Cracked floor tile due to improper substrate preparationI know there are some people out there (not my regular readers like you!) that read what I write and think to themselves ‘okay, but I’m sure that won’t happen with my installation’. So periodically I’m gonna post things like this that show exactly what happens when things aren’t built correctly. And yes, it will happen to yours, too, if the proper steps aren’t taken. If you care to see more train wrecks you can check out my ‘flawed‘ page wherein I post photos of absolutely horrible tile installations which I’ve torn out and replaced.

See that crack in the tile right there? (The line down the center is not a grout line – it’s a crack. You can click on it for a larger version) That bathroom floor is less than eight months old. It was installed with hardibacker over the subfloor and thinset. At least that part is correct, but that was about it. There was no thinset beneath the hardi and the seams between the sheets were not taped and thinsetted. To a lesser extent the correct screws were not used in the hardi – they committed the cardinal sin of using drywall screws in the backerboard. Yeah. Wrong.

So, back to the crack. (Never thought I’d ever type that!) As soon as I walked in and saw it I knew exactly what was wrong and I knew why. The crack was in an absolutely straight line – a dead giveaway that the crack is likely over a seam in the backerboard which wasn’t taped. If you read my post about how to correctly install flooring backerboards you will see that there needs to be thinset below the boards, the seams need to be taped, and the proper screws need to be used. None of which was done.

And here’s what was beneath it: Improperly prepared substrate beneath cracked floor tile

If you click on that photo (I dare you!) you can see the crack follows the seam of the backerboard exactly. Without the tape on the seams the individual boards may move in different directions and, without the support beneath from thinset, they will move independently and eventually crack your tile or, more commonly, your grout lines first.

When you tape and thinset your backerboard seams it will lock the two separate sheets together and any movements in the substrate (seasonal micro-movements, completely normal) will all move as one and in the same direction. This won’t cause any stress on your tile.

I simply pulled up all those cracked pieces and chipped the old thinset out of there, installed proper screws along the seam, taped and mudded the seam (when I say ‘mudded’ the seams I mean thinset) and reset new tiles and grouted it up. Once that grout cures it will lighten and it will look brand new.

Repaired floor tileSo all these little things like ‘tape and mud your backerboard seams’ that I throw out there may seem like it’s just overkill or taking extra precautions which aren’t really necessary – well, they are necessary. And this is why. This will also happen on a shower wall if your seams are not taped and mudded. If the boards move differently it causes uneven stress on your tile – it needs to release somewhere. Ninety seconds worth of work to tape the seam to begin with would have prevented this – just do it! (damnit)

If preventing cracked tile isn’t enough motivation for you maybe this will: all of my regular readers know what happens if your tile or grout crack – your dog will burst into flames! So if you don’t do it for your tile, do it for your pooch. Not only are flaming dogs bad for, well, the dogs, but they tend to run around and catch other stuff on fire too! You don’t want that, do you?

TAPE YOUR SEAMS! :D

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  • A

    Question – so we have a guy doing tile for us right now in 2 rooms.
    1)He said that he glued the backerboard down (doesn’t think he thinset it) – I assume that’s not a good thing? I don’t know what kind of glue but during the convo he mentioned Liquid Nails so that might be what he used.
    2) He used the wrong kind of screws / nails
    3) He didn’t tape the seams but he did mortar them. He said that almost no one uses the tape these days and that it doesn’t really help much of anything – basically just another way for a company to sell product
    4) He put 2 Durock sheets above each other in one room b/c he had to raise the floor up quite a bit. I talked w/ Durock and they said that you shouldn’t do this.

    Am I being too picky worrying about these rooms? They are smaller rooms–does that matter? Thanks.

    • A

      Hi there.

      I just left the comment about the 2 rooms. I would rather the contractor not see my photo – could you figure out a way to remove my image or could you delete the comment and I can resend it using a different email? Thanks!

  • Tim

    I’ve had the same problem occur. My 12”x12” marble tile was installed just one month ago and now it has an 8ft long crack in the tile- not the grout- 36” from the wall. No doubt this is along the backer board seam.

    The tile contractor quit answering his phone so my GC is trying to fix the 8’ crack without replacing everything.

    The GC wants to have a different tile guy pull up 2 rows of tile- on either side of the seam, tape the backer board properly and then re-set just those 2 rows.

    I am thinking the whole floor should come up. Other issues: I’m pretty sure they used drywall screws to install the backer board (didn’t know that was wrong until I discovered your site), and the grout work was sloppy. I ended up fixing the grout myself.

    Bottom line: is it worth it to attempt a repair or should I insist on a full replacement?

    Thanks so much!

    • Roger

      Hi Tim,

      While the two row thing would likely solve the cracking tile issue, if properly taped and mudded once pulled, it sounds as if you may have bigger issues that could cause headaches down the road. For instance: do you know whether or not they put thinset beneath the backerboard? Or did they just lay it and screw it to the substrate with drywall screws?
      I would either insist on a full replacement, or get something from them IN WRITING AND NOTARIZED that extends the warranty on the floor for at least two years stating that if problems persist a full replacement is warranted.

  • Jenn

    Hi Roger
    I am getting ready to lay thin stone veneer over Durock on our gas fireplace surround. When mudding and taping the joints of the Durock, do you let the seams cure before starting to lay the thin stone veneer?

    Thanks – your site/ posts are very interesting and helpful!

    • Roger

      Hi Jenn,

      It doesn’t matter. You can do it either way, you just have to be mindful of the wet mud as you’re tiling if you do it at the same time.