Forensic Analysis & Failure Investigation

Root-Cause Investigation of Tile & Stone Installation Failures

When tile cracks, stone delaminates, showers leak, or pool decks fail, the investigation that follows determines who pays and how much. Tactile CG delivers objective, instrument-based forensic analysis backed by TCNA, ANSI, and NSI standards — documentation that holds up in mediation, arbitration, and courtroom testimony.

Litigation-ready documentation
Thermal imaging + bond testing
Florida & nationwide

The Problem

Tile Failures in Luxury Projects Are Never Simple

A cracked lobby tile isn't just an aesthetic problem. Behind it is a chain of decisions — substrate preparation, mortar selection, joint sizing, environmental conditions, and installation sequence — any one of which can cause installation failure.

Without a thorough forensic investigation, the real cause stays buried. Property owners pay for remediation that addresses symptoms, not the source. Contractors escape accountability for defective work. And when litigation follows, claims built on visual inspection alone rarely hold up against technical expert testimony.

Tactile CG exists to change that equation — with instrument-based investigation, standards-referenced analysis, and documentation structured for every phase of the claims process.

Common Failure Types We Investigate
  • Tile cracking & hairline fractures across field areas
  • Delamination and hollow-sounding tiles
  • Hotel shower and bath pan water intrusion
  • Pool and spa deck failure and lifting
  • Exterior façade tile displacement or efflorescence
  • Grout failure, discoloration, and joint cracking
  • Stone tile cracking from inadequate joint widths
  • Mortar composition failures ("Miami Sandwich" pattern)

Note for attorneys and insurance professionals: Our reports are structured to support damage claims with standards-referenced deficiency documentation, photographic evidence, and quantified measurement data. We are available for deposition and expert witness testimony.

How We Work

A Structured Investigation Process

Every construction defect claim engagement follows a consistent, defensible methodology. No shortcuts. No assumptions. Every finding is supported by instrument data, photographic documentation, or laboratory results.

01

Project Brief & Document Review

We begin by reviewing all available project documentation: original specifications, submittals, approved product data sheets, change orders, and any prior inspection reports. Understanding what was specified is essential to determining what failed to be delivered.

02

Site Investigation & Instrument Testing

On-site inspection using thermal imaging cameras, PosiTest AT-A bond strength meters, and physical sounding. We survey affected areas systematically and extend investigation to adjacent areas to establish failure scope. Selective removal is performed as needed to expose mortar beds, membranes, and substrate conditions.

03

Laboratory Specimen Analysis

Mortar samples, adhesive residues, setting materials, and stone or tile specimens are submitted to certified partner laboratories when physical or chemical analysis is needed. This step is critical for mortar composition disputes and product substitution claims.

04

Standards Analysis & Cause Assignment

All findings are analyzed against the TCNA Handbook, ANSI A108/A118/A136 series, NSI guidelines, and applicable product manufacturer requirements. Each deficiency is cited to the specific standard violated, the responsible party in the construction chain, and the causal mechanism.

05

Comprehensive Report Delivery

Deliverable is a professionally formatted forensic report including: executive summary, methodology description, findings with photographic documentation, standards citations for each deficiency, conclusions, and recommended remediation scope. Structured for use by legal counsel, insurance adjusters, and project owners.

06

Expert Support Through Resolution

We remain available for supplemental consultation, deposition testimony, mediation participation, and courtroom expert witness services as the claim proceeds. Our documentation is built from the start to support this function.

Technical Scope

What Our Forensic Investigation Examines

A comprehensive tile and stone forensic investigation covers the full installation system — not just the visible surface.

Mortar coverage and bond integrity — does coverage meet ANSI A108.5's 95% requirement for wet areas and exterior applications?
Movement joint placement and sizing — are expansion and movement joints present and correctly located per TCNA EJ171?
Waterproofing membrane condition — is the membrane intact, correctly lapped, and properly bonded at transitions and penetrations?
Substrate flatness and deflection — does the substrate meet ANSI tolerances? Is it capable of supporting the tile system without movement?
Mortar bed composition and thickness — was the correct sand-to-Portland ratio used? Was thickness within specification?
Setting material specification compliance — was the specified adhesive, mortar, or thin-set actually used, or was an unlisted substitution made?
Grout joint width and depth — do joint widths accommodate natural stone dimensional variation per NSI guidelines? Was grout fully packed?
Curing and protection records — was proper curing time observed? Was installed tile protected during subsequent trades?
Drain and threshold conditions — are transitions, drain flanges, and clamping rings properly integrated with the waterproofing system?
Thermal and moisture cycling evidence — does the failure pattern correlate with thermal expansion, moisture cycling, or seasonal movement?

Standards & References

Every Finding Cited to Industry Standards

Our reports don't just describe what went wrong — they cite the specific standard, section, and requirement that was violated. This is what separates a defensible expert opinion from a visual observation.

TCNA
Tile Council of North America Handbook
Installation method selection and substrate requirements
EJ171 — movement and expansion joint design
Mortar bed methods (F111, F113, F115)
Waterproofing and crack isolation membrane methods
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
A108.01–A108.19 — installation procedures and workmanship
A108.5 — bond coat coverage requirements (95% wet areas)
A118 series — setting and grouting material specifications
A136.1 — organic adhesive performance requirements
NSI
Natural Stone Institute
Dimension Stone Design Manual — joint width minimums
Stone installation and care guidelines
Material classification and finish requirements
Sealing and maintenance specifications

Who We Work With

Forensic Investigation Clients We Serve

Hotel Owners & Property Managers

You're facing tile failures in a revenue-generating asset. We document the defect scope, identify the responsible party, and give you the technical foundation to pursue remediation through the right channel — warranty claim, litigation, or insurance.

Attorneys & Insurance Adjusters

Construction defect claims require technically credible expert reports. We provide written opinions, standards-referenced deficiency documentation, and deposition and courtroom testimony that withstands opposing expert challenge.

General Contractors & Subcontractors

When a tile failure occurs on your project, you need an independent investigation to determine whether the defect is within your scope or attributable to design, specification, product, or another trade. We give you technically defensible answers.

What You Receive

Tangible Outcomes from a Forensic Engagement

Professionally Formatted Forensic Report
Structured for legal use: executive summary, methodology, findings with photographic documentation, standards citations, conclusions, and remediation scope.
Identified Root Cause, Not Just Symptoms
We identify the specific installation error, material failure, or design deficiency that caused the problem — not just a description of what broke.
Quantified Defect Scope
Defect extent documented with measurements, percentages, and instrument readings — not subjective impressions. Essential for remediation cost estimation.
Standards-Referenced Deficiency Citations
Every finding tied to the specific TCNA, ANSI, or NSI section that was violated — the foundation of a credible expert opinion.
Expert Witness Support
Available for deposition preparation, deposition testimony, mediation participation, and trial testimony. Report is designed to support expert witness function from day one.
Remediation Scope & Cost Basis
A technically grounded remediation scope narrative that gives contractors and estimators the information needed to accurately scope and price corrective work.

Project Experience

Forensic Cases We've Investigated

Failed travertine pool deck tile removed exposing oversanded Miami Sandwich mortar bed with collected sample jar Pool Deck
Luxury Hotel · Pool Deck · Travertine

Pool Deck Travertine Failure: "Miami Sandwich" Mortar Composition Defect

Travertine tiles on a luxury hotel pool deck began lifting, cracking, and separating shortly after project completion. Laboratory analysis of mortar specimens confirmed an oversanded mixture and S-Type mortar — the hallmarks of a "Miami Sandwich" installation — violating both the project specification and ANSI A108 requirements.

Outcome Lab analysis confirmed mortar composition violated project specifications. Contractor liability for defective installation established. Client pursued remediation claim with full forensic support.
Cut shower liner waterproofing membrane exposed at floor-to-wall transition in hotel bathroom during forensic investigation Hotel Showers
Hotel · 75+ Guest Bathrooms · Shower Waterproofing

Shower Liner Defects Discovered Across 75+ Hotel Guest Rooms

Recurring water intrusion from guest bathroom showers prompted a unit-by-unit forensic inspection across the property. Selective demolition exposed shower liners cut at the floor-to-wall transition in the majority of units — a systemic workmanship defect invisible to finished-surface inspection that had gone undetected until forensic investigation.

Outcome Full defect scope documented across all 75+ units. Forensic evidence of cut liners established clear contractor workmanship liability and precisely defined the remediation scope.
View All Case Studies

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