Expert: Torin Dixon - 3/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: We undergone a full bathroom renovation over a year ago. Our general contractor
has recently repaired a faulty shower pan that they had installed. During the
repair a long horizontal crack and a few short vertical cracks have developed in
the adjacent marble tiled wall. The cracks are in the wall and have not developed
in marble tiles.
Our tile supplier said that this is caused by my contractor not taping the cement
board joints before installing the marble tile. He said that the wall cracks will
eventually cause the marble tiles to crack.
We believe our contractor wants to get out of removing the marble tiles and
repairing the cracks. Can we hold them responsible ? Kindly advise?


ANSWER: Patrick,
I am a bit confused by your question. You indicate that the cracks are in the wall and have not developed in marble tiles. How do you see the cracks in the wall? Are you talking about behind the tiles? Or are you seeing cracks in the grout joints? Please explain more if possible.
In any case, the cement board should be taped with cement board tape and sealed with thin set.
If possible, please send pictures to my email account info@montanastonegallery.com and I can get a visual.
Thanks,
Tad Dixon

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tad
Thank you for your prompt reply. The cracks are behind the tiles and not on
the grout joints. We have white carrara marble tiles. I can see light white
crack lines in the tiles but cannot feel the crack on the tile surface.
There are also two hairline cracks on the sheetrock wall above the top roll of
wall tiles. The cracks seems to continue behind the tiles.
I will forward you a picture shortly.
Thanks again!

Answer
Patrick,
Did these white lines show up during the repair process? Or have they been there all along? The white line indicates a stress fracture that shows you that something is moving, or can happen when hammering has taken place like when the shower pan was removed? This is a precursor to the tile eventually cracking all the way through, you just cannot feel the full fracture yet. It sounds like you may need the shower replaced. I would get another qualified tile/stone contractor to come out and look at it to give you a second opinion. I will look forward to receiving your picture.
Tad