My Ceramic Tile Floor Is Cracking

If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile.

My ceramic tile floor is cracking.

Cracked tiles on floors and walls is a problem because it can be difficult to track down the source of the crack. Occasionally a crack along the joint between grout and tile appears to be a crack in the tile s surface. Or if your ceramic tile was installed over newly laid concrete the tile may crack as the concrete settles. However cracks wider than 1 8 inch will eventually transfer to the tile it notes.

For a larger more visible area of cracked tile contact a tile contractor for expert help. In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around 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. In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile.

Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack. Whatever the cause you can remedy the cracks yourself without having to hire a professional. Ceramic tile can develop hairline cracks for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you dropped something heavy on the tile such as a cast iron skillet.

Ceramic floor tiles especially larger tiles need an even distribution of mortar underneath them. Generally hairline cracks in the concrete will not present an issue to the tile floor above. 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. Grout hugs the edges of floor tiles and sometimes seamlessly blends with the tiles exposed surface.