Best way to fix a loose ceramic floor tile
#1
09-14-16, 01:59 PM
Best way to fix a loose ceramic floor tile
I installed a ceramic tile floor in my bathroom, however the thinset set up before I installed the last tile and now it is loose. What would be the best way to re-install that one tile? It is completely loose and I can easily pick it up to remove it from the space.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
09-14-16, 02:21 PM
Group Moderator
Assuming the subfloor and all other prep was proper (BIG assumption), you would need to remove the grout and that tile, scrape it and the CBU or membrane clean, mix up new thinset, trowel it on the floor, back-butter the tile and set the new tile. New grout would follow.
#3
09-14-16, 09:12 PM
All prep was proper...had a friend who used to lay flooring professionally lay the tile, so we have hardie backer cement board ontop of our plywood subfloor. Problem was the thinset set too quickly due to temperature for that last tile. Unfortunately, he's very busy with his real job now and doesn't have to time to fix the floor--were getting a little impatient, been without a real bathroom for almost 2 months now! It's not grouted yet, so that should be helpful. Probably stupid question, but what does back-butter mean?
Thanks for the advice!!
Thanks for the advice!!
#4
09-15-16, 03:54 AM
Once you clean the thinset ridges from the cbu and have a flat surface, lay in new thinset with a notched trowel. Backbuttering the tile means to put thinset on the back of the tile just as you did the floor. It doesn't have to be thick, just enough to mate the thinset on the floor and allow you to press it in place.
