Why does ceramic tile crack

These can be hairline cracks or more severe shattering, depending on the amount of strain the tile is put under. Made from hard ceramic or porcelain that undergoes high heat and pressure during manufacturing, tiles are well-equipped to withstand heavy bearing loads, footfall, extreme temperature fluctuations, exposure to moisture, and not to mention their fair share of impacts.

The problem often comes when external factors undermine their individual strength and durability. This is exactly what happens with tiles. For instance, in the situation where the surface tiles are laid on is unstable or cracked, the tiles will be pulled in two different directions that puts stress on them in opposing areas. The result is a visible split in the tile surface.

In most cases, you can repair tile cracks without having to shell out on a complete refit. Certainly with minor hairline cracks, you can use an epoxy filler to repair the tile surface. Their material durability may seem okay at first glance, but under constant use, it may chip and crack sooner. Be sure to check with your tile provider to learn about what the best option for your home may be. As a knowledgeable tile flooring contractor, we often get asked if heavy appliances could cause tile to crack.

The test makes sure that your tile can support up to pounds of pressure per square inch. This is a lot of pressure when you consider the fact that a side-by-side refrigerator that takes up 22 cubic feet only exerts 75 pounds of pressure per square inch. When the tiling is cracked, most homeowners assume that it has something to do with the tile itself.

However, any flooring repair contractor would be able to tell you that the tile flooring you walk on is just one layer in a flooring sandwich. Since the concrete underneath is vulnerable to cracking, control joints are used to make sure it cracks in a predictable straight line.

For this reason, your contractor should never install tiles over an area they know will eventually crack. 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. None are loose So far. The floor is 5 years old. Do you think I will be seeing more hollow tiles in the future or if they were going to happen they would have already happened in more places than just the 2 tiles I have already found. And also—— do the hollow tiles have anything to do with tiles next to them having hairline cracks or do you think the cracks in other tiles just related to a crack in substrate directly below them.

Whether you get more tiles that become hollow depends on what is causing them to be hollow. Without knowing the cause there is no way to predict the likely outcome.

Unless you do the forensic investigation there is no way of knowing if the cracks and hollow tiles are related or independent of each other. Thanks for your patience. As you can probably tell— the last thing I want to do is pull up any tiles. I have decided to live with the hairline cracks for now and see if they get any worse. Do you recommend I fill them with anything like silicon caulk etc. If you do recommend — what product exactly should I use.

I see alot of you tube videos recommending different things from silicon to wood glue and then matching paint to put over.