Crunching Floor Tiles

My house was built in 1956.

Crunching floor tiles. Ceramic floor tiles especially larger tiles need an even distribution of mortar underneath them. In these cases you must grind down the ceramic floor tiles so that they fit around these objects. So it is hard to say if a crunching sound is a squeaking sound or what. 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.

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. For a larger more visible area of cracked tile contact a tile contractor for expert help. There is ceramic tile on the floor in the second floor bath. Reinforcing your floor will make for a more solid and level surface.

However there are steps you can take mitigate tile cracking. On closer inspection i can see that the tiles are moving very slightly against the grout which is causing the sound. It is the original tile with no signs of repair or cracks in the tile or grout. Most tiles comply with astm c648 breaking strength standards.

But the brittle nature of tiles and the constant foot traffic means that the tiles are likely to crack at some point. Many of the causes of squeaking popping and crunching sounds that come from the flooring system are avoidable. Most tiles meet the 250 pound minimum. If the floor has too much deflection that grout can crack among other things.

Voids in the mortar under the tile allow the tile to flex and crack. As long as the tile does not break under 250 pounds of pressure the tile is considered to be compliant with these standards. In this test floor tiles are run through a machine that exerts loads on an unsupported 1 inch square area. There is an area about 15x15 inches that makes a crackling noise when you step on it.

Recently i noticed that a few of the floor tiles in the kitchen make a crunching sound when walked on. Grinding ceramic tile can be tricky since the hardness is similar to glass and it can crack. It takes combined collaboration between the builder the end user the involved manufacturers and the flooring professional to be able to mitigate the causes. Tile floors are easy to customize easy to clean and make for a classy addition to any home.

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.