If there’s one thing you want to avoid in a bathroom, it’s cracking tiles! When a tile cracks, it’s not just a cosmetic issue — it can allow water to seep beneath the surface. Over time, this can lead to serious water damage, compromising your waterproofing membrane and potentially causing mould, structural damage, or rot. In many cases, repairing the problem isn’t as simple as replacing the cracked tile. It can mean ripping up a whole section of tiles, re-waterproofing, and starting again — a costly and time-consuming process that most of us would rather avoid! So what can cause bathroom tiles to crack we hear you ask?
Great question! And to be honest, there’s more than one answer. From incorrect preparation to poor quality materials, there are many reasons why bathroom tiles can crack. Here are the top 6 reasons why and ways to prevent it from happening!
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1. Poor substrate
Tiles are only as good as the surface they’re laid on. If the substrate (aka the surface beneath the tiles) is uneven or hasn’t cured properly, it can cause tiles to shift or crack over time.
How to avoid it
Make sure your tiler thoroughly prepares the surface before laying any tiles. It needs to be level, clean, dry, and stable. In bathrooms, a cement sheeting or screeded base is generally preferred for its durability and resistance to moisture.
2. Shifting foundations
Unfortunately this next issue can be difficult to avoid as you may not know about the problem until it’s too late! While it’s normal for homes to expand and contract with changes in temperature, a shift in the foundations can cause a range of issues including bathroom tiles to crack or pop off the wall. These types of cracks generally start from one point of a wall and run to another.
How to avoid it
If you know there’s a risk of this happening, for example you’re renovating an existing bathroom where this occurred, you can make allowances to minimise the risk of it happening again. We suggest using a smaller tile, such as a mosaic tile on that wall, and a more flexible adhesive. While it isn’t attractive, an expansion joint filled with flexible silicone is another way to accomodate small shifts in the structure. Talk with your tiler about this option and be sure to match the colour of the silicone to your grout to minimise the appearance of the joint.
3. Hard knocks and dropping objects
Most tiles are incredibly dense and durable, but they’re not indestructible! If you knock your bathroom wall hard enough or you drop a heavy object on the floor, it’s possible the tiles will crack.
How to avoid
As common sense would suggest, try to avoid knocking your walls or dropping heavy objects, ha ha. In addition to that, you can select a more dense and durable tile. For example, a 9mm porcelain tile is far more durable than a thin-biscuit ceramic tile. A ‘full bodied’ tile means the pattern of the tile runs the full depth of the tile and these can be more forgiving than a glazed tile that simply has the pattern on the face of the tile. If you chip a full bodied tile, you will reveal more of the same colour and patterning which makes imperfections less obvious.
4. Wrong tile glue
The wrong type of tile glue or improper installation can also cause tiles to crack. If the adhesive isn’t suited to the substrate, tile type, or environmental conditions (like moisture and temperature changes in a bathroom), it won’t provide a strong, flexible bond. This can result in tiles lifting, shifting, or cracking over time.
Another common problem is insufficient coverage. If there are hollow spots under the tile because the glue was dabbed in a few places instead of spread evenly, pressure on that unsupported area can cause the tile to snap.
How to avoid it
Tiling isn’t a licensed trade so you can find a lot of people passing themselves off as tilers with little to no experience. Be sure to find a tiler based on recommendation. If you’re using natural stone tiles, it’s especially important to check the tiler is using a specially formulated adhesive and applying the glue across the full tile.
5. Poorly mixed grout or wrong ratio
This next issue generally leads to cracked grout rather than cracked tiles but because it’s also an eyesore and difficult to rectify we’ve added it to the list. Grout must be mixed according to the exact instructions on the packet. Too thick or too thin and the grout won’t perform well. Over time, the grout will crack, form holes or be more prone to discolouration.
How to avoid
Finding a good tiler who takes pride in their work and doesn’t rush the job is the best way to avoid this issue. We also suggest paying a little more for higher quality grouts that are less cementitious and have anti-mould inhibitors in the formula to help the grout stand up to the harsh conditions of a bathroom.
6. Avoid cracking, choose the right tiles!
All tiles are not created equally — literally! Some are ceramic, others are porcelain, there’s also a huge array of natural stone tiles… the list keeps going. Tiles also vary in thickness — from 3mm thin biscuit tiles, to standard 9mm porcelain tiles, up to 20mm natural stone tiles (especially common when using large chip natural terrazzo). If the wrong type of tile is used or low-quality tile, it can also lead to cracked tiles.
How to avoid it
If you’re looking for some help when trying to decide on the best bathroom tiles, here is a helpful page from Cheap Tiles Online. Here you’ll find a wide range of high-quality tiles that range in durability and price. Look at their discount bathroom tiles here to find the tiles you’re looking for.
We hope this info on how to avoid bathroom tiles cracking helps you achieve a stylish and functional bathroom. Remember, proper tiling of your bathroom is just as important as all the beautiful fixtures and finishes you select so find a good tiler who will avoid these issues. Got any more tips to add? Tell us in the comments below!
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