Why tile debond ? Peel off ? Pop up ? Tenting?

No.

The tile debond might happen due to the following reasons:

The Facts:

1

The substrate has not been cleaned up before the tile installation. It might cause the hollow sound reflects underneath or tile debond after months or years.

Therefore the tile adhesive has not been applied on substrate (no bonding) because there was a layer of dust or dirt between the tile adhesive and substrates.

2

Incorrect methodology or incorrect type of tile grout or tile adhesive used to install tiles.

Please refer also TYPES OF TILES

Many tile installers might use the ordinary cement to install tiles that is irrelevant to any type or size of tiles. But this is absolutely incorrect. Nowadays, market 50kg ordinary cement we can buy from hardware shop is known as "Composite cement”. It is no longer with the type of "OPC - Ordinary Portland Cement” anymore.

Lastly, larger tiles need higher bonding strength of tile adhesive.

3

Tile gap is too small

(at least 3mm for large size tile - as specified by most of the tile manufacturers)

If the tile gap is smaller than 3mm, it might cause the tile debond due to all tiles expand and contract with temperature and moisture changes.

Again, the bonding strength is very important therefore EN12004 specified the tensile pull out strength must be above 1 newton per mm square (1 N/mm²) for a Class 2 (C2) tile adhesive.

4

Poor workmanship :

- Did not apply enough tile adhesive grout underneath the tile (Buttering / Scratching coat) - (at least 70%)

- Did not use the correct tools to apply the tile adhesive (standard tool is the tile trowel) where it causes over fill or less fill tile adhesive grout underneath the tile

- Excessive of water when mixing the tile adhesive (all tile adhesive need different level of water as specified in the packaging)

It will cause the tile debond if insufficient tile adhesive grout applied underneath the tiles. Less bonding strength achieved.

Tile trowel is used to apply the tile adhesive grout evenly and effectively on the substrates.

Keep holding and moving the trowel to force the tile adhesive grout adheres onto the substrates and spread even amount of grout for the tile underneath to adhere as well.

The level of water added onto tile adhesive will significantly affect the bonding strength where the tile installer must be carefully reading the mixing ratio and methodology.

5

A movement joint is the interruption of the surface to allow for movement. Common terms are:

· Movement joint

· Expansion joint

· Stress relieving joint