Why Are My Wall Tiles Cracking

When a ceramic tile i s made it is made of a clay base and then a protective finish is baked onto it.

Why are my wall tiles cracking.

The concrete shifts when it cracks and the adhesive used to lay the tile demands the tile moves with it. To counter this apply an uncoupling membrane to the concrete before the tile is installed. If you have concrete under your tile and you notice a long crack that runs through several pieces chances are it s because there s a crack underneath. Tiles laid over existing cracks usually crack due to uneven floor movement along the tile.

If the tiles are on your patio a common cause for cracking is the freeze thaw cycle. If the tiles keep cracking then there is a problem with the walls. In areas with cold winters porous tiles like terracotta contract at freezing temperatures and then expand during mild spells eventually leading to cracking. The clay might not be completely uniform.

This membrane bonds to the concrete floor and then bonds to the tile. In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are particularly weak under compression and susceptible to cracks from dropped items such as kitchenware. Cracks isolated to one tile often result from impact damage.

In this process mistakes can be made. In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around the tile. One of the most common reasons that tiles crack is because they are not constructed properly. To confirm that a heavy impact cracked the tile you should inspect the crack s shape.