Tile delaminated from the FL washer

5 years ago

Hi,

We built this house 13 years ago, these are original floors, porcelain tile. Initially, we had a Whirpool FL washer and dryer that died last year. As of August 2019 we've had an LG FL washer WM8100HVA on top of a sidekick pedestal washer WD200CV, next to the electric dryer on top of a pedestal (drawer). They were professionally installed, are level, and don't seem to have any problems. The unit does spin at high RPMs, goes up to 1,400 according to the instructions. We never had any issues with water, leaks, movements, etc. This is tile directly on a concrete slab, no basement, one outside wall (the other two are garage and closet walls, the third one is a door into a hallway) and the floor continues all through the hallway and into the kitchen, with no transitions. We have not had any issues with the tile or other floors throughout the house, there does not seem to be any foundation problems.

This morning I ran a load of laundry and when I came back the tile has delaminated off the floor - a whole section, not right under the washer, but about a foot away. The tiles came up so high that I could no longer close the door. I had pulled them all up in this section.

What would you recommend to glue these tiles back down? I hope I don't have to remove the washer out of this laundry... Any idea what I could do to fix and prevent this from happening again?

Thank you!

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Comments (5)

Urska Cvek
Original Author
5 years ago
If that is it, I hope we can do it for the few feet that are there. We plan to use Mapei Premium Mortar for tile and stone to glue them down and then grout. Does that sound like a good product to use? Thank you!
ci_lantro
5 years ago
Could it be a case of tented tile?

https://www.tcnatile.com/faqs/55-tented-tile.html
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Urska Cvek
Original Author
5 years ago
Interesting. I have to look into this. The house was built 17 years ago, we are in very high humidity, but the sun shines right onto that tile.
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
I think tenting is a good place to start. You could have created a 'perfect storm' with the new HIGH SPEED washer (the vibrations, harmonics and subharmonics can be VERY destructive...depending on the material sitting around it).

To be clear, 'tenting' happens with water intrusion or high moisture levels SOMEWHERE underneath. Tenting happens more often with CERAMIC (something tells me these are ceramic and not porcelain...just a feeling) and stone; both of which are porous. Porcelain is very close to 'non-porous' as you can get...which is why tenting is very rare with porcelain (can happen but it takes HUGE amounts of moisture to do it...as in enough to cause the concrete to crumble as well).

I wonder if two issues are at play:

1. Water intrusion somewhere (moisture meter around the tented tiles should be able show something),

Plus:

2. High frequency vibrations with all of it's destructive powers rattling the tiles loose MUCH FASTER than if water alone was used.

You can have tenting and have a REGULAR washing machine....because water is water is water is water....but it would be weird to have a tenting with a high speed washer WITHOUT water intrusion.