Ceramic tiles can make a room look elegant, pristine, and sophisticated. Despite the desirable qualities of ceramic tiles, it has its own drawbacks like being fragile or brittle. Broken or cracked ceramic tiles often happen when hard objects are accidentally dropped on them. If this event occurs, there will be a need for fixing or replacing of the said damaged ceramic tile. Replacing a broken ceramic tile is quite easy, it just needs one’s precision and patience. No need to put up with eyesore or spend on a professional to the job.
Listed below are some easy steps to take in replacing damaged ceramic tiles:
- Loosening the tile: Remove the damaged tile’s grout by using a sharp tool such as a carbide tipped blade. Slowly work around the damaged tile, be sure to be careful or surrounding tiles could also be damaged. The tile should loosen up as soon as the grout is gone. When this happens use a chisel to loosen the tile. Then break the tile into small pieces by taping it with a chisel or a mallet. Work slowly but surely, hurrying can make the hand slip damaging other tiles and adding more damage and work to do.
- Glue scraping: After you have loosened up the damaged tile use the chisel and mallet to get the tile removed from the hole. Then scrape off the glue that was left by the damaged tile. Make sure to get all the excess glue out of the hole so that the new tile to be installed can well fit the same spot.
- Clean the area: Remove particles from the area. A small vacuum can be effective.
- Laying out the new tile: Once the area is cleaned thoroughly the new tile can now be installed. On the back of the new tile apply tile glue this also goes with the floor where it will be placed. Then position the tile so the glued part will be pressed against the hole. Press the tile gently into the hole. Let it cure for a few hours then add the ground around the new tile. Make sure to pack it well for a watertight seal.
- Curing: Wait at least 24 hours for the curing before stepping on the newly installed ceramic tile.