My Ceramic Tile Floor Is Cracking

Perhaps you dropped something heavy on the tile such as a cast iron skillet.

My ceramic tile floor is cracking. Ceramic floor tiles especially larger tiles need an even distribution of mortar underneath them. In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around the tile. As a general rule tiles larger than 12x12 inches should have mortar applied to the back of the tile as well as the floor to help ensure adequate coverage. For a larger more visible area of cracked tile contact a tile contractor for expert help.

Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack. In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile. If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile. Cracked tiles on floors and walls is a problem because it can be difficult to track down the source of the crack.

Ceramic tile can develop hairline cracks for a variety of reasons. If your tile s crack seems to run along the tile s outer edge closely inspect the crack to determine if it s really on the tile or just. However cracks wider than 1 8 inch will eventually transfer to the tile it notes. Generally hairline cracks in the concrete will not present an issue to the tile floor above.

Occasionally a crack along the joint between grout and tile appears to be a crack in the tile s surface. Whatever the cause you can remedy the cracks yourself without having to hire a professional. This is known as reflective cracking and it can be easily prevented by adding a crack isolation membrane during installation. In a case where cracking is minimal or has occurred in only a small number of tiles and or the floor is in a location where aesthetics don t matter to you the easiest most inexpensive solution is diy patching.