You’ve got your tiles sorted, and your design set, and you’ve gone over budget.
Once it’s all done you’re left with a beautiful floor.
However, a few months down the line you start to notice tiles moving, cracks in the grouts, and maybe some ‘hollowness’ when you walked across the floor.
It can be frustrating especially when you have invested in quality tiles with a professional installation.
However, sometimes the issue isn’t actually with the tile.
The issue may lie with how well the floor was prepared.
The surface underneath matters
The preparation of the substrate is one of the most important things to get right when fitting tiles.
The substrate must be a suitable, stable surface.
If there is dust, debris, excessive dampness or an uneven surface this could cause issues.
Movement within the flooring structure can also cause issues, especially if you are fitting a rigid finish onto an un-suitable background.
Fitting tiles straight onto a surface without considering the condition can cause issues.
Even if the floor looks level and sturdy there may be issues with the surface which will affect the adhesive.
Before fitting the tiles the surface should be checked and prepared correctly for the system you are using.
Although preparation may not be the most exciting part of any renovation it can really determine how long your floor lasts.
Not every adhesive works with every tile
A small ceramic wall tile has very different requirements from a dense porcelain floor tile.
Natural stone, heated floors and different substrate materials can introduce further considerations.
Using an adhesive simply because it’s available or inexpensive isn’t a sensible approach.
When choosing products, it’s worth reviewing guidance from established floor adhesive manufacturers to understand which systems are appropriate for the tiles, substrate and conditions involved.
Some applications require adhesives with particular performance characteristics, while others may need additional preparation products.
The important thing is ensuring the materials are compatible rather than assuming one adhesive is suitable for every project.
Following product guidance also helps installers understand mixing requirements, working times and application methods.
Moisture can cause unexpected problems
Bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms are often subject to moisture.
Depending on the area, amount of water expected and the construction underneath you may need a suitable waterproofing system in place.
Just because you have tiles it does not mean you can use standard grout and tile adhesive.
New flooring or screeds may have issues with moisture.
If the substrate is not suitable for the tiles (due to not meeting the relevant requirements), this can cause issues.
By checking the moisture conditions you can avoid expensive fixes.
Adhesive coverage is another important detail
Even if you use the correct adhesive, if it is not applied correctly this can cause issues.
If there isn’t enough coverage there may be areas with nothing supporting the tiles underneath, particularly with larger formats or concentrated loading.
The correct trowel, method and coverage will depend on the materials and fit.
Certain tile formats may require adhesive to be applied to both the substrate and the back of the tile.
The installer will need to follow the manufacturers guidelines for the correct application conditions and times.
Don’t ignore movement within the floor
Buildings will have some movement due to temperature changes, loading etc.
Tiles should allow for this movement.
By using the correct movement joints and compatible products this can help reduce the risk of cracking and debonding.
This is particularly important over large areas, changes in construction and underfloor heating.
If you are fitting a rigid tiled surface without allowing for the movement this can cause issues even if the adhesive is suitable.
Give everything enough time to cure
One of the easiest things to do is to rush into using your new tiled floor.
Each product will have different curing times which may depend on temperature, humidity, substrate and tile type.
If you walk on the tiles, apply grout or place heavy furniture on them too soon it can cause issues.
A good floor starts long before the tiles go down
A great floor starts long before you fit the tiles, It’s easy to spend ages choosing the colour of your tiles and grout.
However there are lots of things you can’t see which you should pay just as much attention to.
By ensuring you have a suitable substrate, compatible adhesive system, correct application and curing conditions you will have a great result.
Although these may not show in your pictures it will help your tiled floor to look great for years to come.
