Tile installation failure

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Author Message David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2044 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 12:34 pm:    This is why it is so important to specify proper tile setting materials, installation methods and expansion joints. https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/bellevue/south-bellevue-station-needs-tile-repairs-due-to-faulty-installation-sound-transit-east-link-extension/281-092fcc64-c12f-4c41-afaa-c3e9557d1831 That is going be a costly rushed repair because Sound Transit needs to get their light rail station open right away. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1592 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 12:50 pm:    So other than using the wrong tile, setting material, installation methods, and expansion control, it was a complete success? Sounds like this went sideways from the beginning. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2045 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 01:12 pm:    Two wrongs do not make a right, but four wrongs do! David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2046 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 01:53 pm:    This is why the TCNA Tile Installation Handbook and a good building product representative is so important for the success of a project. It is kind of ironic that last week, the local Laticrete representative (John Gallup) gave the Puget Sound Chapter a talk on proper setting methods for large format tile. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1593 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 02:38 pm:    Two wrongs do not make a right, but three rights make a left. Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 817 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Friday, September 22, 2023 - 09:20 pm:    So the dispute with the Joint Venture resulted from an expansion joint misadventure? awhitacre (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, September 25, 2023 - 01:17 pm:    I worked for a firm that was involved in a suit regarding tile flooring failures; when the tiles were pulled up -- instead of "100% coverage", the tiles were averaging about 35% coverage. We paid for a certified installer to install per the specs (type of bed, thickness, coverage) and in place testing was unable to dislodge the tiles. I think getting the TCNA tile setting certifications for the installer is super-critical for larger tiles. For the super-large tiles, we get the additional certification. Brian E. Trimble, CDT Senior Member Username: brian_e_trimble_cdt Post Number: 139 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 02:40 pm:    Besides the TCNA handbook, there is now Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) which qualifies the actual tile installer (https://www.tilecertifications.com/). This is a skills based test that shows a craftworker knows the materials and proper installation methods. While things could still go wrong, at least they have proper training. I assume the contractor on this project probably had none of that.