Tile is arguably the most beautiful and durable surface you can install in your home, business or outdoor space. It also should look great for years. Still, if the grout that fills the spaces between your tiles cracks or detaches, you might have a costly mess on your hands. To avoid this, you should know exactly what can cause grout to crack.
What Is Grout?
In simple terms, grout is a dense liquid that hardens after application to fill the spaces between tile or natural stone. Grout comes in a variety of colors and materials, allowing designers and tile setters to pick the perfect grout for each application.
Why Does Grout Crack?
Grout tends to crack or fall out of spaces for two primary reasons: improper installation or subfloor problems.
As far as installation goes, any of the following might cause cracks to appear:
Improper mixture of grout, such as adding too much water during installation
Failure to properly adhere the tile to the subfloor
Insufficient space between tiles to hold grout
Subfloor problems also can cause grout to fail. For example, you might not have the correct underlayment beneath your tile. You also might have imperfections in your subfloor that encourage tile movement, potentially damaging or dislodging installed grout.
Can Damaged or Missing Grout Be Fixed?
As you might suspect, repairing damaged or missing grout involves determining why the grout failed in the first place. Consequently, to fix your problem, you might have to tear up a few tiles and examine the subfloor. If you do not want the hassle, removing damaging grout and installing new grout can fix the issue, albeit temporarily.
Ultimately, if you have damaged or missing grout, your best bet is to talk to an experienced Colorado tile installer.
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