What Causes Tile Cracking And How To Prevent It?
As experienced tile installers, we are often asked why tiles crack and what prevention strategies are available. After all, every homeowner expects newly installed flooring to last for years without issue, so it’s understandable that discovering cracked tiles is cause for concern.
And if you’re in the market for tiles or want to preserve the ones you have, the best protection is knowledge—if you know the common reasons for cracked tiles, you can protect them.
Read on, and we’ll discuss the most common reasons tile cracks, crack types, repair options, and how to protect your tile.
What Causes Tile Cracking?
There are three reasons why tiles crack: installation error, environmental factors, and heavy or dropped objects. However, each of the three reasons leads to a specific crack pattern that we’ll cover, and how to fix the underlying problem.
- Installation Issues
The most likely cause of tile cracking is poor installation or inadequate subfloor installation.
- Poor installation can occur for several reasons, such as laying tile on an uneven surface or using the wrong adhesive, all of which threaten the tile’s base and can lead to cracks due to everyday use or heavy furniture.
- Crack pattern: Poor installation cracks have loose tiles and erratic cracking.
- How to fix: Unfortunately, the only solution for poor installation is to hire a reputable tile installer to retile the space.
- Inadequate subfloor installation means the tile installer did not install the subfloor evenly or correctly. For instance, if the subfloor is not level or not properly cleaned beforehand, it compromises the integrity of the base, increasing the likelihood that the tiles will shift and crack.
- Crack pattern: You’ll see cracks along the corners and tile edges.
- How to fix: The best way to fix subfloor issues is to hire a flooring contractor to level or reinforce the subfloor.
- Environmental
Cracking isn’t limited to installation errors; it can also occur due to environmental factors, such as a home settling or temperature fluctuations.
- Homes settle, but if they shift too much, it puts a lot of tension on the tile, which can cause it to crack.
- Crack pattern: You’ll notice either grout gaps or thin cracks along many tiles.
- How to fix: If your home flexes, it’s best to consult a flooring contractor to determine the best option. The usual fixes are stabilizing the subfloor or adding flexible membranes to prevent the tile from overflexing.
- Extreme temperature changes will also make the tile and adhesive expand and contract, leading to joint pressure and tile cracking.
- Crack pattern: You’ll notice oddly placed cracks that fan out.
- How to fix: Ideally, your tile installer will add better grout or use expansion joints to stabilize the tiles.
- Heavy Furniture Or Drops
Lastly, tile cracks occur when heavy furnishings are placed on the tiles or when heavy items are dropped on them.
- Crack pattern: You’ll find chips, cracks that are more uniform in appearance, and pressure cracks coming from the central crack. For instance, if your furniture legs are circular, the crack may form a circular pattern with radiating small pressure cracks from the breakpoint.
- How to fix: To address heavy furnishings, use area rugs and/or felt pads. You should also replace damaged tiles. For drops, when you have to move large pieces of furniture, ensure they are on felt pads or a thick rug so they slide across the tile, use a dolly, or have help lifting.
Tile Material And How They Crack
It stands to reason that tile materials respond differently to stress. Here are the primary reasons why each material cracks:
- Natural Stone: Natural stone, such as marble, cracks primarily from inherent flaws or improper installation.
- Ceramic: Ceramic mainly cracks from impacts.
- Porcelain: It is pretty durable, yet it will crack if the subfloor shifts.
How To Protect Your Tiles
If you want to avoid cracked tiles, then these are the steps you should take to prevent damage to your floors:
- Always use felt pads under furniture
- Add an area rug to tiled spaces that are high traffic
- Do reseal the grout when it shows signs of damage
- Don’t leave water on the tiles; spot clean immediately
- Hire a reputable tile installer to install your floors correctly
- Inspect your grout and tiles regularly
- Repair imperfections immediately
- Call a flooring contractor at the first signs of wear, if you’re unsure how to repair
Final Thoughts On Tile Cracks
Tile may be one of the most durable flooring materials, but even it needs care and consideration to ensure it remains in showroom condition for decades to come. The best way to protect your tiles from cracking is knowledge: know what causes cracks so you can prevent them, identify the culprit in the crack pattern, and find the right solution.
If you’re interested in installing tile or having tile cracks assessed or fixed, then give us a call at Brothers Flooring for a free consultation!
