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AR15.COM
8/12/2007 9:05:30 AM EDT
My entire house is tile.

I hate it.

It is white 12" tile.... and it shows everything.  It is probably the cheapest tile money could by.  When it chips, it is pure black behind it.  What is worse... it is cracking.  My (slab) home foundation was repaired several years ago (piers surrounding entire home) which is common for this area of N. Texas.  However, I still get movement in the foundation.... not a lot... but enough apparently to crack tiles.  I probably have 20 tiles between the living room and kitchen that are cracked.  Sometimes it is just one tile, sometimes it is several in a row, showing the movement pattern of the concrete I imagine.

I want to re-do the kitchen tile at some point.  

My question is.... is there some solution for this movement problem?  I dont want my re-do to crack.  Do you change the thinset, add a subfloor, what?  Surely this has to be a fairly common problem for some.
8/12/2007 1:43:52 PM EDT
[#1]
Would keeping the moisture content underneath the slab more constant throughout the year make a difference? Are there drain tiles around the perimeter of the foundation? Is there a sump pump? Etc…

You have my sympathies. I once lived in a house that needed to be piered. Very expensive when done correctly.
8/12/2007 2:10:40 PM EDT
[#2]
You install a crack isolation membrane between the concrete and tile.  For your situation I would use ditra mat which is an uncoupling isolation membrane.  google it for more info.  Any questions IM me.
8/12/2007 2:35:28 PM EDT
[#3]
I'd float a Pergo, Armstrong, or Bruce laminated floor and never worry about it again, FALARAK.
8/12/2007 2:53:35 PM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
I'd float a Pergo, Armstrong, or Bruce laminated floor and never worry about it again, FALARAK.


I did that in my office - but I hate those for the kitchen.  I *really* want a nice earthy brown tile in the kitchen, and I need to redo the bathrooms as well.  I just want it done right.
8/12/2007 3:05:17 PM EDT
[#5]
Thanks guys!

I was watching DIY yesterday, and was wondering what that orange crap was they laid the tile on.  Where is the cheapest place to order it?  I need about 270 sq ft.
8/13/2007 8:15:46 AM EDT
[#6]
the orange crap is schluter ditra as mentioned in the above posts
8/14/2007 11:31:06 AM EDT
[#7]
I am another one jumping in with the Schluter ditra uncoupling membrane.  Also, if you're a diy, pickup John Bridge's book Tiling your world.
Mike