How do I repair cracked tiles?

Ceramic tiles are a durable and strong material for both walls and floors. However, there are times when a heavy object falls on a tile and causes it to crack or crumble. See what are the best ways to repair cracked tiles.

Cavities, cracks and holes in tiles do not look aesthetically pleasing, and replacing them could be too time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it is important to find an effective solution to get rid of the damage. Every scratch and hole is even more visible on light colored tiles.

How do I repair defects in wall tiles?

Repairing cavities in ceramic tiles does not require calling a professional. All you need is the right equipment and you can do it yourself.

First, clean the tiles thoroughly and degrease them, and then remove all the chipped parts from them. You will also need to get rid of any old grout. When the tiles are well prepared, apply a filling compound to the hole or cavity. Its excess can be removed with a spatula. It is important to smooth out the filler so that the tile surface is even. Finally, it is worth to protect the tiles with a special agent designed for this purpose.

Tiles for bathrooms and kitchens are particularly susceptible to any damage, as it is in these places that ceramic tiles are most often placed on the walls.

Repairing damaged floor tiles

Floor tiles decorate bathrooms and kitchens just as often as wall tiles. With floor tiles, the problem with cracks and scratches is more common. This type of damage can be repaired using similar methods as those on wall tiles.

In this case, it is also important to properly prepare the surface, that is, clean and degrease the floor tiles. After applying the filler and smoothing the tiles, check if their color is the same as the filler. If yes, you need to preserve the surface of the tiles. If the color obtained is different, you need to paint the filler with a special paint for ceramics.

What about larger cracks?

If the damage is so large that filling it is not a good idea, the tile is best replaced. To do this, first remove the grout surrounding the tile. To do this, you can use a special grout removal knife. It is important to do this very carefully, as there is a risk of damaging neighboring tiles.

To remove a damaged tile, it must be removed in its entirety. This can be done, for example, by hitting it with a chisel roughly in the middle of the tile, breaking it up and removing the pieces and residue. It is also a good idea to tap the damaged tile with a hammer and then lever the edges with a chisel.

After removing the tile, carefully remove the old glue residue. After applying new glue, lay the new tile, press it firmly and hold for a while. A good solution is to load it for a longer time.

Terrace tiles, as well as kitchen and bathroomtiles, require a certain distance between them. In order to do that, special plastic spacing crosses should be placed between them. If the replaced tile is on the wall, it is good to stick it with a tape.

When the glue dries and we are sure that the new tile adheres well to the surface, we can remove the crosses and start grouting. You should not use sharp tools to apply grout, so as not to damage the tiles and not to make cracks in the new mortar. When applying grout, you need to pay attention to ensure that its thickness is the same along the entire length.

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