Settlement crack

Expansion Joint Crack

Cracking in area of bond loss

Impact Crack

Cracks – Types and Causes (Tile and Stone)

Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide

Summary

Cracking in tile and stone installations occurs when stress within the flooring assembly exceeds the fracture resistance of the material. These stresses may originate from substrate movement, structural deflection, restrained expansion, thermal cycling, impact loading, or differential movement between materials within the system. Crack pattern, orientation, continuity, and elevation displacement commonly provide important diagnostic indicators regarding the underlying mechanism. Some cracks reflect isolated localized stress while others indicate broader structural or substrate-related movement within the assembly. Proper evaluation requires correlation of crack characteristics, substrate behavior, installation design, and service conditions before conclusions are formed. See also Cracked Corners, Loss of Bond, and Tenting Tile for broader context.

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