15/04/2026
NOT MY WORK!!!
I was asked to go survey this floor that has been tiled by another tiler. The room was completely empty, to be tiled, and then the kitchen fitted on top for a perfect finish with no cut lines. Great !
However, shortly afterwards the grout started cracking and the tiles started moving, which subsequently spread across the whole of the area. Although movement in the subfloor was the likely issue, it's impossible to know, without removing the tiles.
Then the lady remembered that she had taken some pictures whilst the work was in progress, and showed them to me.
Straight away the reason for the movement is clear. Hardibacker boards have been used as an aid to stiffen the subfloor, which is always what we would do when tiling onto a timber subfloor. BUT... the backer boards are supposed to be fixed at 150mm centres, which means screws 150mm apart in every direction. It's a lot of screws, but is essential to properly secure the boards.
In this picture you can see that nowhere near enough fixings have been used, less than half the necessary amount. And that's what's caused the floor to fail.
As a result, we are liasing with the kitchen fitters to remove some of the panels, so that the tiles can be removed, properly secure the backer boards, and re-tile (i didn't ask who the tiler was, but they said he had given them a part refund and subsequently blocked them from contacting him after refusing to go back).
For a free, no obligation quote for supply and/or fit for tiling and flooring, with 23yrs experience in the industry, call or message Rich on 07768 814501
