Owning a home comes with responsibilities to maintain its condition and protect your investment as well as enjoy living there.
The two rooms in your home that get plenty of use are the kitchen and the bathroom, and it can be frustrating when you get problems such as some of the floor or wall tiles beginning to show signs of wear and tear by lifting.
Having the right equipment to resolve the problem is a good starting point, and if you have one of the best grout removal tools in your hand, that should make the task a lot easier.
It is also worth asking the question as to what is causing your tiles to lift in the first place.
Here are some possible reasons.
Moisture Is A Major Culprit
There are several places in your home that are likely to generate more moisture than others, such as the bathroom and the basement area.
When moisture is given the opportunity to permeate beneath or underneath your tiles, it is going to be only a matter of time before some of them buckle under the pressure and start to lift.
The key to fixing the problem is investigating the cause of the excessive moisture. It could be a plumbing problem, and there is a leak you can’t see, or it might be that the extractor is not efficient enough to draw away moisture.
The appearance of mold is a good clue that you have damaging damp conditions that need investigating.
If Your Floor Tiles Are Lifting Up
If it is not the dampness that is causing the problem, the next most common issue to check is whether you might have a problem with the substrate movement.
Take a look underneath a tile that has lifted to see if the concrete has cracked or a cement board has shifted, both of which will cause your tiles to lift.
Not Enough Bonding
When it comes to holding your tiles in place, it is often a false economy to use an inexpensive and thin bonding solution.
If an unmodified thin-set has been used to try and bond porcelain tile, for instance, this is not going to hold your tiles in place properly, and they will inevitably start to lift at some point.
Poor Installation
Unfortunately, it is easy to get the installation process wrong, and if this happens, it is going to create a scenario where your tiles are going to start lifting sooner or later.
One example of this would be if you attempted to apply tiles to drywall in a shower area.
This combination would be classed as an improper substrate and will cause your tiles to start failing once you are using your shower room on a regular basis.
If you are not sure how to install the tiles correctly, it is worth calling in a professional or getting the right tools and products so that you can get the job done so that it lasts and enhances the look and value of your home.
