Replacing A Broken Tile
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 Use a carbide grout saw (about $6) to remove any remaining grout around the tile you want to replace. This will reduce the chance of damaging an adjacent tile during the replacement process. Now you can use a hammer and cold chisel, a rotary tool, or a grinder to cut or break the bad tile into smaller pieces that can be pried up with a screw driver. Once all the pieces of the tile are removed, use the grout saw to remove any high spot in the mortar that would make the replacement tile stick about the surrounding tiles. You can also use a screw driver or old chisel to remove the adhesive. Be careful to avoid damaging the substrate (sheetrock, wetrock, greenrock, tile backer, etc.). If the substrate is not stiff enough to support the new tile, then it must be replaced or repaired. Test fit the new tile to make sure there are not high spot in the existing adhesive that would force the tile too high. Apply tile adhesive to the back of the new tile. It should the consistency of toothpaste. Premixed adhesive is best for small jobs even though it is a bit more expensive. The consistency is much better in small batches. A saw tooth trowel with a 1/8 step can be used to spread the adhesive on the back of the tile. The saw tooth trowel allows for adhesive contact over the entire tile but does not allow excess in one area. If you have excess adhesive on the back of the tile it may cause a high spot that will keep the tile from laying flat. You can use a putty knife to get the same effect but watch for excess areas. Place the tile against the substrate and press down until you feel the adhesive flow and the top is flush with the existing tiles. Use spacer (toothpick are a cheap substitute) and tape to hold vertical tiles in place. Allow the adhesive to dry over night. The next day, remove the spacers and install ready-mixed grout. Wearing gloves (grout is caustic), use your finger to force the grout deep into the surrounding cracks. Then use damp sponge to remove excess but do not try to shape the grout line. After about 30 minute to 1 hour, the tile should have a have dry haze from the dried excess grout and the grout line should be partially dry. Now use the damp sponge to shape the grout line so it has concave look like the other surrounding grout lines. Wait several weeks and then seal the grout if you are looking for a more waterproof and stain resistant installation. View more articles about Tile Selection and Installation. The information on this site is provided for reference only and is provided "AS IS", "AS AVAILABLE" with no guarantee of accuracy. Information comes with no warranties, express or implied. Use the information from this site at your own risk. See our disclaimer for more details. |