Tile flooring is a very durable type of flooring. It can withstand high traffic well. This is why it is a top choice for kitchens and foyers. Unfortunately, like other flooring types, it can suffer damage, especially if not cared for properly. One of the most significant problems you’ll encounter with tile floors is cracks.
How do cracks form on tile floors, and what can you do to fix and restore them?
5 Reasons Your Tile is Cracking
There could be several reasons why your tile floor is cracking. Here are the most common ones.
Poor Installation
If you’ve noticed cracks forming on your ceramic or porcelain tile floors, it could be because they weren’t installed properly. Amateurs may lay tile over floor control joints, which can move as the concrete subfloor expands and contracts. As a result, tile floors may crack.
Also, if your wood subfloor wasn’t properly laid or is damaged, floor tiles can crack as the wood expands. A poor quality of tile can also lead to cracking in the long run.
Something Heavy Was Dropped
Did someone in your household recently drop something heavy on your tile floors? Although tile floors are durable, dropping something heavy on them, such as a kettlebell or a cast-iron skillet, could crack the tile.
Heavy Furniture
As with dropping something heavy, weighty furniture or appliances such as a heavy sofa or refrigerator may also crack your tile floors. When these items are stationary, they typically don’t damage a tile.
Although these items are heavy, the weight distribution keeps them from cracking the tile. However, when these items are moved or dropped into place, they could break the tiles.
Environmental Issues
Heavy objects aren’t the only thing that can damage tile floors. Another issue that can cause these floors to crack is changes in the environment, particularly extreme temperature fluctuations.
This is primarily an issue with outdoor tiles due to extreme temperature changes from season to season. However, some indoor tiles may crack for this reason, especially when they are not professionally installed.
Foundation Issues
Another reason your tile floors may be cracking is due to foundation issues. If your floor is sinking due to settling from the foundation, it could crack your tile floors.
How to Get Broken Tiles Fixed
You don’t have to keep staring at unsightly broken tile floors. Nor do you have to get all of them replaced if there are only a few cracks. Here are some steps you can take to get your tile floors fixed.
Get a Foundation Inspection
A floor restoration specialist can repair or replace your broken tiles. However, before you hire a floor restoration team, you may want to solicit the help of a foundation contractor to ensure that your cracks aren’t related to structural problems with your home.
If your foundation is sinking, this can cause your floors to sink and crack the tile. A few ways to know if your floor problems are related to the foundation are to perform a few simple tests.
1. Take a marble or a penny and set it on the floor. If it starts to roll swiftly, you may have uneven floors, which could be related to a foundation issue.
2. Another option is to check your home’s windows and doors. If you have difficulty opening and closing them, it could be due to a foundation issue.
3. One more test you can perform before you call a foundation expert is to open and close your home’s cabinets. If they don’t align properly, it may be because the foundation is failing.
A foundation contractor will be able to tell you definitely if your floor cracks are related to foundation issues. These foundation problems need to be resolved before you can hire a floor restoration team to fix the floors.
Hire a Stone and Tile Floor Restoration Team
A stone floor restoration team specializing in tile floors can fix your broken tiles. In some cases, they can repair or replace individual broken tiles. If the issues with the cracked tiles are related to poor installation, they may recommend replacing all your floor tiles.
Stone floor restoration services like Restore-A-Floor in Brighton can work wonders on your floors. We have been fixing, cleaning, polishing and restoring all types of stone and tile surfaces with impressive results for more than 20 years. Replacing your floors should be a last resort, reviving and fixing your tile is possible with help from the pros.
Schedule a Stone Floor Restoration and Free Estimate Today!
Do you need one of our floor specialists to come out and assess the damage to your cracked tile floor? Call us today to schedule an appointment, and we’ll work quickly and diligently to restore your damaged floor tiles.