Replacing Broken Ceramic Tiles

Here’s a question often heard every day in hardware stores: How do you repair ceramic tile in your bathroom or kitchen without calling in expensive professionals?

The best way to repair ceramic floor or wall tiles is by first preparing yourself for the job. That means understanding what ceramic tile is, how ceramic tile adheres to a surface, what purpose grout has, and what can go wrong if you do not take your time with the repair.

A common problem is having a cracked ceramic tile you wish to replace with an identical tile. First, it will be necessary to remove the cracked tile starting with the surrounding grout. Grout is a substance which allows tiles to adhere to each other and, at the same time, prevents water from harming the floor or wall behind the tile.

Depending on the type of grout used, there are two ways of removing it. Using a sharp object like a putty knife, slowly begin cutting into and removing the grout around the damaged tile. Take your time and allow it to flake off.

If the grout is too hard to simply peel off using a sharp knife, it will be necessary to break it apart with a hammer and thin chisel. This is more problematic, since it is also possible to accidentally crack adjacent tiles. So work slowly and gently. Once you have cracked the grouting, return to using your knife to gently remove the pieces of grouting.

By the way, save pieces of the grout so you can take it to the hardware store to match the color with your new grout.

If the cracked tile is loose, lift it away from the floor or wall. If, most likely it is not loose, there are a number of ways to remove the tile. Carefully use the thin chisel and hammer to gently chip away at the adhesive backing on the damaged tile.

If there is no room to place the chisel in position, it may be time for a professional trick. Use a small carbide drill bit to drill a series of holes into the damaged tile. Then take the chisel and hammer to gently break through the tile where the line of holes was drilled.

Depending on the adhesive used, each piece of the bored tile may need to be gently chiseled away. Again remember that you do not want to break any other tiles while hammering.

If you remove the tile from a wall, you will have to check for water damage. If the wall is soft to the touch it means water has damaged the wall. The soft section of the wall will have to be cut out and replaced prior to replacing the ceramic tiles. Unlike replacing ceramic tile, replacing part of a wall requires a lot of ambition for an amateur. If you are not so ambitious, you may want to call a handyman.

Once the tile has been removed you will need to prepare the surface for the new tile. Whether working on a floor or wall, use whatever tools you are comfortable with to remove the remaining grout and adhesive. The surface will have to be completely free of debris for the new tile to sit flat.

Scrape away all remaining grout and adhesive. You may want to use a vacuum to help clean out the area underneath the old tile. Check to see that all debris has been cleared away by placing the new tile into the cleared space. If it sits flat and does not rock, you are ready to apply your adhesive.

As a rule, apply adhesive to about one-eighth inch deep onto the back of the tile. Smooth it out using any flat tool, even a plastic fork, until you reach one half inch to the end of the tile. Going beyond one half inch may result in the adhesive squeezing out from the sides and onto the other tiles.

Take the new tile with the adhesive on the back and slowly place it into the cleared area. Once the tile is in place, move it slowly to the right and left to spread some of the adhesive underneath the tile. If a small amount of adhesive does squeeze out, simply use a thin screwdriver or other small object to scrape it away while it is still wet.

Once firmly in place, allow the tile to dry for 24 hours before applying the grout.

After having matched the color of the grout, follow the instructions and mix it according to instructions. On a small job, most people use their fingers to accurately apply the grout. With your finger you will be able to smooth the grout to the height of that on the surrounding tiles. Keeping a wet sponge by your side will allow you to quickly remove any unwanted grout. Follow the directions on the container of grout to determine how long to let it dry before exposing it to water.

Now stand back, take a good look at your work and don’t forget to drag friends and strangers into the bathroom to show them what you have done.