Common Perils of Ceramic Floor Tile Systems

Ceramic floor tile systems can provide a durable finish; however, if internal stresses are allowed to accumulate in the tile system, fractured, buckled, and/or hollow-sounding tiles may develop. Using case studies of residential structures, this paper will discuss common perils that cause damage to ceramic floor tile systems and how these perils can be avoided through proper installation and maintenance. Testing and installation standards developed by the tile industry are used to discuss methods of site testing and evaluation of data. This paper was developed using quantitative and qualitative analyses of ceramic floor tile systems installed within multiple residential structures. The analyses indicate that failure of ceramic floor tile systems is often caused or exacerbated by installation methods that deviate from published standards. It is evident that increased awareness of accepted installation standards is essential to the service life of ceramic floor tile systems.