Applying a damp mop to mortar and grout can aid the curing process and prevent cracking.
If you start to notice cracks and crumbling grout in your ceramic floors, poor installation and an unstable substrate are usually the culprits. It's also important to use proper cleaning products and supplies when maintaining ceramic tile surfaces. However, installing a strong and stable substrate or subflooring prevents ceramic breakdown. Taking certain preventive measures can also ensure that your space is properly prepped and in prime condition before the installation of ceramic tiles. Does this Spark an idea?
Subflooring
Ceramic tile often gets blamed for cracking and bonding issues. However, the more common cause for ceramic tile breakdown lies in the concrete and wood substrate underneath the tile floors, according to "Tile Magazine" writer Katelyn Simpson. In ceramic flooring, moving or cracking concrete can cause cracking and tenting in the ceramic tile. Tenting, in particular, is due to expansion and contraction in the subfloor, which pushes tiles together so they form a peak or "tent." The movement creates pressure against the ceramic tiles above, causing the ceramic to delaminate and detach from the subfloor. Ceramic can also crack or delaminate if the plywood subfloor is structurally deficient or lacks movement joints in the tile assembly.
Exposure
External factors such as significant loading, high traffic and heavy or scraping furniture can erode ceramic surfaces. Rigid attachments such as columns and pillars cause ceramic surfaces to shift, move and eventually crack. Extreme changes in temperature, humidity levels and thermal transfer also affect the structural base and background in ceramic tiling.
Considerations
Be mindful that concrete can continue to shift and shrink after curing. But allotting enough time for concrete to properly dry and cure will decrease the likelihood of ceramic breakdown. Cracks and de-bonding issues can be addressed during the concrete process, which ranges from 14 to 28 days. Moreover, ceramic should be installed with movement joints to help tiles absorb any shock and stress. These floor assemblies are specifically constructed to increase tensile strength in ceramic and stone surfaces. Movement joints typically contain brass, stainless steel, aluminum or polyvinyl chloride materials.
Expert Insight
Nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and "Ask the Builder" author Tim Carter states that cracking in ceramic tiling typically appears within 30 days of pouring concrete. Because the cement in concrete adheres to the tile, the ceramic is more vulnerable to movement happening beneath the surface. To minimize the severity of cracking and other signs of ceramic breakdown, Carter recommends using special concrete containing steel and fibers. To help hold the substrate together, you can also place steel reinforcements 1/2 inch in diameter in the center of each slab.
