Crunching Floor Tiles

In this test floor tiles are run through a machine that exerts loads on an unsupported 1 inch square area.

Crunching floor tiles.

However there are steps you can take mitigate tile cracking. In a case where cracking is minimal or has occurred in only a small number of tiles and or the floor is in a location where aesthetics don t matter to you the easiest most inexpensive solution is diy patching. If the floor has too much deflection that grout can crack among other things. Tile floors are easy to customize easy to clean and make for a classy addition to any home.

As long as the tile does not break under 250 pounds of pressure the tile is considered to be compliant with these standards. It takes combined collaboration between the builder the end user the involved manufacturers and the flooring professional to be able to mitigate the causes. Most tiles comply with astm c648 breaking strength standards. Installing ceramic floor tile is fairly simple until you reach the edges of the room or fixtures such as cabinets pedestal sinks and toilets.

My house was built in 1956. As stated above if the floor is installed over a wood substrate and not placed in a staggered pattern with gaps and not fastened properly floors with ceramic tile installed over them can squeak. I have owned it since 2012. There is a almost unnoticeable bulge where one of the tile comes up.

As a general rule tiles larger than 12x12 inches should have mortar applied to the back of the tile as well as the floor to help ensure adequate coverage. But the brittle nature of tiles and the constant foot traffic means that the tiles are likely to crack at some point. Grinding ceramic tile can be tricky since the hardness is similar to glass and it can crack. On closer inspection i can see that the tiles are moving very slightly against the grout which is causing the sound.

There is ceramic tile on the floor in the second floor bath. It is the original tile with no signs of repair or cracks in the tile or grout. Reinforcing your floor will make for a more solid and level surface. For a larger more visible area of cracked tile contact a tile contractor for expert help.

Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack. In these cases you must grind down the ceramic floor tiles so that they fit around these objects. Recently i noticed that a few of the floor tiles in the kitchen make a crunching sound when walked on. So it is hard to say if a crunching sound is a squeaking sound or what.

Ceramic floor tiles especially larger tiles need an even distribution of mortar underneath them.