We have been in our new house for three months and are starting to see cracks developing in the marble floor. The contractor told us these were “settling cracks.” Will this continue to be a problem? Can the cracks be repaired, or should we replace th

Settling cracks are common in newly constructed homes. These cracks may continue to develop for over a year. I would suggest replacing the tiles after approximately one year, or until the settling subsides. Be sure to purchase extra tiles—and now is the time to buy them, since matching the stone exactly may prove difficult a year from now.

TIP When replacing tiles over cracks it is advisable to use a setting material with some elasticity to allow for expansion.