Dropping a heavy item on ceramic tile floors or slamming doorknobs into a wall can cause breaks, cracks or other unsightly dents. Removing a tile from either one is a similar process with the only difference being how hard it is to scrape the old adhesive. Setting a new tile is the easy part. Once you replace the tile using these tricks from the pros, no one will notice the difference between the old tiles and the repaired tiles.
Step One
Put on a pair of protective eye goggles, a dust mask and leather work gloves. Protect easily damaged surrounding areas with a thick drop cloth.
Step Two
Scrape the grout lines around the tile with the carbide-blade scoring tool. Tape along the edges of the surrounding tiles. Cover the tiles only and do not let the tape touch the grout line.
Step Three
Fit your drill with the ceramic drilling bit. Drill holes into the broke pieces of tile, evenly spaced across the surface.
Step Four
Set a chisel edge along one of the break lines in the tile. Hold it at a 90-degree angle to the tile and hammer the end until you reach the subfloor. Cant the chisel so that the end starts to go under the tile. Hammer again to pop the tile shard from the floor.
Step Five
Remove all the pieces of the tile in the same manner. Then use the chisel to remove the adhesive, typically thinset or mastic, from the floor or wall. Scrape all the adhesive from the hole. Vacuum the area to remove all the dust. Then wipe out the hole with a clean rag. Remove the tape and discard it.
Step Six
Spread adhesive inside of the hole with the notched edge of the trowel. Rake through the thinset to create furrows. Spread another layer of adhesive on the back side of the new tile and rake through it.
Step Seven
Set the tile into the hole and press down. Set a level on top of the tile, overlapping the surrounding tiles. Tap the tile with a rubber mallet to even it out with the surrounding tiles. Wait two hours for the adhesive to cure.
Step Eight
Mix a small amount of grout to the consistency of peanut butter. Pack the grout into the joints around the tile with a rubber grout float. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the tiles and drag it diagonally across the joints. Scrape the excess grout from the surface of the tiles with the edge of the grout float. Rub your finger along the grout lines to shape them.
Step Nine
Wipe the surface of the tile, and surrounding tiles if you got grout on them, with a damp sponge. Flip the sponge and wipe again. Rinse the sponge and continue wiping until no grout remains on the tiles surface. Wait 15 minutes and then wipe the tiles again.
Step Ten
Block the area with furniture or signs to prevent anyone from disturbing it. Leave the adhesive and grout to cure for 24 hours before removing the signs.