Have a question about tile that you would like answered? Why don't you "Ask the Expert", Todd Duhe. Todd has been featured in several national magazines and has several certifications under his belt. Todd can assist the end consumer as well as home builders, architechs, and attorneys. So before you begin your next project, ask the expert first.
The following is based on my experience as a Forensic Tile Consultant and an Expert Witness on many different types of tile installation failures.
Many people choose tile because it is meant to be timeless. Tile is durable and over time very affordable. Why do you think an installation hundreds of years old remains flawless, and an installation only a couple of years old fails? The answer is poor installation methods. The main reason that tile installations fail is STUPIDITY. In today’s market we have excellent products available for setting, grouting, and waterproofing that come with instructions and technical service representatives to assist you.
For over 50 years The Tile Council of North America has printed proper methods of installations. Also The American National Standards Institute has printed minimum standards for the installation of ceramic tile. In today’s hurry up society, most trades with an indifference to quality don’t read guidelines, instructions, warnings, limitations, and throw caution to the wind. Is your tile installed “directly” to a post tension concrete slab? If the answer is yes, you fail. Post tension concrete is a great concept; however , special preparation and methods are required for a successful installation of tile.
Our inspections are based on industry standards. We do not only investigate failures, but also offer inspections of newly completed or ongoing jobs to insure the consumer is getting a proper installation. In this business, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors. For instance, you assume the flooring salesperson is sending someone to your home that is qualified. Most salespeople cannot mechanically install the job themselves, so how can they check the installers work? Making the “assumption” that the installation will be correct is like putting the politicians in charge of our elections.
