Ceramic and porcelain tile · Cracking
Why is my tile floor cracking?
Tile cracks usually come from movement below the tile: a cracked slab, a subfloor that flexes too much, or missing movement joints. A crack that runs in a line across several tiles often follows a crack in the concrete.
Also searched as: "cracked floor tiles", "crack running through several tiles", "porcelain tile cracked"
What usually causes it
- Slab cracks telegraphing through
- Subfloor deflection
- Missing movement joints
- Poor mortar coverage
What you can check yourself
- Note whether cracks line up across tiles
What an independent inspection checks
- Crack pattern and substrate
- Movement joints per TCNA guidance
- Mortar coverage at test locations
Who is responsible?
Usually installation or substrate, not the tile itself.
Get your tile floor inspected
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll explain the next step. We cover every county in Southern California and only inspect. We don't sell or install flooring.