Hey everyone! I had a tile floor (12x24" tiles) put in about 5 months ago, and I've noticed some grout is pulling away from the tiles in a few spots. The affected areas are mainly in the foyer, entry landing, kitchen, and dining room. I only spotted this while scrubbing on my hands and knees, so it's not super obvious from a standing position. What's interesting is that all the issues seem to be on the same grout line across two rooms, and there aren't random cracks in other spots. This makes me wonder if it's related to house movement instead of the installation. Could it be seasonal changes? Should I just refill the grout and forget about it? By the way, the installation method was hardi backer over plywood, and I heard we should consider uncoupling, which has me questioning our choice.
3 Answers
It sounds like there might be too much flex in your subfloor. If it’s wood framed, that can definitely lead to grout cracking over time. Just keep an eye on it, and maybe consider reinforcing the subfloor if you continue to see issues.
I always recommend using uncoupling membranes for tile installations to avoid these kinds of problems. It’s a good idea to check whether the tiles were back buttered during installation too, that could help with adhesion!
Have you checked what type of floor it is? Is it wood framed or a concrete slab? Because if it’s wood, that flex could be the culprit! Also, if you’re considering adding more grout, make sure to keep the movement in mind.