Bathroom Broken Tiles: Reasons, Signs, Problems and How to Repair

What are Broken Tiles in the Bathroom?

Broken tiles in the bathroom are cracked, chipped, or fully dislodged pieces of ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone tiles found on floors, walls, or shower enclosures. Bathroom tiles crack due to substrate movement, improper installation, impact damage, thermal expansion, and water infiltration beneath the tiles.

Broken tiles in the bathroom allow water to penetrate tile bedding, backer boards, and grout joints. This leads to various water damage to the structure, including wood damage, material deterioration, mold and mildew growth, softening of gypsum walls, and loosening of adjacent tiles on the bathroom floor.

To prevent these damages, Aqviz experts recommend bathroom waterproofing by installing a waterproofing membrane before tiling and sealing the tile edges with epoxy grout. These steps help to stop the water leaking from sudden tile cracks and grout lines in the bathroom.

What are the 5 Reasons to Crack the Bathroom Tiles?

There are 5 reasons for cracking bathroom tiles, including substrate movement, improper installation, impact damage, thermal expansion, and water infiltration beneath the tiles.

1. Substrate movement : If the subfloor or wall backer board shifts due to settling, vibration, or poor construction, it creates stress on rigid ceramic or porcelain tiles. This movement leads to hairline or full cracks across the tile surface.
2. Improper installation : Using the wrong tile adhesive, failing to apply a full mortar bed, or skipping expansion joints causes uneven support. These unsupported voids under the tile make it crack under regular foot traffic or load.
3. Impact damage : Heavy objects such as toilet tanks, tools, or shampoo bottles dropped on the tile surface can cause immediate cracks or chips, especially in glazed ceramic or natural stone tiles.
4. Thermal expansion : Temperature changes rapidly in areas with underfloor heating or hot water pipes. This causes to expand and contract the tiles and forming cracks across tiles and grout.
5. Water infiltration beneath the tiles : When water seeps through unsealed grout lines or broken caulking, it reaches the tile adhesive layer. Over time, moisture weakens the bond between tile and substrate, leading to loosening and eventual cracking on the tiles.

How to Find Cracked Tiles in the Bathroom?

You can find cracked tiles in the bathroom by following these steps.

1. Visible surface lines or fractures : If you observe hairline cracks, spider-webbing, or full-width splits across the tile surface, these visible defects are strong evidence of structural stress or substrate movement affecting the tile’s integrity.
2. Hollow or loose sound when tapped : When you gently tap a tile and hear a hollow or clicking sound, this sound is a strong signal that the tile has detached from the adhesive layer, possibly due to a hidden crack or void beneath.
3. Grout line separation : If you observe cracked or separating grout lines around a tile, it is a strong indicator that the tile has shifted or cracked underneath due to subfloor movement or moisture infiltration.
4. Sharp edges or lifted corners : When you feel raised tile edges or see chipped corners, these physical signs are strong proof of impact damage or expansion-related cracking, especially near doorways and wet zones.
5. Water staining around the tile : If you observe discoloration or damp marks near a tile joint or wall base, it is strong evidence that a crack has allowed moisture to penetrate through to the substrate.

What are the Impacts of Broken Tiles in the Bathroom?

There are 6 problems due to cracked tiles in the bathroom, such as water seepage, injury risk, mold formation, aesthetic loss, adhesive failure, and subfloor damage. Ignoring broken tiles negatively affects both the safety and durability of bathroom surfaces.

• Water seepage into substrate : Broken tiles allow water to bypass the surface layer and penetrate into the screed, backer board, or subfloor. This seepage leads to long-term moisture accumulation and structural degradation in the bathroom.
• Injury risk from sharp edges : Broken ceramic or porcelain tiles often leave jagged or raised edges. These sharp surfaces increase the risk of cuts, trips, or falls, especially for barefoot users in bathroom wet areas.
• Mold and mildew growth underneath : Cracks in tiles trap moisture in the adhesive layer and behind the bathroom walls or floors. This hidden dampness promotes mold growth and reduce the air quality in the bathroom.
• Aesthetic loss and surface discoloration : Broken or chipped tiles ruin the clean, uniform look of bathroom finishes. This visual damage reduces the overall appearance and perceived cleanliness of the space.
• Adhesive and grout failure : Cracked tiles often result from or cause separation in the tile adhesive and grout joints. This breakdown minimizes tile bond strength, leading to more bathroom tiles loosening over time.
• Subfloor or wallboard weakening : Broken tiles allow repeated moisture intrusion into the plywood subfloor, gypsum board, or cement board in the bathroom. This weakens the base layer, increasing the need for major repairs or replacement.

How to Minimize the Impact of Broken Tiles in the Bathroom?

To minimize the impact of broken tile in the bathroom, you should waterproof the tile substrate first, and then you should improve tile installation practices. More than that, you should follow the 5 steps below to minimize the impact of broken tiles.

1. Waterproof beneath the tiles : Apply a cementitious waterproofing or liquid waterproof membrane before bathroom tiling. This helps to prevent water from seeping into the screed, backer board, or subfloor, even if a tile cracks.
2. Use proper tile adhesive and installation technique : Use a correct thin-set mortar and apply it in full tile coverage helps to stop tiles from flexing and cracking in the bathroom.
3. Install movement joints : Adding expansion joints around the perimeter and at transition zones in the bathroom. This helps to absorb thermal and structural movement and prevents tension cracks caused by substrate shifts or temperature changes in the bathroom.
4. Replace cracked tiles quickly : Replacing damaged tiles and re-grouting the bathroom area helps to stop water from entering the substrate.
5. Strengthen the substrate : Ensure a stable, rigid bathroom base, like fiber cement board or concrete slab prevents flexing under tile installations and minimizes the cracks in the tiles.

Aqviz Experts have investigated all of the bathroom water damages and listed out the 8 most common water damage in the bathroom and prepared a complete guide for each water problem with including reasons, signs, problems, and how to fix it properly as an expert. So we highly recommend you to refer to all of these 8 bathroom problems.

1. Bathroom Sink Drain Leak
2. Bathroom Faucet Leak
3. Hot Water Leak
4. Toilet Leak
5. Bathroom Sink P Trap Leak
6. Bathtub Overflow
7. Cracked Shower Tray
8. Bathroom Mold

How to Repair a Broken Bathroom Tile?

To fix a broken bathroom tile, you should follow the 6-step guide below . At Aqviz, we use this process to restore damaged tiles safely and seal the surface against future water intrusion.

1. Remove the broken tile: First, you should start by scoring around the damaged tile using a grout removal tool or oscillating multi-tool to avoid chipping nearby tiles. Then you should use a cold chisel and hammer to carefully lift and break out the tile in small pieces, removing it completely.
2. Clean the exposed surface: Next, you should scrape off the remaining tile adhesive and debris using a putty knife or scraper. The substrate must be smooth, clean, and dry before setting a new tile. If moisture is present, you must allow it to fully dry before proceeding.
3. Apply waterproofing to the substrate: Using a paintbrush or roller, you can apply a coat of liquid waterproofing membrane to the exposed area. This helps prevent water from seeping through the new tile and into the cement board or screed below.
4. Set the replacement tile: Then you should apply thin-set mortar to the back of the new tile using a notched trowel, then press it firmly into place. You must ensure it’s level with the surrounding tiles by adjusting with tile spacers or a rubber mallet if needed.
5. Re-grout the joints: After the mortar cures (usually 24 hours), you can fill the joints with waterproof grout using a grout float. As well as you can also remove excess grout and smooth the joints for a clean finish, then wipe the surface with a damp sponge.
6. Seal the grout lines: Once the grout is dry, you can apply a grout sealer with a foam brush or applicator bottle. This step helps protect against moisture absorption and minimizes the risk of future cracking or mold.

How Long Can you Use a Cracked Tiled Bathroom?

You can use a cracked tiled bathroom until your waterproofing layer is damaged. If the waterproofing layer is damaged with the tile cracking, you should not use it further. It may leak water to the substrate and cause various water damage to the structure.

Is it Safe to Use a Cracked Tiled Bathroom?

No, it’s not completely safe to use a cracked tiled bathroom. Cracks may cause slip hazards, allow bacterial growth, or lead to sharp edges that can cause injuries. At Aqviz, we always recommend repairing or replacing cracked tiles immediately to avoid water damage, mold growth, and floor failure under wet conditions.