How to Prevent Floor Tile Cracking and Why It Occurs

For modern homes, tile floors are an excellent floor finish that work well with underfloor heating. Although they are a low-maintenance floor covering, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep your tiles looking their best. We’ll look at how floor tiles can crack in this post, along with some tips for keeping them from happening. You will learn:

The top 5 causes of cracked floor tiles

How decoupling membranes function to prevent this harm from occurring

Why tile flooring are best suited for floor heating

What UFH system is most effective in stopping tile cracks?

Five Causes of Floor Tile Cracking

incorrect installation of tiles

To avoid potentially damaging floor tiles, make sure you’re putting your new tiles appropriately and on a substrate base that has been set out properly. There are several installation errors that might cause tiles to fracture. Make sure the concrete screed is level, well-cured, and installed with the proper control joints in place before installing tiles on a concrete flooring to prevent any weak spots. Inappropriate usage of expansion joints, which are the spaces between tiles that are grouted over to help with the floor surface’s natural expansion and contraction, can also cause tiles to crack and shatter. A waterproof membrane is a terrific option if you’re utilizing tiles in a bathroom since it will prevent any potential water penetration that might impact the substrate and harm the floor surface. A skilled tile installer should always install tiles.

Poor-quality tiles

Tiles may be made from a wide range of materials, including porcelain, natural stone, and ceramic. When selecting new tiles, make sure they are sturdy and able to endure high loads and regular use. Lower-quality tiles are more likely to fracture. Check out our article on the variations between porcelain and ceramic floor tiles.

Chipped Tiles from Impact

Mishaps may occur, and in a domestic setting, dropped items may cause minor cracks in floor tiles. Replacing the damaged tile is the easiest way to mend broken tiles that result from unintentional strikes. Having extra tiles on hand is a smart idea in case something like this happens.

Sturdy Items on Tile Floors

On tile flooring, heavy loads may cause tiny fissures or more substantial breaches. When laying floor tiles in a kitchen, take care not to place them immediately beneath cabinets or equipment like the oven or refrigerator.

Lateral Migration Due to Natural Factors

Tiles may fracture due to lateral movement, which is the phenomenon where the floor finish and subfloor expand and contract at separate rates. Usually, environmental factors like temperature and pressure variations, “settling” during construction, or moisture seeping into the subfloor are to blame for this. It is advised to install a decoupling membrane with tiles to safeguard the floor and assist in absorbing these lateral motions.

How Are Cracks Prevented by Anti-Fracture Decoupling Membranes?

The layer that lies between your subfloor and the floor covering is called a decoupling membrane, and it expands and contracts in response to the structural lateral motions of your subfloors. Because of this separation between the subfloor and flooring, your floor finish will not shift as your house settles due to the substrate’s tiny changes. This is crucial to remember while putting in floor tiles since any movement at all might lead to cracks. By using a decoupling layer, you may shield your floor tiles from possible harm.

The Finest Tile-Related Underfloor Heating System

Warmup offers electric and water floor heaters for all types of tiles, and because of its high thermal qualities, underfloor heating is ideal for use with floor tiles. Because of their sanitary qualities, tile flooring are particularly popular in kitchens and bathrooms, but they can feel chilly to the touch. Because of its energy-saving technology, underfloor heating not only adds sustainable warmth to your house but also reduces the cold off floor tiles. This may result in significant energy bill savings.

Our DCM-PRO Heated Decoupling System is a terrific option if you’re seeking for the best UFH system to utilize with tiles in your home renovation project. As we’ve shown, the DCM-PRO electric UFH system’s unique integrated anti-fracture decoupling membrane can shield tiles from harm from subfloor movement, which is why it was created especially for tiled floors. With the DCM-PRO System, you can precisely apply radiant heat to your tiled floors in a quick and easy manner. The cable is hand-positioned into the anti-fracture membrane.