How to prevent tile floors from cracking
You’ll know that for interior designers and architects, tile flooring offers an ideal combination of
durability and versatility. Tiles can handle heavy foot traffic while maintaining a high-quality finish.
The problem comes when tiles aren’t installed or kept properly. Cracking can have a number of causes, and some of them may not be immediately obvious.
This is an article dedicated to explaining why tiles crack, and how to prevent it from happening.
Why do tiles crack?
Often, the reason why tiles crack is a culmination of stress within the tile system.
Tiles are made from rigid materials, and this means that when there is too movement in the structure below, they cannot adapt and flex accordingly.
This movement could be due to; shifting or expansion of the substrate, a lack of adequate support, or substandard adhesive. Conversely, the opposite may cause cracks – too much rigidity or a lack of movement in the expansion joints. Heavy loads on areas not designed to support them could also be a cause. The end result is a placement of stress on the tile surface, which causes the crack.
So as we’ve touched upon, cracking is not necessarily about the tiles themselves – a variety of factors are likely to be at play.
Essential prevention tips
Now that we’ve discussed some events that can lead to cracking, it’s time to talk about how to prevent this scenario:
Prepare the subfloor
Proper subfloor preparation is essential. The subfloor is the base for tile installation. It should be stable, level and able to provide the required support.
Moisture and debris within the subfloor could impact installation and make the tiles above more likely to crack at some point. The subfloor should be inspected and prepared diligently in order to avoid structural weakness that could lead to problems in the future.
Use a decoupling membrane
A decoupling membrane that sits underneath the tile and above the subfloor absorbs movement and reduces stress to the tiles.
Decoupling membranes are also beneficial in buildings where vibration or temperature changes (two things which can cause movements and expansion / contraction) are a feature.
Proper adhesive application
Adhesive coverage must be comprehensive; otherwise, hollow spaces may develop beneath the surface of the tiles, making areas of the floor vulnerable to pressure from foot traffic or heavy loads.
Full adhesive coverage, the correct adhesive type and correct application of adhesive are all important to avoiding weak points that may lead to tiles cracking.
Include expansion joints
Expansion joints accommodate the movement – including contraction and expansion – which all buildings are subject to. Tiled floors need expansion joints to avoid a build-up of pressure that can lead to cracks, lifted tiles, or grout failure.
Essentially flexible buffers within the tile layout; expansion joints allow for movement, which avoids the transfer of stress to the tiles themselves.
Choose durable tiles
It might sound obvious, but the type of tiles you choose is important to preventing cracks.
Porcelain tiles are dense and strong, and ceramic tiles also offer good durability – so which material is more suitable? For the purpose of avoiding cracks, the strength of porcelain tiles makes them a superior choice to ceramic. Like ceramic, porcelain tiles offer a world of design options, thanks to custom porcelain tile printing.
When fitting out a commercial property, tiles rated for high traffic are typically needed to withstand the day-to-day stress of people and equipment moving around.
Regular maintenance
Another apparent ‘no brainer’ that is worth covering in more detail. Even well-installed tiles benefit from regular maintenance. The upkeep of tiled surfaces helps to identify potential issues early before they develop into larger structural problems.
Routinely inspect grout and joints for damage, replace loose or damaged tiles without delay, check high-impact areas for signs of stress and keep floors clean to reduce abrasive wear.
Managers of busy commercial spaces should include regular inspections in their maintenance schedule, in order to maximise the lifespan of tiled floors and protect investment in their infrastructure.
Thinking long term
When installed correctly, ceramic and porcelain tile floors can retain their function and aesthetics for decades. Consider the factors we have outlined in this article, and make an investment in tiles pay off for your design project.