How to Avoid Some of The Most Common Tile Installation Mistakes

Tile floors have become popular once again. This is due to the advantages that tiles provide over other types of flooring materials. However, tile installation mistakes are still very common. They are also straightforward to spot, and when there is a mistake in the installation process, the mistake becomes obvious to the eyes. The installation process is such a difficult one that even experienced professionals regularly get challenged by challenging situations.

Therefore, professionals are always looking for alternative solutions on how to best lay down tiles. They are always on the hunt for those very small things that have the potential to make the installation absolutely spot on. Let us take a deeper look at some of the most common mistakes made when installing tiles and how to best deal with them.

The Most Common Problems When Installing Tiles

We have probably all heard about it. We have all heard that tile installation is comparatively easy and can be done without any issues. That is unless something expected and surprising throw you off. It can be something as simple as irregular shapes, the surfaces that are already there, or even issues with the material. It is not at all uncommon to see these common tile installation mistakes. Let’s take a closer look at some of those issues and how you can deal with them when they eventually do arise.

Tiles That Are Loose

In many cases, the existing material used for tiling gets loose. It gets loose from the substrate, and unless you examine it further, you will not notice anything. To determine whether an existing tile is in proper condition to add another tile on top of the existing one, gently hit the tile with a tool. If the sound you hear is hollow, then it is not properly placed to accept a new tile on top of it. This hollow sound can also be the result of the type of substrate that is being used. If you find yourself in this situation, then you will find that the whole subfloor sounds hollow. This is due to the evenness of the substrate. Before you set on about the task of installing new tiles, make sure that you check the floor. Upon this examination, you will be able to tell which tiles are loose and then remove them.

Cracked Tile

There will often be times when the tiles will crack, and you will not notice a single thing. Professionals will likely tell you that they think the tile has cracked because something heavy has fallen on it. However, that is not the case many times. Tiles crack for a very simple reason. It is mainly because of the fact that joists normally move and that the tiles happen to be placed between joists and are in min-span. Before embarking on the process of installing new tiles, you have to make sure that the floor is properly leveled. You also need to make sure that the subfloor has been properly reinforced.

Too Little Expansion and Contraction

There are two critical items that affect both the expansion and as well as the contraction of the tiles. This is due to how the concrete was curated and also the chemical reactions that happen in them. Without proper joints, especially when it is against surfaces or materials that are adjacent, it can really make the tiles pop out of place and into the air. It is important to understand that tiles will expand and also contract. Therefore it is crucial to leave some space between the tiles and the other materials used for setting the tiles in place. It is also important to point out that smaller joints are also prone to fail if the case is that they are not worked properly.

Cleaning and Workmanship Leave Something to be Desired

This ought to be pretty simple and straightforward, or at least you would expect it to be that way. However, there will be many cases where the people responsible for installing the tiles will not take the necessary precautions with regards to cleaning the tiles and also preparing the surface properly. When the back of the tiles is cleaned properly, it will be ensured that the bond between the adhesive and the surface is done properly. In order to best facilitate this type of installation work, making sure that you use the right joint and caulk can really go a very long way. It is also very important to mention another thing here. That thing is the fact that when inspecting the tiles, the inspection should take place at least 6 feet away from the tiles. If it is done at a closer distance, then that would violate some regulatory standards.