If you have cracked and chipped tiles in your bathroom it can mar the beauty of your bathroom. Repairing bathroom tiles becomes very essential and the best way to go about it is to find out the kind of tiling that is used in the bathroom. Determine if you have ceramic, stone or porcelain tiles in your bathroom. It is important to find the exact color and texture of the replacement tile that matches the original one. If the flooring is old, then you might have some difficulty in finding the matching tile as manufacturers often discontinue old patterns and colors. In such a case, look for the matching tile in local flea market or on the internet. Bathroom tile repair can be completed in a day if the damage to the tiles is not extensive.
How to Repair Bathroom Tile
Things Required Replacement tile Grout Grout remover Adhesive Chisel Utility knife Nail punch Hammer Putty knife Method
The first step is to remove the cracked or chipped tiles without damaging any adjoining ones. You need to be very careful while doing this and for added protection, cover the adjacent tiles with cardboard. Now with the help of a utility knife, gently pry out all the grout from around the cracked tile. If the grout is soft and malleable, you can remove it very easily with the utility knife, otherwise you will need grout remover for removing tough and dried grout. Apply the grout remover over the old grout and wait for at least and hour for it to work. Make sure that you do not spill any of the grout remover around the other tiles.
After you have successfully removed all the old grout from around the damaged tile, it is time for floor tile removal. For this, just lift out the old tile from its place. If the floor tile has been set into place by using adhesive, it might be quite difficult to pry out the tile from its position. If the tile cannot be removed, you need to loosen it from its place. Use a nail punch to punch a hole around the cracked tile and with the help of a chisel, remove portions of the tile from the adhesive. You can also use the hammer to remove larger portion of the damaged tile from the adhesive. Take care not to pound too hard with the hammer, as otherwise you risk damaging the nearby tiles. Remove all the loose pieces of the broken tile and use the chisel to scrape out all the old adhesive.
Use a vacuum cleaner to dust out all the loose dirt and debris that might have been left behind while removing the old tile. Now take the replacement tile and see if it sits evenly on the floor surface. If there is a rocking movement and it is not perfectly even with the other tiles, then you may have to remove extra grout and adhesive from the floor. Do not attempt bathroom tile repair, until you are absolutely sure that it is even with the rest of the tiles. Apply a very thin layer of adhesive on the replacement tile by using the blunt edge of the putty knife. Apply adhesive at least half an inch from the sides, as otherwise it will seep out from the edges of the tile. Now place the replacement tile exactly where the damaged tile was. Allow the tile to remain undisturbed in this position for at least 24 hours. The last step is to apply grout with the help of a putty knife along the edges of the replacement tile. Remove any excess grout with a dampened cloth.
Next time you need to repair bathroom tile, you can do it yourself without seeking the help of a professional.
