Water Trapped Under Ceramic Tile

Although the tile itself will not grow mold trapped water below the tile will effect the subfloor.

Water trapped under ceramic tile. Even if there is concrete board below the tile there is still a wood floor under there somewhere. This can generate mold that can be hazardous to humans and animals. This is where flooring wood carpet tile is laid in residential construction. Place a wide putty knife under the ceramic tile parallel to the floor.

Use the rubber mallet to tap the head of the putty knife to pop the ceramic tile from its place. Unlike ceramic tile concrete will shrink back to its original size as it dries. The shower floor tile and grout will appear to dry in 24 hours but if your shower was improperly constructed the 1 5 inches or more of deck mud under the shower floor tile will never dry. This means in a water damaged tile situation involving ceramic tile installed over a concrete slab both the ceramic tile and the slab will expand.

Water under a tile floor can be caused by a various number of things. Answer answer water coming up through your tile grout joints is an indication that you have a high water table on your property or that water is being directed towards your house and you don t have a vapor retarder under the concrete slab to prevent water from migrating through the concrete. Second any water under a floor is a problem. Tile flooring consists of more than just tiles however.

It can also cause damage to the subfloor or wood underneath the tile. A concrete slab on grade is a flat area of concrete poured directly on the earth or water membrane. Set all the ceramic tiles you removed to the side. When dried the slab returns to its original size but the ceramic tiles do not shrink back to their original size.

Knowing if you do have water underneath tile is important. Repeat this procedure for all ceramic tiles with underlying water. If the grout has cracked or become loose and you are seeing black coming through the grout chances. Grout and adhesive seal the tiles together and are the first substances affected by standing water.

The white residue is likely efflorescence which are salt minerals that are absorbed by the water as. If this water oozes into the tile. Considered the most water resistant flooring material tile is the most popular choice of floor coverings among homeowners.