Cement tiles are undeniably strong material.
It’s mostly used to withstand wear and tear than hardwoods and ceramics, but you may notice some ugly behaviors as time goes by.
These cement tiles have been used for decades in residential houses and commercial purposes.
But are they the best tiles ever? Can cement tiles crack?
When cement tiles are exposed to freezing temperatures and other elements, they’re more likely to crack. These concrete-cement tiles are not ideal outdoors, use natural stone for that. To prevent cracking, reseal cement tiles every 2-3 years — to aid in the slow absorption of water on the floor.
Using cement for tiles
What type of cement does cement tiles come from? Which grade is best? And which is the ideal concrete for RCC?
These are just some of the many questions people ask about this versatile material that is used extensively in construction projects today.
There are so many questions it is hard to know where to start when trying to answer them, and we will try to address all of them here.
First of all, what kind of cement does cement tiles come from? This is a question asked by architects and engineers a lot.
It is actually very hard to answer this question, because different types of cement have different properties.
One common type of cement in use today is Portland cement. This type of cement was developed in the United States and is highly prized in the construction industry.
It has great strength, sturdiness, and resistance to moisture, and is used in many applications.
So, now we know what kind of cement these tiles come from, we need to ask what kind of Portland cement they come from.
In general, Portland cement consists of limestone or dolomite and clay and gypsum. This mixture is mixed in a vat and then heated until it becomes a hard, silica-like material.
When it is cooled, it becomes brittle and is molded into tiles that can be used for both interior and exterior use.
This type of cement tile is widely used in residential and commercial construction today.
Some examples of tile made out of this cement include siding and shower surround.
Why do cement tiles crack?
There are many different things that can cause tiles to crack when they are laid.
1). Moisture
One of the main things that causes this problem is moisture, and the main cause of this moisture is water seeping through the roof or the wall of the home.
The solution to this problem is to have your cement tile siding or other construction materials sealed well.
2). Drywall cracking
Another problem that could be associated with cement tiles is drywall cracking. Drywall cracks because of the temperature at which it is being installed.
The moisture could build up and cause the drywall to expand, causing the tiles to break.
The only real way to prevent this from happening is to use a sealant to keep water from building up, and causing any damage to the drywall.
Another common problem is a chemical reaction between the cement and water.
This reaction can cause the tiles to become pitted and cracked, which is another potential problem that will need to be solved with the application of a sealant.
Are cement tiles durable?
When it comes to choosing the right concrete tiles, many homeowners wonder how long they will last and whether they are able to replace them if they begin to wear away.
If you are thinking about installing a new floor in your home, you may be concerned about the costs associated with it.
Unfortunately, many people find that installing these types of tiles is not only cost prohibitive, but also time consuming and difficult.
Here are some tips to help you save money and time when installing your new tiles.
Seal your cement tiles
In order to maintain the durability of cement tiles, they must be sealed at least twice with an appropriate sealer. Sealer should then be applied periodically, since cement tiles are extremely porous without proper sealing.
Sealing is an important aspect of any type of tile installation, because if any spills are left unattended, they can become a potential health risk.
Therefore, it is best to protect yourself by applying the appropriate sealer as soon as you notice any spills.
The problem with the first step in protecting your floors from spills is that most individuals fail to realize that improper installation of proper cement tiles can cause such spills to occur.
The most common mistake made by many homeowners is using too much adhesive. This is a big mistake, especially if spills are to occur.
To prevent your cement tiles from being damaged by excess glue, make sure to use enough tape to cover the edges of each tile. It is also important to apply the adhesive evenly on all sides of each tile.
If you attempt to apply too much glue, the resulting spills will cause a layer of glue to cling to the tiles and can mar the surface over time.
Another factor that many homeowners overlook when it comes to cement tile installation is the type of flooring that you choose.
For example, you should never use a tile if it is made of a material that is going to rot and disintegrate over time.
If your floors are wood or particle board, they should be sealed between applications of the sealant to ensure that they stay protected for a longer period of time.
An important thing to consider when it comes to protecting your floors from spills is that any spills that occur must be cleaned up immediately prior to allowing them to seep into the subfloor.
If you wait until you notice a spill or two have been absorbed, you may actually increase the time required to complete the task of cleaning up the mess.
Additionally, you will want to clean up spills as soon after they occur as possible to prevent mold from forming.
What causes cement tiles to crack?
So, you have recently invested in some new kitchen tiles and now the question is, “What causes cement tiles to crack?”
Well, the main reason why these tiles will start cracking is because of poor adhesion.
To understand how this can occur you need to know that when cement is wet it is a highly malleable form of stone and as the cement starts to dry out, it becomes harder to work with, more brittle and is no longer malleable enough to work with.
As a result of high temperatures and a lack of proper maintenance, when a tile is left out in the sun for prolonged periods of time they will start to crack.
The good news is that once this occurs, it is generally easy to repair and is often a very easy task to carry out.
If you find that there are cracks in your cement tiles then you should remove them as quickly as possible.
If you are not experienced at working with this type of material then you should probably call on an expert to carry out the repairs. If your expert does not have the time then he or she may simply refer you to another professional who may not be able to assist you in repairing the damage.
To fix the damages caused to your concrete slab, you should first remove all of the old tiles from the surface that you are going to repair.
You should also remove any other tiles that are attached to your slab, this includes any lintels.
If you have already removed your old cement tiles from the surface you are going to work on you can either sand down the surface and clean it thoroughly.
The next step is to apply a sealant to the surface.
If you decide to use this sealant you should read the instructions on the label carefully to make sure that you apply it correctly.
After you have applied the sealant to your surface, you will then want to clean the surface with a scrubbing brush to remove any remaining dirt and grime.
Then, you should apply a clear sealant to the area where you want the cracks to be.
Summary
Remember, you do not want to over-seal the area, it should just be a thick coat to act as a barrier so that moisture cannot escape and continue to water the tiles as normal.
Once you have applied the sealant you should then repeat this procedure until the crack has been repaired.