceramic tile and stone installation discussion forum for Pros and DIYs (North American Tile)

[TFP Admin]

Kman, that link gives an access denied error page. Do you have to have special permission to view it?

T

[stullis]

Originally Posted by Orlando Used CBU for the height this time. Seriuosly doubt the outcome would have been any different

Perhaps not but I think it would. The height issue is a problem with ditra although there is now Ditra XL that would solve that issue as well.
Haven't personally used it yet but test results have shown it to perform very well.
Costs a bit more than regular ditra and uses more thinset as well but non-modified thinset is pretty cheap.

Kman, who's forum is that one? I see you had concerns about the cost of ditra vs CBU. I sell it for the same installed price as for CBU. My price includes the materials, thinset, screws, tape and labor.
Ditra offers anti-fracture and waterproofing properties that CBU does not as well as adding less weight to the structure. Combine that with easier labor for me and it's a fairly easy sale.

But hey if you want to handle all those sheets of CBU don't let me talk you out of it.

PS: How's that warranty for CBU? Are they helping you with this cracked tile issue?
Even if they did warrantee it all they would give you is new CBU, really great warranty LOL
If you had used ditra on this job you could have gotten them to come and check out the job and probably would have had the replacement including tear out, disposal, new tile and labor covered. But hey again, if you want to use CBUs then by all means have at 'em.