Knowing how to deal with cracking marble makes the investment in marble flooring a smart move. It is something most people should be aware of in case their flooring cracks.
“Life happens, and yes, sometimes marble tile floors will crack because of the wear and tear they have received over the years. If you notice your tiles cracking, it’s time to do something about it, before it gets too far gone to repair,” said Dean Dupre, who runs Champion Tile, a Clearwater Flooring, Tampa Flooring, and tile installation company.
The sub-flooring needs to be completely even and completely clean. This is because the tiles will come into direct contact with the floor. If there are any spaces between the sub-floor and tiles, this increases the tile’s susceptibility to pressure; hence, cracking is more likely. To repair a crack in marble tiles, the sub-floor needs to be resurfaced, likely because the grout has become unstable or is disintegrating.
“You’ll need tar paper, replacement tiles, grout, a chisel and sweeping brush. Take out the cracked tile, and the ones next to it. Make sure the sub-flooring is even and don’t stop scraping and chiseling until it is completely level. Then get rid of the dirt and other debris. Cut the tar paper to fit the whole you’ve opened up in the floor. Start grouting, and then, set tiles from one side to the other. Do not put the middle tile in first. You are positioning them first to make sure they will all fit when you are done,” Dupre said.
If the cracks in the tile are not serious enough to take the whole tile out and redo it, there may be a chance to repair the crack by concealing it instead. For this task, try epoxy glue, but make sure it is used right between the crevices. For completely broken off or chipped pieces, wipe the edges with acetone, and then use the glue or marble repair cement to replace the broken piece. Keep a steady pressure on it until the glue dries.
”Not into glues? Try a marble sealer or other concealing agent, such as powders. They hide cracks very well and all you have to do is apply glue, apply the agent on top to make the colors blend and voila, you are done. Just make sure to remember to follow the grain of the marble when using a concealing agent,” Dupre said.
To learn more, visit http://www.champtile.com.
