If there are any unsupported areas beneath your tile along the edge or in the corner of the tile, walking on it will eventually work what little support it may have loose and the tile will move down and up every time you step on it.
The tile moves, the grout does not. The grout loses the battle and starts to crack out. To fix this you need to remove and properly reinstall the tile. If it is only one tile it may be an isolated incident in your installation and you will be fine. If you have cracked grout all over your tile installation it was either improperly installed or.
If you have a wooden subfloor and your tile is directly installed to it — go pick out new tile. That is more than likely an improper installation. While tile can be installed directly to plywood it requires a VERY specific method. And I do mean very specific. More than likely it is simply installed improperly probably by someone that did not know any better.
Start reading this paragraph all over. If you have Hardiebacker, Durock, or any other type of cementious backerboard beneath your tile it should have been installed in the proper manner. It needs to have thinset beneath it, it needs to be screwed down properly , it needs proper spacing, etc. More than likely there is no thinset beneath your backerboard. Thinset is not used to adhere the backerboards in any way — it is used simply to fill voids beneath the backerboard.
It is placed there specifically to prevent your tile from moving. Moving tile leads to cracking grout. But you knew that — or you should start reading this page all over. This would be another time to start shopping for new tile. You do not have expansion space around the perimeter of your tiled room.
No, the tile will not expand — but your walls do. If there is no space between your tile and walls it will force all the pressure into your tile.
You do not have expansion joints in your tile. This is simply a grout joint filled with a matching caulk or silicone to allow for movement without cracking your grout or tenting your tile. Most of these measurements are over 25 feet. So in English: if your room is not 25 feet long or wide this is not the reason your grout is cracking. If your tile is on concrete — directly on concrete — your slab may not have proper expansion joints or the tile installation did not honor those.
If installing tile directly to concrete and you should not there needs to be a soft joint directly above, or two inches on either side, of the slabs expansion joints. If not your slab will move differently than your tile.
And there could be a host of other, less apparent or less common problems. However, if your grout is cracking it is probably for one of the reasons above. The method of repairing it depends entirely on why it is cracking. Most of it, as with most tile installation problems, is due to improper installation.
If you have any questions about the proper way to repair your tile or grout just leave a comment. I answer every one of them — really, look around the site. Next post: A Pile of Tile. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
Thank you for being so generous with time and info. All of that works great, no leaks. I then grabbed durock and cut it to size, then installed on top of subfloor set in thinset with cement board screws put in every 8 inches, as per manufacturers instructions.
My problem is, after installing 6 x 24 porcelain tile on the floor itself, 48 hours post install the floor tiles seem to have some give when walked across. I checked during install and back buttered tiles to be safe, my coverage is great and the cement board under it is perfectly installed.
The first step is to completely remove the old grout from the affected area. If the grout is truly crumbling, this might not take much effort. Vacuum the crack thoroughly to capture any dust left behind. Next, choose a replacement that is less likely to crack: silicone caulk.
If your cracks are caused by shifting surfaces, a line of caulk may survive where grout failed. Silicone caulk sets quickly and can be difficult to work with. When pressure comes from the tile, they have some give, preventing the cracks from occurring. This is not a solution if your subfloor has extreme deflection. One brand we like is the TruColor by Bostik. This grout also offers antimicrobial additives to lessen the possibility of mildew.
If you purchase grout, ask about the need for caulk - Caulk is necessary in showers and areas larger than 20' of tile. It is recommended on backsplashes and the perimeter of your room. This means the perimeter of all rooms. Grout should never be installed against the wall, under your baseboard. This is an area which requires caulk or no material. The Tile Council of North America has many recommendations for installing tile.
Are all of them necessary? The answer is no. They are simply recommendations. If you follow their recommendations, or select and installer who will, your chance of having a failed installation is greatly lessened.
Visit the TCNA website for more information on installation. At Crossville Wholesale Carpet, we strive to deliver the best information to our customers. Next, grab some matching caulk. Apply the caulk to the area that needs repair.
Smooth it out. Let it dry. Here are a few key things to keep in mind to have your grout last long: Clean Your Grout. To learn how to clean grout, check out our guide on it here. Buy Tile Grout Cleaner Here. Choose Your Grout Now. Shop By Color. Shop Best Sellers. Join our social networks.
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