Cracked foundation in bedroom.

[mikes02ls1]

Doing some demo in my daughter's room. Ive always felt a bump in the carpet, but didnt think much of it. Pulled the carpet to find a L shape crack in her room. I put a level on either side of the crack to find it is level, now i only have a 36" level. At the crack it looks like 1/4-1/2" height difference. Im laying ceramic tile, so i got the tile, grout, underlay, and self leveling concrete. I need to find something to fill the crack, and figure out if i need to grind down the crack. Bad location of the crack is close to the door, which is right by her side wall. Any pointers for this rookie.

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[draglink]

I run a flooring company. We do hardwood, carpet and vinyl. No tile. BUT-- a tile contractor recommended this product to me. I had a problem with a cracked slab under glue down hardwood. I took his recommendation and used this:

http://www.powerhold.com/--anti-fracture-membranes

Problem solved.

 

[mikes02ls1]

I run a flooring company. We do hardwood, carpet and vinyl. No tile. BUT-- a tile contractor recommended this product to me. I had a problem with a cracked slab under glue down hardwood. I took his recommendation and used this:

http://www.powerhold.com/--anti-fracture-membranes

Problem solved.

Cool thank you. First I got to find the low spot in the room due to the crack being a 1/4" higher on one side of the crack.

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[vettex2]

if it was in the MBR I'd wonder if you were bragging

 

[mikes02ls1]

I filled the cracks in. I had some self leveling crack repair i got from lowes. Used that in the smaller cracks. On the bigger cracks i bought a two part epoxy and some sand from homedepot. Did a layer of epoxy, then sand, the final layer expoy.

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[mikes02ls1]

After this cures for a few days, lay down my self leveling concrete and smooth it out. Im definitely no pro so apologize if this makes people shake their heads....lol

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[James-W]

I think if it were me, I would contact someone who does tile floors for a living, have them check it over and ask them for some advice. It will probably cost something for the service call and the advice, but it MAY be very beneficial in the long run.

 

[gungatim]

check out the johnbridge forums. probably the most knowledgable group of tile experts on the planet over there...I learned a lot from them when I tiled my house.

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1

 

[Radix2]

You have a 1/4-1/2 height difference across the crack?

Unfortunately it is unlikely that you will be able to tile across that and have it last. If all of the settling has stopped and the ground is exceptionally stable, then perhaps a isolation membrane and tile layout could work, but realize the risk you are taking.

Consider laying out your tile so that the crack falls on a grout line where future cracking would be less objectionable.

Self leveler is used when you want to pour it out and let is seek its own level, it requires primer to adhere properly, based on your description, it may not be the best product for you? Is the low area confined so that you don't need to fill the entire house?

 

[Radix2]

An isolation membrane, a few extra tiles to replace what does crack.
R&R is easy and the fix if a tile cracks.

We were told to not tile.
We spent a **** load on the best isolator at the time.
4000sqft of tile later, in fifteen years we never replaced one.
We sold the place with the extra 400sqft(we carpeted the parking garage instead of tiling as planned) we bought still in the boxes. It became an outdoor fireplace....

It's a cracked tile not a structural malfunction.

Did you have the normal shrinkage cracks that people over worry about? Or like this example was the concrete completely separated due to settling?

All cracks are not the same.

 

[mikes02ls1]

You have a 1/4-1/2 height difference across the crack?

Unfortunately it is unlikely that you will be able to tile across that and have it last. If all of the settling has stopped and the ground is exceptionally stable, then perhaps a isolation membrane and tile layout could work, but realize the risk you are taking.

Consider laying out your tile so that the crack falls on a grout line where future cracking would be less objectionable.

Self leveler is used when you want to pour it out and let is seek its own level, it requires primer to adhere properly, based on your description, it may not be the best product for you? Is the low area confined so that you don't need to fill the entire house?

I remeasured the crack height difference is less then the 1/4"

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[DC73]

Know anything about what's under this floor to produce such a uniformly straight crack? Basement?

DC

 

[mikes02ls1]

Know anything about what's under this floor to produce such a uniformly straight crack? Basement?

DC

Just the Arizona dirt. Single story home with no basement.

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[ddurrett896]

I'd skip tile and go with some type of wood or laminate.

 

[Radix2]

The tuff thing with settling like that is to know if it is stable or not.

If it is done and stable, then you have a chance.

If it rises and falls with the seasons or moisture, then no product is going to work. ( the various crack membranes are for movement only along the floor plane like shrinkage or thermal expansion)

 

[mikes02ls1]

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[mikes02ls1]

The odd thing i find in the room is these patched holes. I wonder if their was foundation repair where they used foam to lift the foundation up. Still can't figure out why everthing is coming out leveled, but have a 1/2" height difference at the crack.

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[Shiftless]

I think you are on the right track suspecting past repairs of the problem area using foam or grout injection to jack up the settling part of the cracked slab.
IMHO, you would be disappointed in any tile floor after seeing it crack in a very short period of time.
I would put down new pad and a nice carpet and move your daughter back into her bedroom. I think most people would like carpet in their bedroom anyway unless there was an allergy problem or some other good reason for hard surface flooring.

 

[mikes02ls1]

I guess i can return all this tile and such for the tile job and invest in new carpet. I spent a few hours taking all the tack strips out, and old crappy base boards.

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[James-W]

Maybe you could grind down the area around the crack and then fill in any low spots with some sort of self leveling compound. The put down these;

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/util-...24-x-24-8-tiles/107930.ip?xid=plp:product:1:1

These tiles are inexpensive so it won't cost a fortune to do this. After a year has gone by, pick up the tiles and see if the crack has moved any. If the crack is the same as it was, then you can try putting down the ceramic tile. **** this way the floor will look half way decent and you will know if the crack is moving any before you lay the ceramic tile.

 

[mikes02ls1]

Im almost tempting to grind the whole room. But damn dont want to spend retail pricing to rent a floor grinder. Trying to use my work connections to get a better rate then 300.00 for a grinder with a diamond blade.

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[mikes02ls1]

i went with 10 boxes of this tile to cover 130sqft bedroom. If i had the cash i would just pay someone. Untill then i have to learn to fix this on my own, with help from friends and folks in this profession.

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[Steves32]

Looks like slab & footings were poured separately w/ straight cracks like that.

 

[Shiftless]

I guess i can return all this tile and such for the tile job and invest in new carpet. I spent a few hours taking all the tack strips out, and old crappy base boards.

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Look at it this way... the old base boards should come up anyway and be replaced for a first class looking carpeting installation. Consider painting the new ones before nailing them to the wall. Way faster and easier on your knees and back. After they are installed you only have to touch up the nail holes. Or as some guys do, use dabs of construction adhesive like liquid nails.

BTW, If you do end up installing tile IIWY, I would certainly consider upgrading to porcelain tile rather than the "ceramic" tile. Porcelain tile is more durable and if chipped won't show as much because the color goes all the way through rather than being just on the surface.

 

[mikes02ls1]

Ground the cracks down and laid the tile down, got to lay the grout down tomorrow.

Casa Grande, Arizona

 

[mikes02ls1]

Finished.

Casa Grande, Arizona

 

[mikes02ls1]

Now to paint and put the new base boards in.

Casa Grande, Arizona

 

[Radix2]

Looks beautiful !

Let us know how it works after a year. I'm hoping it is fine!

 

[mikes02ls1]

This is where the crack was.

Casa Grande, Arizona

 

[dandan111]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Looks great. Looks like they pumped something
under it maybe.