How to Replace a Broken Floor Tile
The first step would be to remove any remaining pieces of the damaged tile. Be sure to wear safety glasses since there is a risk of sharp objects flying. The best device for the job is a nice rotary tool with a brick cutter attachment. This will be tough enough to break through the tile, mortar, and grout. Best of all, when used with care this tool will not damage the surrounding tiles. While you may want to resort to a chisel and hammer for the large chunks of tile, you are better off using the precision of a rotary tool. This is especially true for the more tricky shards of tile and delicate areas like the grout.
Next, make sure the surface underneath the previous tile is level. If there are large uneven chunks of mortar you will not be able to place the new tile properly. While you do not need a perfectly smooth finish to lay the new tile, do take care to sand off obvious and potentially problematic imperfections.
After that, you have completed the worst of it. Removal of the broken tile is the most labor intensive and challenging part. So breathe a sigh of relief, but you still have several steps to complete until you are finished.
Now you need to prepare your mortar. If you bought pre-mixed mortar you can skip this part. If you bought the powder mortar you will need to thoroughly mix the powder with water before use. It can be mixed by hand with a large spoon, stir stick, or whatever is on hand, but it is accomplished more quickly by using a mixing attachment on a power drill.
Next, get out your trowel and slop on a small amount of the mortar towards the end of the trowel. Depending on the size of the tile to be replaced, you may want to buy a smaller than standard size trowel for this project. Another option is to use a small putter knife. After you have applied an appropriately sized layer of mortar to the area, run the teeth of the trowel through the surface of the mortar. This will cause the mortar to grip to the tile. If you are using a putter knife instead of a trowel you will need to run the edge of the tool through the mortar to create about a dozen ditches through the mortar to cause this “teeth” affect. You could instead use a fork to create the needed affect.
Now, quickly lay the tile down into the mortar and position it to align squarely with the other tiles. Do not let anyone walk on the tile as you let the mortar dry according to instructions (usually overnight). Once dry, come back and grout the edges. Wipe clean, let dry, and admire your once again perfect ceramic tile floor.
