Do ceramic tile countertops crack?

Ceramic tiles are fairly durable, but they are not completely invincible. One of their weak points is that they crack easily. Ceramic tiles are very fragile,and they can incur cracks, chips, and dents from various external factors such as impact and extreme temperatures.

Causes

Impact. Countertops are usually placed directly below cupboards or overhead cabinets, where heavy soup cans and metal utensils are stored. When these items fall onto a ceramic countertop, the impact can crack the surface. Impact can also come from forcefully setting a heavy object such as a pot on the countertop.

Faulty installation. A ceramic tile countertop must be installed in a way that distributes support to the areas that need it the most. For a simple rectangular countertop, this is as simple as placing wall supports on either end and at the middle, but unusually shaped countertops can be tricky. If a specific spot on the countertop lacks support, even slight pressure can cause it to crack.

Extreme temperatures. All solids expand when heated and contract when cooled. Cracks appear when a tile expands beyond its capacity or shrinks to a size smaller than its core. Avoid temperature-caused cracking by making your countertop a few millimeters larger than your original plan and setting it a centimeter or so from the wall.

Repair options

Small cracks are relatively safe and can be left on their own, unless there are too many. You can cover them up with a ceramic filling in the same shade as the tile. Large cracks, on the other hand, are usually beyond repair. The only solution is replacing the whole tire, which can be costly. Also, you may not get the tile in the exact shade as the rest of your tiles, which can make your countertop look distracting.