How To Repair Hairline Crack In Tile

When installed correctly, tiles offer a robust, durable and practical solution for floors and walls throughout the home. However, this doesn't mean that they're completely devoid of problems. In some instances you may find your tiles take cracked, which can arise from a number of causes.

If this sounds familiar and you're facing the dilemma of a croaky tile or two, we're hither, answering the all-important question: "my tiles are cracking, what exercise I do next?". Join us equally we take a closer await at some of the reasons why tiles crack, as well as what you tin can do to set up them.

How tin tiles crack?

Croaky tiles are usually the result of other underlying issues, mostly likely incorrect installation. Even so, it could also exist due to extreme temperature changes, cracks in the substrate (or surface the tile is laid on), supporting too much weight or something as elementary equally a heavy particular being dropped on them.

To assistance you lot amend sympathise how to repair cracked tiles, you need to identify the crusade and go from there. Here are a few more details on some of the most common reasons y'all may be facing croaky tiles in your abode:

Incorrect installation

In order for a tile to evangelize optimal performance, it'due south essential they're installed correctly. Otherwise you may detect yourself with a whole host of issues, including cracked tiles. Tiling installation mistakes can be plush and includes:

Improper adhesive application: tiles should be fixed down with adhesive that covers the entire dorsum of the tile. If there are any gaps or voids between the tile and the surface, this tin impact their integrity, causing weak spots and eventually cracks
Unsuitable adhesion: tiles need to be securely fixed to the surface using adhesive with flexible properties that allows for small movements between rigid tiles and the substrate without impacting the stability of the tile. Using the wrong cloth similar a grout or cement mix to apply tiles or not applying a flexible membrane can cause tiles to fracture

Hard impacts

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are incredibly strong, simply if field of study to hard impacts similar a heavy item being dropped on them, you lot may find they crack – particularly if there are other installation issues.

Begetting too much weight

As a rule, tiles are designed to support heavy loads, but not all tiles are designed for this application. For instance, if y'all install a wall tile onto floors, they may non be equipped to handle a heavy item similar a fridge or washing machine for sustained lengths of time.

Cracked substrate

Especially with floors, if the surface below the tiles cracks, it can also effect in one or even multiple tile cracks above. This can be due to small movements such as physical or wood expanding and contracting, or due to an installation without a flexible membrane or screed that stretches equally the substrate moves.

Tiling over control joints

In large areas with physical floors, y'all take control joints designed to permit for the textile to aggrandize and contract. If incorrectly tiled over without some form of flexible membrane, you lot may see fractures in these isolated areas.

Extreme temperature changes

Inside your home, temperature changes may be nominal and shouldn't drastically bear on the integrity of your tiles. Notwithstanding, if you lot're using tiles outside that aren't suitable for outdoor apply with frost-proofing properties, extreme temperature changes can make them more prone to great.

Unsuitable or low-quality tiles

Not all tiles are made equal and some variations aren't suitable for specific applications. Equally we mentioned higher up, using indoor tiles outside or installing wall tiles on floors can go out you more susceptible to tiles cracking in the long run.

Why do tiles scissure?

When information technology comes to why tiles crack, the brusque respond is that the tile surface is put under also much stress that results in the material giving style and fracturing. These tin exist hairline cracks or more severe shattering, depending on the amount of strain the tile is put under.

Made from difficult ceramic or porcelain that undergoes loftier oestrus and pressure during manufacturing, tiles are well-equipped to withstand heavy bearing loads, footfall, extreme temperature fluctuations, exposure to wet, and not to mention their off-white share of impacts. The problem often comes when external factors undermine their individual strength and durability.

Even if you don't accept a vast understanding of the science involved in tile production and installation, it doesn't have a physics degree to know that any material will eventually break when put under force per unit area. This is exactly what happens with tiles.

Due to their rigid format, there's little to no give in tiles one time they're in situ, meaning they rely on their surrounding environment to support them and ensure they remain in place and intact.

For instance, in the situation where the surface tiles are laid on is unstable or cracked, the tiles volition be pulled in two different directions that puts stress on them in opposing areas. The result is a visible split in the tile surface.

Similarly, if they're undergoing strain due to heavy loads and aren't the right tile for this application, information technology's only a affair of time before the tile begins to buckle under the pressure of excessive weight. This is fifty-fifty more likely if tiles aren't installed correctly and have voids in the adhesive layer that creates weakened areas below the tile surface.

It also doesn't take a genius to work out that if yous drop a heavy item from meridian, like a casserole pot or heavy-based saucepan, this volition utilise pressure and stress in a concentrated expanse of the tile, resulting in cracks and shattering.

What can you exercise to repair cracked tile southward?

With a meliorate agreement of how and why tiles crevice, now it's time to await at what y'all can do to repair them. In most cases, yous can repair tile cracks without having to shell out on a consummate refit. Certainly with modest hairline cracks, you can use an epoxy filler to repair the tile surface. For bigger, more visible cracks you may need to remove the entire tile and supercede it.

DIY tile fixes offer an affordable and convenient alternative to retiling a complete area – and we'll tell you exactly how you can carry out these tile crack repairs.

Minor cracks

Fifty-fifty though a lot of tile cracks aren't that noticeable, it's important to accost them early. If you don't, you lot could stop up with a bigger problem further downwards the line, as dirt, moisture and general wear will take their toll quicker.

Repairing small, hairline cracks is relatively simple with the right tools for the job. For this method, you'll need a small amount of clear epoxy (a specialist binding glue) and some pigment that matches the colour of your tile.

Requite the tile a thorough clean using washing detergent or a specific tile cleaner to remove any dirt and grime from the surface. Allow the tile and the crack to fully dry as this will ensure the epoxy has the best adhesion to the tile
Utilise the epoxy along the crack, allowing it to seep down into the gap. In one case the gap is filled, level information technology off with the tile surface covering 0.5cm either side of the crack and allow it to dry. Epoxy gum dries apace, so exist sure to work fast when applying it and try to avoid getting it on the unaffected areas of the tile.
In one case dry out, utilise a stanley knife to remove the excess epoxy from around the crack
Utilise a layer of paint to tint the epoxy to match the colour of the tile

Big tile cracks

If you're stuck with a bigger crevice or a shattered tile, the above method isn't an choice. Instead, your best bet is to remove the tile and replace it with a spare tile in the aforementioned design, colour and size. If y'all don't have whatsoever spare tiles, you'll need to order new ones. However, continue in mind that tile batches can vary fifty-fifty with the same model, so at that place may exist a difference in color or finish than the original ones.

As tile fixes go, this one is a little trickier to pull off than the higher up. If it's non executed correctly, you run the hazard of damaging the surrounding tiles and creating an even bigger job. Luckily, nosotros've laid out the procedure in easy-to-follow steps below:

Using a special grout scraper, remove the grout from around the tile border of the affected tiles. Information technology's of import to remove all the grout right to the edges equally when y'all come to the adjacent stride, you won't impact any other tiles.
Lay an onetime towel over the cracked tile and smash it with a lump hammer right in the centre. By removing the grout and corking the tile in the middle rather than trying to prize it out from the side, you avoid putting stress on the surrounding tiles and dissentious them.
Remove the shards of cleaved tiles and chip out the remaining pieces that are stuck down using a chisel and hammer.
Adjacent, use the chisel and hammer to remove any remaining grout and adhesive from the substrate and requite it a concluding sweep out to remove all the debris.
Mix upwardly a pocket-sized amount of tile agglutinative and apply to the underside of the tile using a notched trowel. Make certain you fully embrace the surface to forestall air pockets one time the adhesive is fix.
Carefully place the new tile into the centre of the pigsty and gently press information technology into position, making sure the new tile lines up with the existing ones and is laid completely flat. One time in position, leave the adhesive to dry out fully.
Next, apply grout into the gaps between the new tile using a grout float until the gaps are completely filled. Then take a clammy sponge and wipe away any excess grout and allow information technology to dry overnight. Follow up with a wipe downward to remove whatever grout residue and you're all set.

So there you have it, answers to those called-for questions on how and why tiles crack, equally well equally some handy tips for cracked tile repair.

Of form, if repairing cracked tiles using the in a higher place methods isn't an option, you'll find plenty of premium-quality floor tiles and wall tiles correct here, and our blog is packed full of ideas on how to use them, also!