Hairline cracks in wall tiles after 18 months of installation.

Questioner

I bought wall tiles and glue + materials for the joints and spaces. According to the advertisement and the employee, the purchased tiles can be installed with minimum joint spaces. I used the tiles in the bathroom and toilet. 27 packs in the first purchase, two months later another 2 packs. Most of the tiles of the 27 show hairline cracks after 18 months. The tiles of the second purchase do not show hairline cracks. The supplier sent their own employee to assess the damage. They had given various reasons but the report states irregular joint spacing as the reason. My complaint was rejected.

Lawyer

As a consumer, you can claim the legal guarantee for hidden defects. This guarantee means that a product must do what you as a consumer can reasonably expect from it. If the tiles show defects within a reasonable period that are not due to normal use, the seller is in principle obliged to repair or replace them free of charge. You bought the tiles and associated materials from the same supplier, so in all probability you can assume that these products are suitable for use as advertised. In addition, the employee indicated that the tiles could be placed with minimal joint space. As a consumer, you may assume this information as leading. Now there is an expert report with a different reason, however you may disagree with its contents. You can then appoint a counter-expert yourself to assess the situation. If it turns out that the situation is different from what is stated in the first report, this can be used in a possible dispute. You may also consider seeking legal assistance. For example, through your legal expenses insurance, if you have one. A legal advisor can assess the situation and support you in the next steps. Please note that you are bound to certain deadlines for reporting and having defects remedied. Record everything properly and ensure that you continue to talk to the seller for a solution. ---------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.