Hi there I am new to this forum.
In june 2014 my bathroom was retiled. Old tiles removed and replaced by Topps Tiles Lenna Grey 40 x 24cm. Two months later and they are cracking,look like inflated in the middle, craking in the edges.
Topps Tiles manager came to inspect and initially thinks it is the builder who has not followed british standards, having used a thick layer of adhesive Mapei IT Rapidset sku012354 or Wall tile sku 012352 (both in same bill), and also because we did not tile up to the ceiling, only 15 cm before, but there is a gap in last row where you can stick a pen in between wall and tile, and he alleges that water from the shower splashed through that gap into the adhesive, and probably builder has put grout inmediately after laying the tiles not allowing time for adhesive to dry properly, or not spread the adhesive evenly in tiles leaving gaps.
The cracks do not follow a line (so wall or building movement was discarded) however it mainly affects tiles from top rows, however they are above shower head (no chance water can get in between tiles and wall, only steam). I noticed that tiles inmediately above the bathtub are OK and when knocked no hollow noise. I also managed to measure the thickness of adhesive at top rows it is 5-6mm from tile to wall.
The builder is also stunned, and puts the blame in substandard tiles. He is an experienced tiler by trade.
Mapei used in bathroom was not a ready made mixture. The wall in question is a partition wall made of black blocks (1960's building). Tiles up to 1.5 mts high are ok (this is where old tiles were removed) however above this level (originally there were no tiles) tiler seems to have compensated using more adhesive and is where 80% of the problem starts. Other tiles above 1.5 in wall opossite to shower head, also hollow when knocking and over black block are OK.
Topps Tiles Customer Service said they might take a sample for investigation, but their manager said that if I take it to a small claims I would have to pay for my own investigation.
Any clues please??
Thanks