How to Replace Damaged Ceramic Tiles

By Jennifer Lachney

Replacing a damaged ceramic tile on your tile floor can seem like a rather large job at first glance. However, it is a little easier than it looks. With a few tools and some time, your ceramic tile floor can easily be repaired. When starting out, the job can appear to be messy and not to mention a lot of work, but the finished product is well worth the effort.

Materials Needed:

• Adhesive
• Grout mix
• Chisel
• Awl
• Hammer
• Sponge
• Putty knives or notched trowel
• Screws or nails

You'll need to go to your local home improvement center or flooring center before you start working on your ceramic tile floor. Locate and purchase the amount of matching tile that you need to replace. It's a good idea to purchase at least one or two extra tiles in case the new tile you are trying to install breaks. Once you have all of the supplies you need, you can start getting to work.

1. Begin by removing the old grout from around the damaged tile with a chisel or an awl. Use care and caution so that you do not damage any of the surrounding tiles. Take your hammer and a chisel and begin chipping out the old tile one small piece at a time.

2. Scrape the grout and any old adhesive off the floor. Make sure that the floor is as clean and smooth as you can get it so that the new tile will stay in place a lot longer. This step will take a while, so be patient.

3. Be sure that the floor where the new tile is going to be placed is structurally sound. Squeaks may indicate flexing in the floor, which can cause tile to pop loose. Fix any noticeably loose flooring or squeaks by adding extra screws or nails through the sheeting into floor joists below.

4. Next, you'll need to spread adhesive onto the back of the new piece of tile with a putty knife or notched trowel, then press the tile firmly down into place. Allow the adhesive to dry before continuing with anything else.

5. Once the adhesive has dried, you can begin grouting around the new tile. Sponge excess grout and smooth joints with your sponge. Allow the grout to stand for 15 minutes and then wipe off any excess grout. Next, allow the tile to dry for 24 hours.

6. Once the tile is dry, you can coat the grout with a clear, waterproof grout sealer. This will prevent the grout from rotting, mildewing, and staining.

© 2006 Doityourself.com