Besides experiencing a heavy blow due to a drop or impact, numerous other factors can cause cracks to appear on your tiled floor. In this blog post, we’ll explore the factors that can lead to cracked tiles and provide insights on preventing and addressing them effectively.
Heavy load
Your floors are not invincible, so any large appliances and furniture resting on your tiles can eventually wear them down. Refrigerators, stand-alone freezers, and washing machines can all contribute to these types of tile cracks. However, this is only an issue if the stationary object cannot adequately spread its weight around via multiple points of contact with the floor. Most manufacturers build floor tiles to withstand up to 250 pounds of pressure without breaking.
How to prevent: Make sure you purchase load-bearing appliances that don’t even come close to breaking that 250-pound threshold. Also, these objects wreak havoc on tiles when you move them, so exercise extreme caution when you undertake a home renovation. Additionally, hire local appliance installers with plenty of experience, as tiles are most susceptible to damage during the initial installation process. Source: Angi
Control joints
Control joints in concrete are essentially preplanned cracks. Since it is almost certain that concrete will crack at some point in the future, control joints allow you to place those cracks in a predictable fashion.
Control joints are intended to create a weakened area in the concrete and regulate where cracks will occur, normally as a straight line, rather than chaotically.
How to avoid this: It is not prudent to use tile to bridge a seam that you know in advance will widen. It is practically a given that the tile will crack.
If the tile has not yet been installed, avoid control joists or use an isolation membrane. Source: TheSpruce
Foundation damage
Raised tiles or uneven floor surfaces on opposite sides of a crack might indicate slab foundation damage. Tiled floor surfaces generally mirror the level of their substrate. When a slab foundation heaves or settles, attached floor coverings move accordingly. If the opposite sides of your crack differ in height, you should remove the tiles and inspect the condition of the underlying foundation. Source: Ehow
If you need expert advice or assistance in dealing with cracked tiles or any other flooring concerns, don’t hesitate to call us. Our dedicated team is here to help ensure your tiles stay in good condition, providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment for your home!
