Porcelain tile flooring is an excellent choice for your home. Porcelain tiles are made from a mixture of clay and crushed stone. The material is fired under extremely high temperatures to produce extremely dense tiles. Although they may appear delicate, porcelain tiles are amongst the most resilient. With proper care, your porcelain tiled floor can last several years. If your tiles should break, it is best to replace the broken portions as soon as possible. If the repair is delayed, it can allow moisture into your floor. Broken porcelain tiles are also sharp and can cause severe cuts. Extract the broken tiles and replace with new tiles of the same style. This will restore uniformity to your floor.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- Replacement tiles
- Grout saw
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Putty knife
- Stiff-bristle brush
- Tile adhesive
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
- Water
- Mild detergent
- Dust mask
- Rag
Step 1 – Remove Grout
Wear a dust mask and take your grout saw and cut into the grout along the tile edges. Begin along one edge. Cut in a back and forth manner. Cut steadily and scrape the grout as you saw. It is best to work your saw in short movements. This allows you to apply firm, steady pressure. Be careful not to damage the adjacent tiles as you saw and scrape. Once you’ve cut through the grout on one side, move to another edge. Work this way all around the broken tiles until you’ve scraped off most of the grout.
Step 2 – Dislodge the Broken Tiles
Place the tip of your chisel at one point along the edge of the broken tile. Position the chisel tip underneath the tile. Take a hammer and gently tap the chisel from the back. Tap a few times until you feel the chisel tip make some slight entry underneath the tile. Extract the chisel tip and move about 3 inches away from your first point. Perform the same activity with the chisel tip and hammer. Work all around the broken tile in this way. Eventually, you should be able to insert the chisel underneath the tile and dislodge it from the sub-floor. Remove all the broken tiles in this way.
Step 3 – Clean and Install New Tile
Use a putty knife to scrape away mortar from the site cleared of the damaged tiles. Brush away dirt and debris with a stiff bristle brush. Wipe the site with a damp rag and allow it to air-dry.
Spread tile adhesive evenly, about 1/8 inch thick, onto the back of the new tile. Place the tile in the empty spot. Press firmly all around the tile so that it attaches properly. Allow the newly installed tiles to set through the night.
Step 4 – Apply Grout
Use a grout float to apply grout along the joints of the new tiles. Wait about 10 minutes for the grout to begin to cure. Wipe away excess grout with a damp sponge. This helps to prevent haze. Allow the grout to cure completely for 24 hours. Clean the grout lines with a soft cloth and mild detergent mixed with water. Dampen a sponge with plain water, wring and wipe away the soap.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
