Cracked floor tile

Symptoms

• Visible crack line across one or more tiles
• Crack may run through the grout into an adjacent tile
• Sharp edge or slight height difference at the crack
• Crack widening or new pieces chipping off over time

Likely causes

• CommonImpact from a dropped heavy objectCast iron pans, tools, or furniture can crack tile on impact.
• CommonSubstrate flex under the tileIf the subfloor or mortar bed isn't rigid enough, tile flexes and cracks under normal foot traffic.
• PossibleSettling or structural movementA house settling slightly can stress tile enough to crack it, especially near doorways.
• PossiblePoor installation without proper expansion jointsTile installed without room to expand can crack under thermal or structural stress.

What to do

1. Assess whether it's one isolated tile or a pattern of cracks running through multiple tiles, which would suggest a substrate problem rather than an isolated impact.
2. Tape off the area to avoid further chipping while you plan the repair.
3. Use a grout saw or oscillating tool to remove the grout around the cracked tile.
4. Carefully break the cracked tile into smaller pieces with a hammer and chisel, working from the center outward, protecting eyes and hands.
5. Remove the old thin-set/mortar from the subfloor and clean the area.
6. Apply new thin-set and press in a matching replacement tile, using spacers to keep even grout lines.
7. Let the thin-set cure per instructions, then grout the new tile to match the surrounding lines and let that cure before walking on it.

Tools and parts

• Grout saw or oscillating tool
• Hammer and chisel
• Notched trowel
• Safety glasses
• Gloves

When to call a pro

Call a tile installer if you can't find a matching replacement tile or if cracks are appearing in multiple tiles, which may point to a subfloor problem.

Safety