Are you tired of dealing with cracked tiles in your home? A beautiful tile floor can quickly lose its charm when cracks begin to appear. Understanding what causes tile floors to crack and how to prevent it is crucial whether you’re building a new house or remodeling.
Pre-Installation Prevention
Before installing your tile flooring, it is essential to ensure that your surface is correctly prepared. A professional tile expert should be hired to level out the subfloor with a leveler or the installation of plywood. After the floor has been leveled, it should be left to cure for an appropriate period. Once cured, vacuum all debris and dirt from the floor’s surface and mop it with a proper cleaning solution to remove any remaining dust or dirt. The presence of debris can cause cracks to form and weaken the integrity of the tile floor.
Do not apply tile directly to plywood or cement, regardless of how clean it is. It is crucial to ensure that an anti-fracture membrane is laid between your tile and the subfloor to prevent tile fractures. Anti-fracture membranes can absorb any cracking energy and disperse it across a larger area of the floors, preventing cracking and keeping all the pressure off of a single tile.
Post-Installation Prevention
Once your tile has been properly installed by a professional, proper maintenance and cleaning can help extend its life and prevent cracking. Regular cleaning of your grout and tile can prevent mold growth, which can spread and lift your tiles. Consider sealing your grout to protect its pores and prevent moisture from seeping in and promoting mold growth.
A professional grout and tile cleaning can also help with maintaining your tile floor. It is advisable to have a professional remove mold, remediate cracks, and restore your grout or broken tiles regularly to make your floor last longer. Proper maintenance will help prevent further cracking and other issues, which will help maintain the beauty and longevity of your tile floor.
To prevent tile floor fractures, it’s essential to properly prepare your surface before installation. A skilled tile professional can level the subfloor, clean the surface thoroughly, and lay an anti-fracture membrane between the tile and the subfloor. The membrane is designed to absorb any cracking energy and disperse it across a larger area of the floors, keeping the pressure off of a single tile and preventing cracking.
After installation, it’s crucial to maintain and clean your tile floors regularly. This will help prevent mold growth, which can seep into your grout and cause tiles to lift and break. Professional grout and tile cleaning can help maintain your floors and expand their life, keeping them from developing cracks and other issues.
Additionally, avoid placing heavy objects directly on your tile floors. This can put pressure on individual tiles and cause them to crack or lift. Use furniture pads or coasters under heavy items to distribute the weight more evenly.
In order to stop further damage, it’s critical to address any cracked tiles as soon as you notice them. A cracked tile can be an indication of an underlying problem, such as a subfloor issue or poor installation.
At Ceramic Tile Center, we understand the importance of having properly installed and maintained tile floors. Our team of experts can help you install new tile flooring, fix already cracked tiles, and provide grout and tile restoration services. We want you to enjoy your beautiful floors for years to come, which is why we offer a free in-home estimate and demo.
In summary, preventing cracked tiles is all about proper installation, maintenance, and care. Hiring a skilled tile professional to install your floors, thoroughly preparing the surface, and maintaining and cleaning them regularly are key to preventing tile fractures. Don’t let cracked tiles ruin your beautiful tile floor. Contact Ceramic Tile Center today to learn more about how we can help you maintain your floors and prevent cracking.