12 inch ceramic tile over a concrete slab in a 7 year home, yesterday two
tile popped up and later during the day four more popped up, all joining
each other. Tapping around the area I cleaned up it appears more will be
pulling loose, Two of the tile broke during their popping. I don't see any
hairline cracks in the foundation.I live in Central Ca. but we haven't had
any earth quakes to contribute it to and neighbors haven't had the problem.
Any ideas why before I try to get a pro out to look. I have a few extra tile
just in case the problem doesn't extend further.
Thanks
Charlie

Charlie wrote:
12 inch ceramic tile over a concrete slab in a 7 year home, yesterday
two tile popped up and later during the day four more popped up, all
joining each other. Tapping around the area I cleaned up it appears
more will be pulling loose, Two of the tile broke during their
popping. I don't see any hairline cracks in the foundation.I live in
Central Ca. but we haven't had any earth quakes to contribute it to
and neighbors haven't had the problem. Any ideas why before I try to
get a pro out to look. I have a few extra tile just in case the
problem doesn't extend further.

How well and with what were they fastened down? Thinset under all the
tile? Did it release from tile or slab?

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"Charlie" wrote in message
...
12 inch ceramic tile over a concrete slab in a 7 year home, yesterday two
tile popped up and later during the day four more popped up, all joining
each other. Tapping around the area I cleaned up it appears more will be
pulling loose, Two of the tile broke during their popping. I don't see any
hairline cracks in the foundation.I live in Central Ca. but we haven't had
any earth quakes to contribute it to and neighbors haven't had the
problem.
Any ideas why before I try to get a pro out to look. I have a few extra
tile
just in case the problem doesn't extend further.
Thanks
Charlie

Was the concrete painted or covered with something before? Did you prep the
concrete? A lot of people say you do not have to. I do and have never had a
loose tile.

Did you use thinset?

"SQLit" wrote in message
...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
12 inch ceramic tile over a concrete slab in a 7 year home, yesterday
two
tile popped up and later during the day four more popped up, all
joining
each other. Tapping around the area I cleaned up it appears more will
be
pulling loose, Two of the tile broke during their popping. I don't see
any
hairline cracks in the foundation.I live in Central Ca. but we haven't
had
any earth quakes to contribute it to and neighbors haven't had the
problem.
Any ideas why before I try to get a pro out to look. I have a few extra
tile
just in case the problem doesn't extend further.
Thanks
Charlie

Was the concrete painted or covered with something before? Did you prep
the
concrete? A lot of people say you do not have to. I do and have never had
a
loose tile.

Did you use thinset?

I am the second owner and it was built by a local contractor so I'm not
famaliar with what was used, the slab does not appear to have been painted
and the mastic or what ever was used to apply the tile is a hard white
coating and I would say about half is stuck to the floor and the same to the
tile in patches. I don't know what thinset is.
Thanks

Charlie wrote:
"SQLit" wrote in message
...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...

12 inch ceramic tile over a concrete slab in a 7 year home, yesterday

two

tile popped up and later during the day four more popped up, all

joining

each other. Tapping around the area I cleaned up it appears more will

be

pulling loose, Two of the tile broke during their popping. I don't see

any

hairline cracks in the foundation.I live in Central Ca. but we haven't

had

any earth quakes to contribute it to and neighbors haven't had the

problem.

Any ideas why before I try to get a pro out to look. I have a few extra

tile

just in case the problem doesn't extend further.
Thanks
Charlie

Was the concrete painted or covered with something before? Did you prep

the

concrete? A lot of people say you do not have to. I do and have never had

a

loose tile.

Did you use thinset?


I am the second owner and it was built by a local contractor so I'm not
famaliar with what was used, the slab does not appear to have been painted
and the mastic or what ever was used to apply the tile is a hard white
coating and I would say about half is stuck to the floor and the same to the
tile in patches. I don't know what thinset is.
Thanks





With conditions in your area, the usual inherent problems that may cause
a bond to fail are cracking of the slab and/ or hydrostatic pressure
i.e. excessive moisture in the slab due to hardpan underneath. In some
Central CA areas particularly on the west side of the valley ground
movement is common which causes slab movement.

Installation factors could be another reason. Tap the remaining tiles to
see of the sound hollow or solid. You could replace the whole floor at
this time or just remove the loose ones, scrape the t/s off of the floor
and tile back and reset.

The web is full of articles about thinset. There are a number of tile
supply stores in your area as well that can provide help.

"Charlie"
Did you use thinset?

I am the second owner and it was built by a local contractor so I'm not
famaliar with what was used, the slab does not appear to have been painted
and the mastic or what ever was used to apply the tile is a hard white
coating and I would say about half is stuck to the floor and the same to
the
tile in patches. I don't know what thinset is.


I would venture to say that the problem is the wrong adhesive was used. The
adhesive should of been thinset (which resembles concrete) If there were
any cracks in your floor, usually the tile cracks with it and does not lift.
Tap all the tiles and pop up any of those that sound hollow, and buy some
thinset and replace them, hopefully the others will be fine...but I bet you
end up replacing the entire floor.

Glenn

"HopsNBarley" wrote in message
...

"Charlie"
Did you use thinset?

I am the second owner and it was built by a local contractor so I'm not
famaliar with what was used, the slab does not appear to have been
painted
and the mastic or what ever was used to apply the tile is a hard white
coating and I would say about half is stuck to the floor and the same to
the
tile in patches. I don't know what thinset is.


I would venture to say that the problem is the wrong adhesive was used.
The
adhesive should of been thinset (which resembles concrete) If there were
any cracks in your floor, usually the tile cracks with it and does not
lift.
Tap all the tiles and pop up any of those that sound hollow, and buy some
thinset and replace them, hopefully the others will be fine...but I bet
you
end up replacing the entire floor.

Glenn

You are probably right. Since my original post I have talked to a local tile
store and that is their thoughts from my description, I have tapped the
tiles at the suggestion of another response and and found quite a few hollow
sounding tiles through out app. 600 sq. ft. so i'm prepared for the worse
and going to call a contractor in.

"You are probably right. Since my original post I have talked to a
local tile
store and that is their thoughts from my description, I have tapped the

tiles at the suggestion of another response and and found quite a few
hollow
sounding tiles through out app. 600 sq. ft. so i'm prepared for the
worse
and going to call a contractor in. "

Assuming that's the only issue, it doesn't explain how after 7 years,
so many suddenly come loose in one or two days. This typically would
happen with them slowly cracking or coming loose over a longer period.
I think some kind of earth/foundation movement occurred and the
installation could be a contributing factor.