*
I AM A GENERAL CONTRACTOR WITH QUITE A BIT OF TILE EXPERIENCE, BUT UNFORTUNATLY NOT ENOUGH. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I INSTALLED A TILED DECK OVER A BUILT UP WOOD SUBSTRATE. THE EXSISTING BASE WAS TJI AND T&G 3/4 PLYWOOD. OVER THAT I INSTALLED RIP STRIPS ON 16″ PERPENDICULAR TO THE TJI’S FOR WATER RUN OFF AND A BITUMAS MEMBRANE. ON TOP OF THAT, 1/2 INCH CEMENT BOARD, TILE AND SANDED GROUT. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE GROUT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INSTALL, THE GROUT BEGAN CRACKING AND SEPERATING FROM THE EGDES OF THE TILE OVER THE ENTIRE 1200 SQ FOOT DECK. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE JOB IS IN TUCSON, AZ. WHERE WE CAN GET VERY HOT DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE ITS AN EXPANSION – CONTRACTION PROBLEM AND NOT A DEFLECTION ONE? A GROUT MANUFACTURING REP TOLD ME EPOXY GROUT WOULD NOT HELP AND MY CREW HAS ALLREADY REMOVED THE EXSISTING GROUT. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP ON THIS ONE!
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
I AM A GENERAL CONTRACTOR WITH QUITE A BIT OF TILE EXPERIENCE, BUT UNFORTUNATLY NOT ENOUGH. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I INSTALLED A TILED DECK OVER A BUILT UP WOOD SUBSTRATE. THE EXSISTING BASE WAS TJI AND T&G 3/4 PLYWOOD. OVER THAT I INSTALLED RIP STRIPS ON 16" PERPENDICULAR TO THE TJI'S FOR WATER RUN OFF AND A BITUMAS MEMBRANE. ON TOP OF THAT, 1/2 INCH CEMENT BOARD, TILE AND SANDED GROUT. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE GROUT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INSTALL, THE GROUT BEGAN CRACKING AND SEPERATING FROM THE EGDES OF THE TILE OVER THE ENTIRE 1200 SQ FOOT DECK. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE JOB IS IN TUCSON, AZ. WHERE WE CAN GET VERY HOT DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE ITS AN EXPANSION - CONTRACTION PROBLEM AND NOT A DEFLECTION ONE? A GROUT MANUFACTURING REP TOLD ME EPOXY GROUT WOULD NOT HELP AND MY CREW HAS ALLREADY REMOVED THE EXSISTING GROUT. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP ON THIS ONE!