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Tile Repair and RestorationBy Jim Sulski Summary: Repairing and restoring ceramic tile is a common do-it-yourself project. Fix small and large tile problems with these simple instructions. The resiliency of ceramic tile makes it a natural for floors and walls in bathrooms and kitchens, where moisture is common.
Ceramic tile, however, is far from being invulnerable. It is not uncommon for a tile to pop off a wall and join a homeowner in the shower. When such problems do arise, however, they usually only affect a small portion of the existing tiles. This is the dilemma: Trying to repair that small portion so that it matches up with the rest of the existing tiles. The most common reason for tile problems is water damage. If the grout between tiles is not maintained, it allows water to get behind the tile. The water loosens the adhesive holding the tile to the wall, and softens the drywall or plaster behind the tile. The result is the tile falls off, and the wall begins to fall apart. A tile repair job will depend on when you catch the problem. Sometimes, a single tile that is loose needs only be reglued back to the wall and regrouted. Other jobs require replacing part of the wall underneath an entire section of tiles. The trickiest part of a tile repair job is matching up replacement tiles with the existing tiles. Finding replacement tiles of the same shape, size and color may be tough. The older the tile, the harder it will be to match up. SMALL TILE PROBLEMS If a single tile show signs of coming off the wall, or if it is cracked or broken, the repair job takes only a few steps. If the tile is salvageable, start by removing the grout that surrounds the tile with a chisel or a grout saw. Be careful not to chip the tile. Gently pull the tile away from the wall with a scraper. Then soak the tile in hot water and to remove the adhesive. Clear away any remaining debris on the wall and apply mastic or tile adhesive to both the wall and the back of the tile. Use a notched putty knife to run gaps in the adhesive. Gently press the tile back in place, centering it properly. Wipe away any excess adhesive. After the adhesive dries, regrout around the tile. Dampen the joints around the tile and then apply the grout by pushing it into the joint with a wet finger. Wipe away any excess grout before it hardens. If the repaired tile is in the shower or another area that could be exposed to water, cover the spot with a sheet of plastic and duct tape so that you can use the shower. Remove the plastic when you are not showering so the mastic can dry. After the grout has completely cured or dried (which can take as long as two weeks), seal it with a clear grout sealer. If the tile is broken and you have no replacement tiles on hand, you're going to have to match it up with a new tile. To find the best match, bring an existing tile or photo of the tile to a tile store. You may also have to experiment with grout colors to come up with the right shade. LARGE TILE PROBLEMS Often times, one loose tile can allows moisture to spread behind other tiles, damaging a large area of the wall. The simplest way to determine how widespread the damage has become to first remove the loose tile as described above. Then pry a screwdriver under the neighboring tiles. If they come up easily, they need to be taken off and re-adhered as well. Again, follow the steps above for preparing the tiles. Check the wall for integrity. If it feels solid, you can simply reglue the tiles back on and regrout. If the wall crumbles or feels soft, it needs to be repaired. Damaged drywall should be cut out and a new piece of water resistant drywall should be put in its place. To reach a stud to anchor the new drywall, you may need to remove more of the existing wall then you need to. Plaster-and-lathe walls should be repaired with a patching compound and again sealed to prevent future water damage. After repairing the walls, replace the tiles, and be careful to line them up precisely with the existing tiles. Grout and seal as instructed above. OTHER TILE PROBLEMS Finding replacement tiles for broken or missing tiles can be tough work. If you can't find an exact match, consider a mosaic or decorative tile that works well with the existing tile pattern. You can also try to "steal" existing tiles from a less inconspicuous spot - say behind a toilet tank - to use as replacement tiles.
© June 25, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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