What Causes Marble Floor Tiles To Crack?

What Causes Marble Floor Tiles To Crack?

What Causes Marble Floor Tiles Crack

Marble is one of the best choices for flooring for both commercial and residential spaces. It adds a touch of elegance and elevates the aesthetics and the overall value of the property. But because it is a natural material, it is prone to cracking even when newly installed. 

There are many reasons why marble floor tiles crack. It is crucial to identify the main reason for the cracking before restoring, repairing or installing new ones so the cracking will not reappear and the cause can be corrected straight away.

Below we have made a list of possible causes as to why your marble floors crack. We hope this can guide and help you remedy the problem or avoid the issue completely.

Inferior Quality

Marble tiles are mostly durable and can withstand normal wear and tear. However, if you are supplied with poor quality marble, your marble floors will most likely crack and break with heavy traffic in no time.

In some cases, the tiles already have hairline cracks before installation. This is why it is crucial that the installers check the tiles properly to make sure that only high-quality tiles are installed.

Make sure you purchase your marble tiles from legit and reputable suppliers like your local home depot. It is important to purchase from reliable sources so you are guaranteed good quality and can easily get replacements for substandard tiles.

This can also be the difference between replacing or restoring which can save you a significant amount of money.

What Causes Marble Floor Tiles Crack

The Concrete Did Not Cure Properly

New concrete needs to dry and cure properly before you can install marble flooring. Concrete has high water content so when it dries, it shrinks and moves. If you install your marble tiles when the concrete is still wet, your tiles will crack and break when it dries.

As a homeowner, you need to make sure that the concrete has been left to dry for at least 28 days after pouring. It is better if you let it rest for even more.

The Cured Concrete Cracked Or Moved

Old concrete will crack and move eventually. It is normal for a concrete substrate to have a crack or two running through it when it gets older. The crack and movement of the concrete will cause stress to the marble tiles and can lead to hairline cracks, bigger cracks or breakage. 

When this happens, the only solution is to strip off the cracked tiles, install a crack isolation membrane and install brand new marble tile flooring.

Heavy Blows

Tiles are by nature strong and durable. They can last for a long time unless they receive heavy blows or knocks like:

  • Fallen pots and pans
  • Moving heavy furniture
  • Fallen kitchen utensils like knives
  • Heavy traffic
  • Dropped objects like stone and metallic materials
  • Any heavy physical impact

The Tiles Were Installed Over a Control Joint

If you have control joints in your concrete floors, the marble tiles you bridge over it will most likely crack. Concrete joints are important to prevent cracking and concrete movement over time.

Having a few cracked marble tiles is better than a cracked concrete substrate that can cause more damage to your marble floors in the future. 

The only solution is to replace the few cracked tiles from the control joints as needed.

What Causes Marble Floor Tiles Crack

Improper Installation

Aside from buying high-quality marble tiles, it is also vital to choose reliable installers. Installers can easily tell if the marble tiles are of good quality by inspection. Proper handling of the tiles and installation is crucial to the quality of the marble flooring and its likelihood to crack and break over time.

Choose the right installers. Always choose quality work over price.

There are many factors that can cause damage to your marble floors. Your lifestyle can greatly influence the radiance and lifespan of the marble. Regular maintenance can also help. When you see the first signs of cracking, act right away to stop the problem from getting worse.

How to Repair Cracks?

Whether you get hairline cracks or severe cracking and breaking, do not delay, repair right away. Here’s how:

  • Use an epoxy resin filler that is designed for natural stones like marble. Follow label directions for the correct application. Consult marble experts too. Epoxy resin fillers usually need about 10-20 minutes to dry for small to medium cracks. For larger cracks, it may take more time to dry. Polish the repaired tile once it is dry. 
  • For severe cracking and damage, it is better to replace the tiles with brand new ones. Simply strip off the marble tiles and order new high-quality tiles.

Repairing or restoring marble tiles is better left to professionals and expert restorers. Yes, you can do it yourself but if you want your radiant and elegant marble floors back, call Slique.

Slique is the most trusted professional tile cleaning and tile restoration company in Sydney. Our extensive range of treatment ensures we can restore virtually any type of damage or deterioration, to any kind of stone or tile surface.

So whether you have issues with staining, etching, chips, dullness, scratches, fading and wear marks or just general dirtiness, give us a call and see how we can help you.

With regular visits from our team of experts, your marble floors will remain radiant and elegantly shiny for decades.

For all your marble floor maintenance and stone polishing in Sydney, please call SLIQUE today on 02 9648 0395, or you can leave an inquiry on our contact page.