Why Does My Wall Tile Grout Keep Cracking

The joint needs to be clean and dust free before the next repair is done.

Why does my wall tile grout keep cracking.

If your tile and or grout is cracking you may want to ask your restoration contractor about the solutions in this article. Tapping a broomstick onto the tile tells if the tile has a hollow spot in the setting material. 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. The liquid in the grout mixture inevitably evaporates as it was designed to do but excessive evaporation can leave pinholes that will leave it vulnerable to cracking.

The concrete shifts when it cracks and the adhesive used to lay the tile demands the tile moves with it. You must remove loose or hollow tiles and fix the installation or subfloor problem. My first thought is has it been tiled on a wood floor if so was flexible adhesive and grout used as the movement in the floor will in time loosen the fixing of the tiles and the movement cracks the grout. In many cases the crack is not the result of an inferior tile.

The tile responds by cracking along with the concrete. This will cause cracking grout and eventually tenting of your tile. Remove all the loose and cracked grout with a grout saw or dremel tool and completely vacuum out the gaps. If there is no space between your tile and walls it will force all the pressure into your tile.

Occasionally a crack along the joint between grout and tile appears to be a crack in the tile s surface. In far more instances the crack was caused by anomalies under or around the tile. They are often found around loose or hollow tiles. There are a few probable causes but before you tear up the tile and start over try this quick cracked grout fix.

Photo tim carterthis floor grout was repaired once but failed. You can try raking out the grout and regrouting with a flexible grout this may cure it but maybe only temporarily. The grout in one joint of my floor tile has come out. Depending on what s happening underneath the flooring cracking may be caused by among other things structure settlement or weak underlayment.

Grout cracks caused by improper tile installation or a loose subfloor are often fairly major. For every application there are specific spans of tile which can be installed before a soft joint is required. You do not have expansion joints in your tile. If your tile s crack seems to run along the tile s outer edge closely inspect the crack to determine if it s really on the tile or just through the grout.