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Ceramic tiles are very strong and are not likely to break once installed. However, accidents do happen that can crack and damage your tiles. When larger tiles are installed over a surface that is not completely level, these tiles can also break or crack. Another problem that can happen is a towel rack or soap dish can break, leaving a hole in your wall. Replacing a broken or damaged tile, or replacing mildewed grout or just grout that has been stained over the years is fairly simple with a few instructions. Here is what you will need to perform these repairs.
Tools & Materials
Replacement tile, Grout saw or Dremel, Cloth or sponge, Safety goggles, Latex gloves, Wall grout, Chisel, Grout trowel or Rubber spatula, Hammer, Large sponge, Stiff putty knife, Water bucket, Grout sealer, Water-based tile adhesive (Mastic) or Thin Set (for use on concrete floors or Durok backing)
1.Remove Grout: Remove all of the grout from any area that touches the damaged tile. Use a grout saw or a dremel tool, we suggested this tool for larger jobs, even though the bits are a little expensive the time and effort saved makes this tool worthwhile. When using a dremel be careful to let the bit do the cutting, it is very easy to break this bits as they can get very hot. Avoid the urge to put pressure on the tool to spead up the cutting. Work slowly, patiently, and carefully to avoid scratching tile.
2. Break Up Tile: Use a cold chisel (or any old beat up chisel will do, even a screw driver) and a hammer to carefully break the damaged tile into as many pieces as necessary to remove it. Be careful not to damage the under laying material. This may only be 1/2 drywall and is very easy to damage. Use only as much force as required to break the tile and remove it.
· Caution: Be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes from flying chips of ceramic tile
3. Prepare the Surface: Use a stiff putty knife to scrape out old adhesive or bits of remaining tile. Again be very careful not to damage the base material. In the case of water damage or if the under laying material is damaged, go to our page on drywall repairs, and follow those directions before you install new tile. Tile must be installed on a clean and sturdy surface.
4. Apply Adhesive: If your tile was on drywall or wood apply to the back of your new tile a spread of 1/4 Mastic (a water based tile adhesive), using your putty knife or any flat tool (even a wooden paint mixer will work). ON concrete or Durok surfaces use Thin Set (ask at your hardware store). For larger jobs, use a 1/4 notched tile trowel (you can buy these for less than $10 at your local hardware store), apply the adhesive directly to the wall or floor where the tiles were removed from. The adhesive should be approximately 1/4 think . Once the adhesive is spread turn the trowel on its edge at a 45 degree angle and score the surface, this will insure a good bond.
5. Press Tile in Place: Press the tile firmly into place, making sure that it is flat and level with surrounding tiles. Use the corner of the putty knife or similar tool to immediately clean out any adhesive that may have oozed between the tiles. Wipe any adhesive off the face of the tile with a damp cloth or sponge.
6. Grout the Tile: Allow the tile to cure for at least 24 hours. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing the grout and press it into the joints with a grout spreader (can buy for less than $10 at local hardware store). You can even use a plastic spatula from the kitchen for this phase. Press firmly and move diagonally across the tile joints to ensure that they are completely filled. We recommend using sanded grout for floors and unsanded for walls. Grout and other tile cements are abrasive, so be sure to wear latex gloves when working with grout.
7. Clean Tile: Do not allow grout to dry on the tile surface. Wait about 10-15 minutes (or until your fingernail makes a slight impression in the grout) and lightly wipe the surface with a large damp sponge. Make sure your sponge is not wet, ring out all excess water, and keep rinsing your sponge - keeping a clean and damp sponge is essential to success at this stage. Don't press too hard or you may wipe grout out of the joints. Rinse and wring out sponge after every pass. Repeat until only a haze remains.
8. Polish off Haze: Wait another half hour or so and buff the face of the tile very lightly with a clean (preferrably old) towel to remove any remaining grout haze.
10. Seal the Grout: Tile grout is neither waterproof nor stainproof, so we recommend using a tile sealer. Read the instructions on the container to see how long you should wait to apply sealer (usually 48 hours). Tile sealer is easy to apply and well worth the effort.
To busy to repair your missing and broken tiles, need that ugly, grimy grout cleaned - Call Liberty!
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