Solutions To Water Damaged Tile Floors in Somerville

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

This is what the bathroom looked like initially before our services.

t can come as quite a surprise to a Somerville homeowner when tiled walls and floors do not merely shrug off a water loss. The standard expectation when installing tile is that it is impervious to water. Unfortunately, some circumstances develop where water does migrate unexpectedly. When this becomes evident to the unsuspecting homeowner, the damage might be significant because it was unnoticed and not addressed in its minor stages.

Grout Can Be Vulnerable

One of the reasons you chose a grouted tile construction in your Somerville residence was its water damage resistance. When properly installed, ceramic tile with grouted joints is a waterproof construction. After installation, however, occasional maintenance of the grout is imperative. Resealing the grout with a product recommended by the manufacturer needs to be on your rotation of house maintenance tasks. Regular inspection for any gaps or cracks is the key to minimizing any water seepage.

Subfloor Damage -- Cause 

If the subfloor is damaged in any way during installation of the tile or later, SERVPRO crews might find cracks or gaps in even rigorously maintained grout. Uneven plywood subflooring can result from inadequate preparation of lower layers of an existing floor structure. A subfloor that sits above a damp crawl space with missing or damaged vapor barriers can swell, eventually warping and causing the grout to crack and loosen. This distortion of the flat surface opens up areas in the expanse of tile to permit percolation of water from a leak or appliance failure into the supporting structures.

Subfloor Damage -- Effect

Regardless of the cause of the grout cracking, once the waterproof seal goes missing, the underlying floor is in trouble. Spills and leaks drain into the subfloor, causing warping and expansion. The tiles break away from the grout, coming loose and requiring reinstallation after the subfloor is repaired or replaced. SERVPRO’s general contractor license permits you to rely on us for the rebuilding to code of the subfloor needed after the water removal and structural drying. 

SERVPRO of West Somerset County offers our customers wrap around rebuilding services after a water loss. Call us at (732) 805-9944 to assess and plan for restoration that makes it “Like it never even happened.”

Contractor License: General: 13VH05228000 

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