Tile Cracks in Shower Floor
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Our house is four years old. Several months ago, I noticed a hairline crack in the tile floor of our shower stall. It ran from one wall edge to the drain, parallel to the floor joists, through all the tiles (not the grout), which are set on the diagonal. Of course, I procrastinated over doing anything about it. Recently, I noticed the crack had also started on the opposite side of the drain and now extends toward the other wall. The tile floor is over a membrane, on Durock cement board, on 1/2 inch plywood, on 2 X 12 16c. I would like to know if this crack is due to improper installation methods. I have read some posts that seem to feel cracks are inevitable, but I have always thought proper installation would prevent this.
Thanks for your thoughts
Replies
tile floor is over a membrane, on Durock cement board, on 1/2 inch plywood, on 2 X 12 16c............
That does not sound like a "standard" shower installation to me. Your description is missing a pan, and a pre-slope layer of mortar. In addition, the Durock is generally not used in a shower.
Or were you actually describing the bathroom floor?
Support our Troops. Bring them home. Now. And pray that at least some of the buildings in the green zone have flat roofs, with a stairway.
I see several problems.
If its a shower, there should be a mud bed under the tile, at least a couple of inches thick.
The 1/2" ply is no where near stiff enough for any tile installation. The Durock doesn't do anything to strengthen the floor.
You should have a minimum of 1" thick (3/4" + 1/4") under the cement board, 1-1/4" is better.
If it's in the shower, the only way, IMO, is to tear out the existing floor, add another layer of 1/2" or 5/8" CDX, glued and screwed. Then install your pan, whether it's vinyl, or lead, and put in your mud bed. Or use a molded pan, or the shower system that I can't remember the name of right now.
You're probably going to have to pull out a few rows of wall tiles, but that's not that big of a deal.
I've repaired many showers where the pan had started leaking and had to be replaced. I think that's where you'll be heading if you don't fix this. It's not a terribly difficult job, but does require some expertise.
http://www.johnbridge.com/kerdi_shower.htm
For a custom built shower pan. This is the cats meow!
Kerdis the one I couldn't remember.
I haven't tried it, but it seems like the way to go.
I think the OP's got some decisions to make.