Hello,
I have a general question regarding tiles (specifically bathroom tiles).
We built our home with a general contractor and have completed the final inspection. After a few months, a tile cracked in the bathroom near the bathtub. It is definitely the tile itself that cracked, not the grout. The crack ran completely across the tile. The tile has remained in place, but we have filed a complaint (we still have a warranty, and the construction followed VOB standards in Lower Saxony, Germany). The contractor now told us that there was no specific agreement in the contract about crack-free tiles. His position is that you cannot expect tiles to remain crack-free.
My question is: can I reasonably expect tile work to remain crack-free a few months after completion, or is it normal for tiles to crack within the first months of a new build? Are there any legal provisions or precedents that I could refer to in discussions with the contractor?
I contacted the local trade association, but they only said they cannot advise me and suggested I hire an expert to assess the issue.
Thank you for your answers
Sven
I have a general question regarding tiles (specifically bathroom tiles).
We built our home with a general contractor and have completed the final inspection. After a few months, a tile cracked in the bathroom near the bathtub. It is definitely the tile itself that cracked, not the grout. The crack ran completely across the tile. The tile has remained in place, but we have filed a complaint (we still have a warranty, and the construction followed VOB standards in Lower Saxony, Germany). The contractor now told us that there was no specific agreement in the contract about crack-free tiles. His position is that you cannot expect tiles to remain crack-free.
My question is: can I reasonably expect tile work to remain crack-free a few months after completion, or is it normal for tiles to crack within the first months of a new build? Are there any legal provisions or precedents that I could refer to in discussions with the contractor?
I contacted the local trade association, but they only said they cannot advise me and suggested I hire an expert to assess the issue.
Thank you for your answers
Sven
After about 1.5 years, one of the wall tiles cracked. It was in the first row above the floor. The shower screen was even mounted on that tile.
Our general contractor replaced it without any issues, even though they had to uninstall and reinstall the shower screen to do so.
Our general contractor replaced it without any issues, even though they had to uninstall and reinstall the shower screen to do so.