Fixing grout that is coming out?

[jeff000]

So this isn't in my garage, but not sure where or who else to ask.
My main floor has a really nice tile and hardwood floors. But the grout is kinda coming out in a few places, seems basically a 10' radius from where my washer and dryer are.

The house is only 2 years old, and fairly high end, but the builder won't do anything because the company that did the tile has went out of business.

None of the tiles feel loose. But I fear there could be voids under some by the sound when I tap on them.
Working commercial electrical I many times have seen the flooring guys pour a grout looking water into the space between tiles to get under the tiles to fill voids. I'd like to do something like that, but no idea what it is or if it would work?

And for fixing where the grout has come out, would it be as easy as mixing up some grout to the same color and slapping it down? I am in the middle of moving my washer and dryer to the basement where I think it should have been from the get go.

 

[southalabama]

I'd use a grout removal tool. Diamond impregnated tool is relatively cheap. Remove grout around the failure. Clean out with shop vac and possibly screwdriver and needle nose pliers. Get all the lose stuff.

Put on new grout.

I'd only deal with the lose stuff. If a tile pops up I'd deal with it then.

 

[Dakota00]

None of the tiles feel loose. But I fear there could be voids under some by the sound when I tap on them.
Working commercial electrical I many times have seen the flooring guys pour a grout looking water into the space between tiles to get under the tiles to fill voids. I'd like to do something like that, but no idea what it is or if it would work?

And for fixing where the grout has come out, would it be as easy as mixing up some grout to the same color and slapping it down? I am in the middle of moving my washer and dryer to the basement where I think it should have been from the get go.

Your substrate isn't solid. One, plywood is not secured good. Two, the scratch coat or underlayment failed or the thinset has failed as well.
Clean out the grout joints good, pour a product like Keralastic latex additive in the grout joints. Let it set up for a day or so. Then you can regrout the area again.

 

[jeff000]

Your substrate isn't solid. One, plywood is not secured good. Two, the scratch coat or underlayment failed or the thinset has failed as well.
Clean out the grout joints good, pour a product like Keralastic latex additive in the grout joints. Let it set up for a day or so. Then you can regrout the area again.

The Keralastic is runny and will get under any of the hollow sounding tiles? Just make sure i don't fill up the grout lines right?

The plywood is secure, I can see the pl800 that was squeezed out by the screws from the basement.
So it must be a scratch coat or thinset issue. Must have been the new guy doing the effected area?

 

[rsanter]

Push the builder. It is called the chain of commerce. The builder hired the tile people so it's their problem that they have to take the hit.

Bob

 

[Dakota00]

The Keralastic is runny and will get under any of the hollow sounding tiles? Just make sure i don't fill up the grout lines right?

The plywood is secure, I can see the pl800 that was squeezed out by the screws from the basement.
So it must be a scratch coat or thinset issue. Must have been the new guy doing the effected area?

Yes Keralastic is runny like milk, it will fill the empty pockets under the tile(s). Don't fill up the grout lines, otherwise you'll have to clean out the joints.

 

[kj_mustang]

Your substrate isn't solid. One, plywood is not secured good. Two, the scratch coat or underlayment failed or the thinset has failed as well.
Clean out the grout joints good, pour a product like Keralastic latex additive in the grout joints. Let it set up for a day or so. Then you can regrout the area again.

Agree, floor flex is causing that grout to crack and come out.

 

[metlmunchr]

Push the builder. It is called the chain of commerce. The builder hired the tile people so it's their problem that they have to take the hit.

Bob

This is the correct first step to take, depending on the legally required period of warranty on a new house in your location. As soon as you do anything to it yourself, you've relieved the builder of all responsibility, so its not smart to attempt any repair until the question of responsibility is resolved.

As Bob says, the tile setter's work is the builder's responsibility and the fact of whether the setter is still in business or not is immaterial to the facts of your case.

 

[kj_mustang]

And, the builder may be the one responsible for the substrate.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Is the builder warranty up after a year ? I know structure warranty can be longer. May have a harder time proving that. Good luck !

 

[Dakota00]

^^^ usually builder's warranty their work for only 1 year, after that unless structural (2-5yrs warranty) good luck getting them back to do any repairs.

 

[jeff000]

Is the builder warranty up after a year ? I know structure warranty can be longer. May have a harder time proving that. Good luck !

The builder warranty is up at a year, the problem didn't really start till after that. The builder is not easy or quick. And I've been fighting over my driveway and garage concrete for a year already.

At this point I would rather just get it fixed and move on. Next house will have a 10k hold back for a year written into the contract.