Replacing Cracked Tile

Replace broken or missing ceramic tiles to prevent further damage.

Replacing cracked tile.

If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile. Move the float across the seam diagonally rather than along the gap to avoid pulling the grout out. Breaking the old tile can scatter jagged chunks and small sharp slivers. If you don t have a matching tile to replace the broken one with evaluate how the rest of the floor tiles look.

That makes work gloves and eye protection critical. Debris from this project also can scratch acrylic tubs and showers. It s a job most any homeowner can handle says joe ferrante a tiling contractor who s worked with the this old house television show for nearly 20 years. Place the cold chisel on the deepest crack in the tile and carefully hit it with the hammer until the cold chisel is underneath the tile.

If your cracked or chipped ceramic tile is too big to repair as described above then replacement is probably necessary. Patching hairline cracks is. Stir the grout to eliminate any settling and to loosen the material for easier application. Ditto for clay tiles.

You can easily replace cracked and broken ceramic and clay tiles if you kept extra tiles and grout mix. Find a nail polish or a combination of polishes and mix to match your tile. If the tile only has a thin hairline crack in it you can fill it with an epoxy. Slowly pry the tile up with the cold chisel.

Work the grout into the seam using a grout float. Once it s up remove the rest of the tile with your hands. Or for a more diy option try using wood glue and nail polish. Damaged tiles allow moisture to get under the tile so replace broken ceramic tiles right away.

But even then you ll be glad to have tile underfoot because replacing a broken or chipped one is pretty simple to do. If not you ll need to either. On the following pages are ferrante s steps for a perfect repair. If the tile is too badly cracked to repair it you can just replace the damaged tile.

If you have ceramic glazed tile and cracks here is an easy fix. Professionals often replace a damaged tile but this isn t necessary with a hairline crack for which epoxy filling provides an effective way to seal and hide the crack. Watch the grout lines around the tile to ensure the grout and surrounding tiles don t also crack.