"John Hill" wrote in message
ups.com...
Over the past week my wife and I noticed a creaky floor tile in the
kitchen.
Our tile is 12" porcelain installed by the previous owner.
Wasn't a huge issue, just an annoyance, so I didn't think much about
it.

I came home today and noticed a distict bow in the floor where the
creak had been.
At the highest point, the floor tiles had popped up, raised a half inch
(almost like the tiles were being pushed together and therefore must
flex upwards), and were mobile.
The grout was intact between the tiles but had released where the tile
met the wood cabinet.

I grabbed my grout saw and was able to remove six full tiles and the
two half tiles where they met the wood cabinet.
I only removed the mobile tiles.
All of the tiles came up intact and without much force.

Underneath I found a hairline crack in my concrete slab.
I've cleaned the crack and cannot even fit a needle or slip of paper
within the crack at any point.

Tomorrow I am having a plumber come out to validate that I don't have a
leak.
So by this time tomorrow I should be able rule out a slab leak.

Then I have to decide if I want a foundation company to come out and
have a look at the slab.

While I am waiting and doing some research, I found that most of the
material used to adhere the tile to the concrete had come off with the
tile.
Very little remains on the concrete.
After going through my kitchen, entry way, and hallway, there are a
number of tiles that ring hollow as though they are not adhered.
The only thing completely preventing me from proclaiming that it was
just a crappy tile install is that many of the "hollow" tiles seem to
follow a line where the crack could go.
There are a few that don't, but many do.

I'll keep everyone posted but in the meantime, has anyone had a
hairline crack in their slab (one that is so small not even a slip of
paper could be inserted) be something substantial?
My fear is that both the plumber and foundation repair person will say
there is a problem and I'll be out thousands when it was really just a
crappy tile install.
Feedback is welcome.

John


All slabs will get cracks . What makes you think you have a leak if you
don't see water. What will a Plumber do ? say he see's no water? ( waste of
money) It sounds like a bad Tile job