Without actually examining the tile and floor underlayment, we can’t tell you for sure what is causing the problem, but the floor sheathing in a mobile home is not designed to accept ceramic floor tile over it unless it was originally installed at the factory. Tile requires a stiff underlayment that does not flex at all when walked on—or when a refrigerator or range is rolled over it.

   When a homeowner decides to lay ceramic tile over a floor that was originally covered with carpet or vinyl tile, it’s necessary to lay down an additional layer of plywood or a cement tile backer board to provide sufficient resistance to flexing of the underlayment that causes cracking. 

   If ceramic tile has been installed on a manufactured home floor as part of a remodeling, the floor should be noticeably higher that surrounding carpet due to the additional thickness of added underlayment. While the impact of a heavy object dropped on a tile floor can cause a crack or two, multiple cracks in a tile floor are likely due to lack of an adequately stiff underlayment. 

    Also, see our blog post What causes a crowned floor in a mobile/manufactured home?

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES:

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• How energy efficient is a mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

       Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES  page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.