Ceramic tile is durable and comes in a range of sizes, colors, and styles. There are a few places where ceramic tile is not ideal, because it works well on floors, walls, and counters. One of the biggest causes of why ceramic tile might crack is deflection, or bounciness, in the subfloor.
Installers can place ceramic tile over several substrates, but some materials do not support it well. Unacceptable substrates include interior-grade plywood, masonry, vinyl flooring, resilient flooring, and OSB wood. The substrate must also be clean, dry, and within the acceptable deflection levels for ceramic tile. Good materials for substrate include concrete, outdoor-grade plywood, and cement fiber board.
Several factors affect deflection, including joist size, joist type, joist spacing, subfloor fastenings, and the condition of the subfloor and joists. Installers can add another layer of plywood to reduce deflection and make it appropriate to install ceramic tiles.
When the substrate is properly prepared and deflection is properly accounted for, a ceramic tile installation job will go more smoothly, and there will be a much lower risk of problems in the future.
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