Ditto for clay tiles.
Replacing cracked tile.
Work the grout into the seam using a grout float.
If replacing a tile isn t in your budget or if the tile isn t badly damaged you can repair the tile.
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.
Once it s up remove the rest of the tile with your hands.
That makes work gloves and eye protection critical.
You can add mastic to raise a replacement tile that s too thin but a tile that s too thick calls attention to the repair.
Find a nail polish or a combination of polishes and mix to match your tile.
Damaged tiles allow moisture to get under the tile so replace broken ceramic tiles right away.
Perhaps it would be better to replace the entire floor.
If the tile is too badly cracked to repair it you can just replace the damaged tile.
Or for a more diy option try using wood glue and nail polish.
Replace broken or missing ceramic tiles to prevent further damage.
Debris from this project also can scratch acrylic tubs and showers.
If not you ll need to either.
You can easily replace cracked and broken ceramic and clay tiles if you kept extra tiles and grout mix.
On the following pages are ferrante s steps for a perfect repair.
Patching hairline cracks is.
But even then you ll be glad to have tile underfoot because replacing a broken or chipped one is pretty simple to do.
If you don t have a matching tile to replace the broken one with evaluate how the rest of the floor tiles look.
Move the float across the seam diagonally rather than along the gap to avoid pulling the grout out.
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.
Slowly pry the tile up with the cold chisel.
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.
Stir the grout to eliminate any settling and to loosen the material for easier application.
If the tile only has a thin hairline crack in it you can fill it with an epoxy.
For a small job like replacing a broken tile use pre mixed grout.
