Sometimes after your home has settled a bit you will notice a cracked tile on the floor and it always seems to be in the most noticeable place in the room!
Replacing tile is not nearly as daunting as one would think. Here is how to replace a cracked tile:
Most of the time your builder will leave extra tiles in the crawl space or the attic, check there first. While you are there check for grout as well. If you don’t have any leftover tiles then you may have a little more difficult time matching your existing tile to something new.
Let’s assume that you do have left over tile; with safety glasses and gloves donned, start by carefully breaking the cracked tile into smaller pieces with a small hammer. Take your time so as not to damage the good existing tiles surrounding the damaged one. Locate a loose piece and using a stiff putty knife or a small, thin pry bar, try to pry up a piece of the broken tile. Once you have one section up you should be able to chisel the rest of the tile with the hammer and your putty knife. Remove the adhesive and the grout around the damaged tile as well.
Use a shop vacuum to clean up the area of loose debris. Spread the appropriate adhesive on the back of the new replacement tile and place it in the old spot with equal distance around the remaining tiles. Use the edge of a level to set it to the same depth as the other tiles and allow 24 hours for the adhesive to set.
As per the grout instructions, mix a small amount of grout, fill in the spaces around the tile and wipe with a damp sponge until grout is consistent with remaining areas. Again, allow to dry for 24 hours.
~Scott Morrison (Contractor Extraordinnaire!)
