If you’ve ever had a water leak in your home, you know how frustrating it can be. Not only do you have to clean up the mess, but you also have to try and dry out the area so that mould doesn’t form.

Most tiles are resistant to water damage, but that’s only to a certain degree. When you leave moisture around your tiles, it can damage your home – so it’s essential to dry them as soon as possible.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to dry out water under tiles. Let’s get started!

Why Does Water Get Under Tiles?

In general, water shouldn’t get under your tiles, but it does happen. Grouting protects the areas around the tiles, and when used correctly, it should stop any moisture from penetrating your tiles.

However, grouting does wear over time, so water gets under the tiles. Also, if they’re not installed properly, the grouting won’t be able to act as a barrier, resulting in excess moisture in your home.

The Signs Of Water Under The Tiles

It can be challenging to spot water damage, especially when under your tiles, but there are a few signs to watch out for. Let’s take a look at them now:

  • The tiles feel spongy or soft when you press on them. Or, you might notice that the tiles are loose when you step on them.
  • Mould or mildew is growing on the grouting or tiles. This often results in a distinct musty smell.
  • The paint around the tiles is peeling due to the excess moisture.
  • You notice a hollow sound when you tap the tile with a coin.

These are just a few signs that there could be water damage. If you notice any of them, it’s essential to take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage from occurring.

How To Dry Out Water Under Tiles?

Now that we know how to spot water damage let’s look at how we can dry it out.

While some methods such as using a hairdryer or opening up your windows might seem like reasonable solutions, they won’t completely dry your tiles, and you’ll still have to deal with potential mould spores.

This method is the best way to dry your tiles and prevent further damage.

You’ll Need:

  • Rubber mallet
  • Small chisel
  • Scraper/putty knife
  • Grout
  • Tile adhesive
  • Hard bristle brush
  • Towels
  • Tile spacers
  • Bleach

The Method:

Step One

Identify all tiles with water underneath them, and use your chisel and rubber mallet to remove the grouting. Use your towels to absorb the excess moisture for each tile.

Step Two

Once you’re confident that the water is gone, you should clean the area with bleach because water damage is a breeding ground for mould spores. Use the bristle brush to ensure a thorough job.

Step Three

Look at your tiles and see if you can scrape away any adhesive residue with your chisel and mallet. The floor should also be even because you’ll be laying the tiles again.

Step Four

Reapply the tiles using a tile spacer and adhesive. It would help if you took some time with the process because the grouting should act as a barrier to prevent excess moisture from penetrating the tiles again.

Leave to dry overnight, and in the morning, you’ll have a completely new set of tiles to enjoy.

If you’re not a skilled tiler or are unsure how to remove and reapply tiles, there are plenty of professional training courses that can help you improve your skills and take on more complex tiling jobs.

Why It’s Essential To Dry & Clean Your Tiles

Most people know that water under tiles can cause significant damage to their flooring and compromise the structural integrity of a property.

But the extent of that damage depends on your tile type and how quick you are to address the excess moisture.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are relatively water-resistant, but they’re not 100% waterproof. Small splashes of water will be ok, but porcelain tiles will get weaker over time, which is when the damage can happen.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are highly water-resistant, but the grout surrounding them isn’t. While your tiles will be able to withstand standing water, the grouting and flooring underneath them will still be susceptible to mould.

Granite Tiles

Granite is similar to porcelain and is known as a porous material. This means that granite will absorb water, making the tiles weaker with time.

As the water penetrates the tiles, mould will grow, so you need to address the issue as soon as possible.

Marble Tiles

If water gets under or into your marble tiles, their appearance will change over time, including discolouration and cracks.

Unfortunately, you might need to completely replace marble tiles – especially if you don’t remove the moisture immediately.

How To Prevent Water Damage In The Future

Once you’ve dried out your tiles and removed any mould spores, it’s essential to take steps to prevent water damage from happening again. Here are a few tips:

Perform Maintenance: Regularly check your gutters and downpipes and clear them of leaves and debris. You should also monitor your pipes because a small leak can cause a great deal of damage to your tiles.

Don’t Delay: If you have a leaky tap or pipe, get it fixed as soon as possible by a qualified tradesman. This way, you can ensure the leak doesn’t create more significant problems down the line.

Seal: Use waterproof sealant around areas susceptible to moisture, such as showers, baths, toilets etc. As these high traffic areas are likely to incur water damage, using a bit of sealant will create a barrier between the tiles and moisture.

The Bottom Line

It’s near impossible to keep your home free of water damage, and tiles are most often used in kitchens and bathrooms – which are high traffic areas.

However, by following the steps in this post, you can rest assured that the problem will always be fixable.

Taking a tiling course can improve your skills and ensure you can perform any repair job, resulting in happier customers and more work.

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