COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

Ref. No: Effective Date:

COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS &

REMEDIES

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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SL. SECTION PAGE NO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HISTORY OF REVISIONS

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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

HISTORY OF REVISIONS
Revision Revision Chapter/clause no. & Reason for revision
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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

A. JOINTING
Dirty Joints or bad pointing:-

Possible Causes:
 Poor quality of grouts used.
 Joint not properly cleaned & filled.
 Tiled surface not properly cleaned after tiling.
Recommendations:
 Select suitable grouting materials.
 Joint should be properly filled.
 Tiled surface to be properly cleaned after setting time.
B. FINISHING:-
Staining:-

Possible Causes:
 Stain by other trade after laying if unprotected.
 Spillage of chemicals.
 Efflorescence – salts within the tiles or tile bed or cement based substrate.
Recommendations:

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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

 Proper protection.
 Avoid spillage.
 Avoid excessive wetting.
C. EVENNESS:-
Uneven surface or lippage:-

Possible Causes:
 Tiles have dimensional defects.
 Varied tile thickness.
 Uneven substrate or cement/sand screed.
 Incorrect bedding thickness.
 Lack of consideration for curing of bedding material.
 Insufficient leveling of each individual tile.
 Insufficient tapping of the tiles into position.
 Premature loading onto freshly completed tiling.
Recommendations:
 Select suitable tiles.
 Correct tile thickness.
 Proper surface preparation.
 Use proper tools.
 Proper curing of bedding material.
 Ensure tiles are even and level using sprit level.
 Ensure tiles are uniformly tapped onto place.
 Proper protection.
D. CRACKS & DAMAGES:-
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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

1. Cracks:-

Possible Causes:
 Inadequate expansion or control joints.
 Tiles laid over crack.
 Cutting & poor handling.
 Direct impact.
 Damage by other trade after laying if unprotected.
 Crazing of glazed tiles due to moisture movement.
 Excessive external vibration.
Recommendations:
 Allow movement joints.
 Need special treatment.
 Use proper tools.
 Proper protection.
 Confirm soaking does not lead to crazing before installation.
 No butt joint.
2. Chipping:-

Possible Causes:
 Direct impact.
 Damage by other trade after laying in unprotected.
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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

 Poor cutting & handling.

Recommendations:
 Proper protection.
 Use proper tools.
3. Adhesion Failure:-

Possible Causes:
 Inadequate provision of expansion or control joints.
 Incompatible tile & bedding material.
 Concrete or cement/sand screed not properly cured & drying shrinkage cracks occur after
tiling.
 Substrate not properly cleaned & prepared.
 Contamination of the back of tile by dust & dirt deposited.
 Incorrect installation of tiles e.g. Insufficient tapping of tiles into position or tiles were
applied onto the adhesive layer after the “Open Time” has lapsed.
 Inadequate provision of mechanical key in tiles.
 Failure to soak porous tiles before tiling on cement based bedding materials.
Recommendations:
 Allow movement joints.
 Use suitable materials.
 Allow sufficient curing.
 Proper surface preparation.
 Clean back of tiles before installation.
 Allow adequate mechanical key or use appropriate adhesive.
 Soak porous tiles in clean water for at-least 30 minutes.

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 COMMON TILING WORKS DEFECTS & REMEDIES

E. HOLLOWNESS:-
Hollow Sound:-

Possible Causes:
 Tiles set on a concrete slab over a large open area.
 Air entrapped or voids either the setting bed or slab, causing one part of the floor to sound
differently than other.
 Separation or waterproofing membranes installed between a slab & the bedding material.
 Elevation of subsurface is irregular, causing one part of the floor to sound differently than
other.
Recommendations:
 Acoustical effect rather than bonding problems.
 Tiles to be properly laid.

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