Twenty Common Ways for Tilework to go Wrong- A Short List
These are some of the many ways mistakes can be made in a tile installation. I have probably done most of them myself at some point in my long years setting tile, though most at the very beginning before I knew what worked and what did not work.
However, great pains were always taken to assure the substrate was more than adequately prepared, stout enough, and rigid enough to support the tile itself which is not capable of bending or flexing. If the tile is stressed by movement in the floor, it will likely eventually crack and fail. A tile job where all or many of the grout joints are cracked indicates there is substrate movement and/or the tile is not set properly.
1. Tile or substrates are too cold to properly adhere before the adhesive dries.
2. The wrong adhesive is used to bond the tile.
3. The tile is set crookedly or unevenly.
4. Edges of the tile are left sharp or raised up.
5. The tile is not ‘centered’ in the space it is supposed to be in.
6. The substrate is improperly prepared, loose itself, or simply the wrong material. ( too thin, not adequately attached, flexible, not screwed or nailed down )
7. The wrong size notched trowel is used and there is insufficient glue (mastic) or mortar for bonding.
8. The mortar is the wrong consistency, too soupy or too dry.
9. The tile is not ‘back-buttered’ to assure 100 % contact with the mortar, leaving voids.
10. The tile layout leaves really skinny pieces in odd places and detracts from a pleasing look.
11. The tile layout is crooked, off center, or ‘catches your eye’, and just looks wrong.
12. Corners of the tile look saw-toothed and are not aligned.
13. The concrete board substrate did not get fibreglass taped at all the seams.
14. Nails or screws were put in the wrong places; through the shower pan liner, into pipes, or left out.
15. The tile is not set or ‘bedded’ sufficiently.
16. The spacing between the tiles is inconsistent or too gappy.
17. The tile needed to be wetted, soaked before installation and this was not done.
18. The mud work was improperly done, or inadequate.
19. The grout was improperly mixed, badly applied, cleaned with too much water, or left on the tile. This is a big one.
20. Stone or tile requiring sealing is not sealed.
These are some of the ways a tile installation can go bad. Having to tear out the whole job, lose the cost of the material, endure water leaks through your dining room ceiling, not to mention the time and aggravation involved to do it over, are all reasons to be sure you have all the right ingredients, solid preparation, and a patient and careful craftsman doing your work. It is not brain surgery, folks, but it is not without it’s pitfalls.
