Residents of various hdb flats across singapore have experienced cracking floor tiles over the last few days with cases reported at toa payoh fernvale and woodlands stomp contributor bala who.
Multiple floor tiles cracked.
Cracks in concrete substrate.
Multiple housing and development board hdb flats across singapore experienced floor tiles that popped and cracked spontaneously the past few days.
In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile.
Flats in punggol sengkang bukit panjang.
If the crack occurs at the meeting point between two slabs that were laid at different times then there should.
Sometimes hairline cracks in tile floors are one of the first tell tale indications that soil or moisture is affecting a foundation.
Although cracks sometimes indicate serious structural issues they re often a symptom of superficial damage.
It s possible that soil movement or water has caused your foundation to shift move or even be pushed in an upward direction.
As a result the tiles will start to bend and eventually crack.
If your floor cracked after receiving a sharp blow from a heavy object such as a dropped cooking pot the only thing you ll need to do is replace the damaged tiles.
Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack.
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.
Excessive movement in the substrate will cause a crack in the tiled surface that runs through several tiles in a roughly straight line.
There are several reasons for cracked tile.
And be more careful in future.
In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around the tile.
If you notice a crack that extends across multiple tiles this is a sign that the concrete underneath has cracked.
Reasons for tile cracking.
If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile.
If 1 or more of your floor or counter tiles have cracked whether from regular wear and tear or from having a heavy object dropped on them you don t necessarily need to replace the cracked tile.
Cracked floor tiles aren t cause for immediate panic.
In many cases cracked tile floors are signs of foundation issues.
If the tiles are laid over a slab of concrete and a crack appears in the tiled surface then that slab is moving and there is a structural issue.
However if your contractor spaces the joists too far apart the tile flooring will have nothing underneath to support all that weight.
Read this guide to troubleshoot your cracked floor tile.
