cracks in the granite floor

Hi Maurizio, We imported Rawsilk granite tiles (18"x18") from India when we built our house in Alabama about three years ago. We did not notice the crack on the concrete when we installed the tiles. The crack widened and it is from one end to the other end of the house (about 45ft.). I read your advice last year about using epoxy with some color pigments. The width of the crack varies from 1mm to 2mm. There are cracks in other places too, but they are visible only when I mop the floor. Any suggestions from an expert like you is much appreciated. thanks, Guna

 

Dear Guna:

Well, I did mentioned epoxy filler, and I confirm it. But it in the hands of somebody who knows what is doing!

It's complicated and certainly not a DIY project. Only an (extremely) proficient stone restoration contractor would consider taking on a job of that magnitude, not to mention that it's quite possible that the crack may widen in the future.

The only real solution would be to replace 3 rows of tiles: one, the cracked one; and two and three the two rows at each side of the line of cracked tiles. After that, and after preparing the sub floor for the new installation, you will set a sheet of tar paper over the open area and then thin-set and install the new tiles on top of that. Any possible adjustment of the crack will be totally absorbed by the tar paper.

The problem is: do you have enough replacement tiles and, if not, could you find them again to match?...

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli