Is Cracked Grout a Problem?
What Can You Do About It?
Cracked grout is a common household problem that you can easily prevent and fix. Cracks and breaks in the grout may develop as a result of age but oftentimes, they occur because of improper tile installation or faulty grout mixing.
Why is Cracked Grout a Problem?
If you spot a crack or two in the grout, you must fix them before things go out of hand. When left unaddressed, these cracks may cause the tile to break. The longer you wait, the worse the situation will get. Ultimately, you will have to put in more effort and money into repairs. Needless to say, it is easier and cheaper to fix cracked grout than to install a new tile.
If you ignore the early warning signs, the cracked grout will affect the surrounding tiles, resulting in more cracks. Imagine how unattractive your wall, floor, or countertop will look with all those cracks!
Eventually, you will have to replace the whole tiling, which can be pretty expensive. Before you reach out to a professional for help, you may want to investigate the situation and get down to the root cause of the problem.
Common Causes of Cracked Grout
Oftentimes, cracked grout is caused as a result of the movement between two surfaces, resulting from foundation settling, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. Since most grout is made of inflexible material, cracks may develop when one item moves one way and the other moves in the opposite direction.
Apart from this, mixing the grout with too much water or additives during the tile installation process can leave air pockets after it has completely dried. Such weak and brittle grout is susceptible to cracking. Another reason for grout cracking is the minimal use of adhesive for tile installation. If the tile detaches from the wall after the glue has fully dried, the grout may not be able to hold it in place and may crack.
Pressure washing is also one of the most common causes of cracked grout. Many property owners opt for this procedure to keep their tiles looking like new without realizing that it can accelerate the process of grout cracking through over-saturation.
How to Deal With Grout Problems
First and foremost, you must hire a professional and trained installer to do the tile and grout work for you. They will use good-quality grout and proven techniques to minimize the chances of cracked grout. In case you do spot any cracks, you must reach out to them to nip the issue in the bud before it ruins the entire tiling. Furthermore, you should avoid using a pressure washer to clean your tiles.
My Dirty Grout is the only grout and tile cleaning business in the SW Florida area that knows how to leave your tiling sparkling clean without cracking grout. Our experts use the state-of-the-art steam cleaning technique to get the dirt and grime out of your tiles. After cleaning, we apply a premium-grade sealer to protect the grout so it looks as good as new!
We also specialize in cracked grout repair and maintenance, saving you the time, money, and hassle of replacing the tiles. To learn more about our services, feel free to contact us today.