"But is this normal for the bathroom wall tiles to crack?"

No, something was done incorrectly for that to happen. Custom build or a Tract/Developer type home?

I‘m guessing the required gap between backer boards, which allows for movement without tile cracking, is nonexistent.

Developer build. They are coming to assess the damage but get some educated before they assume we did something to damage it. Thank you all!

Is this a relatively easy fix or would it be a larger job?

"Is this a relatively easy fix or would it be a larger job?"

Gut the shower more than likely. Watch what is back there when they do and take pictures of the new installation. They will not want to do it but realistically no other way to fix this as it is a basic substrate installation issue.

It's installer error. They may be able to repair the single wall, but if they've installed this wall wrong, the others are probably due for failure. They're going to want to replace the cracked tile which is a waste of time.

CBU seams not taped.

Tile is cracked on two walls.

It’s actually cracked across all three walls in the shower... to put a cherry on top, the second bathroom across the hall has the same crack on the bathtub tiles. The contractors are coming next Friday to inspect the damage to determine what caused it. Hopefully they don’t try to blame it on something else and refuse to fix it.

" Hopefully they don’t try to blame it on something else and refuse to fix it."

Get ready as that is exactly what they will do. They do not want to gut two bathrooms on a house they have already moved on from.

I have a tv mounted on the other side of wall sharing the same wall as one of the shower walls. Could that be a reason to cause this? It’s mounted on a stud. My initial thought was that could be a reason but the other bathrooms tiles cracking debunked it.

That’s an installation failure, pure and simple. Do not allow them to try to baffle you with BS. This would not have occurred if they would’ve followed industry standard specifications. It’s impossible to know exactly how they blew it; could be more than one thing. But it’s their failure and they need to fix it. Don’t accept anything less.

Repeat - CBU seams not taped. (Cement Backer Unit)

I agree with Creative Tile. The diagnosis can be confirmed---or proven inaccurate--once the tiles are removed. If the installer of both showers is the same, then you can expect similar results in all tile showers they installed.

Wanted to update folks. They sent a sub contractor to pull the tiles. Here’s what it looks like behind the tiles. They are saying they will fix this row and put a new cement board in this section. My feeling is that this isn’t a permanent fix since now if the house shifts again, I’ll end up with two cracks. Been trying to have a discussion with the builders to get them to gut and redo the entire shower. But seems like they are just doing a bandaid fix vs a real solution. Thoughts?

No felt or poly behind the CBU, and with the CBU seams not taped and mudded, there's certainly no surface applied membrane on the face of the board.

Sorry for your woes. All it would have taken was the price of lunch in additional product to have at least done this to a minimum acceptable standard.

They just showed you why the whole thing needs to be ripped out and re-done properly...

Needs to be ripped out and re-done... by someone else. They have proven they are incompetent.

Where’s the waterproofing? You’ll have mold back there within a yesr

They are saying the cement board is waterproof. Is that correct?

What would be the proper industry standard installation? What I’ve gathered everyone’s comments is that the CBU should’ve been spaced and the joints should’ve been taped. It does look like the Fin Par ProTec is labeled as waterproof on their website. So would the proper spacing and taped joints prevent the tiles from cracking like this?

At the very least that joint needed to be taped with an alkaline resistant tape (not regular Sheetrock tape). Generally cement board is then painted with red guard waterproofing membrane. Not sure if this product requires it, but I would want to see that.

Jung- No, cement board is not waterproof. It absorbs moisture which can then migrate to the studs. That is why you need a membrane applied over it. And the taped seams are not at all waterproof. They're giving you more BS. Don't get taken in by it. They either don't know that what they are saying is false, or they know it and they are lying. In either case it's wrong and incompetent.

FinPan Underlayments

They are saying the cement board is waterproof. Is that correct?

NO! Absolutely NOT!!

See the info linked above.

The ProTec product used in your showers is water 'resistant'. It is NOT 'waterproof'. Note that you have the cement board product. Which is ordinary run of the mill cement board that requires additional waterproofing measures. Either poly sheeting behind OR surface waterproofing like RedGuard, etc.

You do not have the FinPan Pro Panel.

Per the website: ProPanel® is a new generation of backerboard that offers waterproof performance all in a six pound board that is mold and mildew resistant. ProPanel® consists of high-density expanded polystyrene reinforced on both sides with fiberglass mesh and a polymer cement coating. It passes ANSI A 118.10 test for water proofness.

It does look like the Fin Par ProTec is labeled as waterproof on their website.

No, no, no. ProTec is labeled as water resistant. ProPanel is the 'waterproof' product. Again, you have the ProTec 'water resistant' cement board.

Happy new year everyone. I know this thread is old but wanted to let everyone know that with many weeks of back and forth and taking everyone’s advice, we were able to get our shower and second bathroom a full gut redo with proper waterproofing! Thank you to everyone who provided great insight and professional advice. Thank you.