Why does floor tile crack

These types of cracks will usually be located close to the edge of the concrete, not the centre. The water evaporates as the asphalt recovers and the asphalt shrinks. This complex mechanism allows the particles to bind closely together and aggregate inside the concrete bond. Yet this process often has the residual effect of stressing tile built on it before the concrete has completely healed.

That may be possible. For this test floor tiles are run through a system that exerts loads on a1-inch square region that is not supported. The tile is considered consistent with these requirements as long as the tile does not crack below pounds of pressure. Most tiles meet a minimum of pounds. Several specialty tiles far outweigh the minima. When an overzealous mover lets a refrigerator, table, dishwasher or a cabinet land too hard on the floor, this is known to be a harsh blow that may possibly break the tile.

The Concrete Substratum of the Tile has Split Over Time — It is not uncommon to have a long crack or two running through them in concrete basement floors, driveways, or patios, particularly if the concrete is several years old. In this case, each tile would hold only pounds — far from its breaking point.

Based on this math, a four-legged appliance would need to weigh over 1, pounds before it puts enough stress on a single tile to cause any damage. Stationary appliances rarely crack tiles.

The problem comes when attempting to move them. Letting a heavy oven or even a cabinet fall would create a sharp blow, concentrated to one area of the tile. So, furniture and appliances are most likely to cause damage during a move or right after a new tile floor is installed. Make sure you trust the moving company or flooring installer since their team will be responsible for safely moving your appliances and furniture. All concrete inevitably cracks. When contractors pour the concrete for a subfloor, they intentionally weaken some areas to control where the cracks appear.

Control joints allow a concrete subfloor to crack in an even, straight line, minimizing damage. However, an unsuspecting installer might place tiles directly over the control joints. You can identify a tile crack related to subfloor issues if the fracture spans multiple tiles.

If a relatively straight crack surfaces over the length of your floor, a control joint is likely the cause. If your tiles are placed over a plywood subfloor, your cracks might be related to the joists.

Placing tile over plywood is challenging because wood has natural give and flex, while tile is rigid. When adhering these two materials to one another, the wooden beams running under the subfloor, the joists, become crucial. These beams hold up the subfloor, the tile, the mortar and any furniture and people above. When the joists are too far apart, the wooden subfloor can bow. The tile, attached with mortar, is forced to bend along with it, which creates a crack.

While ceramic can tolerate temperature changes, tiles are porous materials. The more porous the tile, the more moisture it can hold, and the more it will be affected by rapid changes in temperature and moisture levels. Just as glass cracks under extreme temperature changes, so can terracotta, ceramic and porcelain. Tile floors with properly spaced expansion joints give each tile plenty of space to expand and contract. You should make sure that an anti-fracture membrane has been laid between your tile and the subfloor.

Anti-fracture membranes are designed to absorb any cracking energy and disperse it across a larger area of the floors. This keeps all that pressure off of a single tile and prevents cracking. Once your tile has been properly installed by a professional, proper maintenance and cleaning can help expand its life , keeping it from developing cracks and other issues.

A professional grout and tile cleaning can help with this. Having a professional remove mold, remediate cracks, and restore your grout or broken tiles will make your floor last longer. You should also clean your grout and tile on a regular basis to prevent mold growth and keep it from spreading and lifting your tiles.

Consider sealing your grout to protect its pores as well. Whether you need a professional to properly install your new tile flooring or you need a grout and tile restoration, our team at Groutsmith Tulsa is ready to help.

We want to take care of your tile needs so that you can enjoy your beautiful floors for years to come. See our grout and tile cleaning services for more information on how we can help maintain your floors.

And if you are ready for a properly installed tile floor or need help fixing already cracked tile, contact us for a free in-home estimate and demo. See details and all offers. March 12, Groutsmith Tulsa Beautiful tile can stop looking so beautiful if it lifts or cracks.

What Causes Tile Floor Cracks? Without proper subfloor preparation, your tiles can crack. This can happen because the subfloors are either left uneven or dirt and large debris still cover its surface as the tile is laid. Concrete Settlement— Concrete is porous. It absorbs water and expands and contracts due to temperature changes.