Can Floor Tile Be Uneven?

Tile Projects versus Different Floor Levels

• There is a key difference between moving up and down floor levels and dealing with an uneven floor for a single tile project. If you have one type of tile in one area, such as a kitchen, but another tile project on a different floor level, such as the hallway leading to the kitchen, each area can be at different levels. There are a number of thresholds and other devices that allow you bridge the difference between the two floors. However, a single floor project must be fully level.

Uneven Subfloors

• An uneven subfloor is a substrate material that is not ready for a tile project. Many tile floors are installed over plywood or cement board, which can project a relatively level surface. However, other flooring materials, such as real wood and concrete, can develop leveling problems over wide areas. This, in turn, makes tile uneven, which is unacceptable for a quality installation.

Uneven Tile Issues

• Uneven tile is a common problem where tile is installed hastily over a poor subfloor. Tile adhesive on an uneven surface can eventually lose its bond. Tiles can crack under the pressure caused by the difference between different sections of the floors, or loosen entirely because of lost adhesive capabilities. This requires replacing entire sections of the floor and remodeling the subfloor.

Uneven Tile Solutions

• Uneven tile is not easy to repair. Once the tile has been installed, there is not much that can be done to solve the problem other than take the tile back out and redo the floor, which results in damaged tiles and a steep remodeling expense. It is better to use fiberboard, leveling compounds and other materials beforehand to prepare difficult surfaces.