My Ceramic Tile Floor Is Cracking

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.

My ceramic tile floor is cracking.

Ceramic tile can develop hairline cracks for a variety of reasons. In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile. For a larger more visible area of cracked tile contact a tile contractor for expert help. 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.

Ceramic floor tiles especially larger tiles need an even distribution of mortar underneath them. Perhaps you dropped something heavy on the tile such as a cast iron skillet. Or if your ceramic tile was installed over newly laid concrete the tile may crack as the concrete settles. Occasionally a crack along the joint between grout and tile appears to be a crack in the tile s surface.

This is known as reflective cracking and it can be easily prevented by adding a crack isolation membrane during installation. If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile. Grout hugs the edges of floor tiles and sometimes seamlessly blends with the tiles exposed surface. In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around the tile.

Generally hairline cracks in the concrete will not present an issue to the tile floor above. Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack. Cracked tiles on floors and walls is a problem because it can be difficult to track down the source of the crack. 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.