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If 1 or more of your flooring or counter tiles have cracked—whether from regular habiliment and tear or from having a heavy object dropped on them—you don't necessarily demand to replace the cracked tile. If replacing a tile isn't in your budget, or if the tile isn't desperately damaged, you lot can repair the tile. If the tile but has a sparse hairline crack in it, you can fill it with an epoxy. Or, for a more DIY choice, try using wood glue and nail polish. If the tile is too badly croaky to repair it, y'all can only replace the damaged tile.

  1. 1

    Purchase a two-function epoxy kit at a local hardware store. Epoxy is, essentially, a hardening mixture that yous can use to "glue" together the 2 pieces of your cracked tile. While at that place are 1-role epoxy kits, the 2-part variety is higher quality and volition hold your cracked tile together for longer.[1] Check at your local hardware store and, if they don't sell epoxy, try a home-comeback shop.

    • Expert-quality 2-function epoxy kits sell for around $35–40 USD.

  2. 2

    Clean the cracked tile with paper towels and rubbing booze. Pour a little rubbing booze onto 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper towel. Wipe the damp paper towel over the surface of the cracked tile until information technology's clean. Cleaning the croaky tile will remove whatever grit and grime and ensure that the epoxy sticks to the surface of the tile itself.[2]

    • Both of these products are sold at every grocery store and drugstore.

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  3. 3

    Mix together the epoxy on summit of a spare sheet of paper-thin. Utilize a popsicle stick to scrape out about 2 tablespoons (43 chiliad) of epoxy mixture from each of the 2 bottles onto a sheet of cardboard. Stir the two parts of the epoxy together until they're fully blended. This will start a chemical reaction that hardens the epoxy.[3]

    • If y'all don't have actress paper-thin lying around, you could too mix the epoxy on pinnacle of a strip of wax paper or chip wood.

  4. 4

    Smear the mixed epoxy forth the hairline fracture in the tile. Take your popsicle stick and scoop upward nearly half of the mixed epoxy. Transfer the epoxy to the tile and advisedly spread a thin layer of epoxy along the unabridged length of the crack. The liquid will slowly seep downward into the crack before it hardens. Make sure that you've also covered about 1⁄2 centimetre (0.20 in) on either side of the crack with epoxy, likewise. Work fast, equally the epoxy dries quickly.[iv]

    • Endeavour non to get the epoxy over the rest of the un-cracked surface of the tile.

  5. 5

    Wait 5–ten minutes for the epoxy to dry out. The epoxy should be fully dry out in less than fifteen minutes. To see if the epoxy is dry out, try tapping it with the tip of 1 finger. When information technology's fully dry, the epoxy will be house to the bear upon. Your finger will also come up away with no traces of epoxy goo stuck to it.[5]

    • While the epoxy is drying, don't touch it or gear up anything on top of it. Also keep whatever pets and children in your dwelling away from the tile.

  6. half-dozen

    Cut abroad backlog dried epoxy from effectually the scissure. Utilize the sharp border of a razor blade to scrape away any devious epoxy that got onto the tile. To make clean off the epoxy, concur the bract at a 45-degree angle confronting the surface of the tile. Slide under excess epoxy to remove it.[six]

    • Exist conscientious while you lot're cutting epoxy with the razor blade. Razors are extremely precipitous, and you could easily cut yourself if the blade slips.

  7. 7

    Tint the epoxy to match the colour of your tile. You tin can purchase a pulverization dye (specifically made to dye epoxy) from any craft or hobby shop. Mix the tinted powders (due east.g., brown, gray, black) together until you create a color that matches your tiles. Post-obit the manufacturer's directions, use the dye powder to the epoxy until the location of the repaired crack is no longer visible.[vii]

    • This footstep is optional. If y'all find that the epoxy is already shut to the color of your tiles, you lot may choose to leave it undyed.

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  1. 1

    Apply a sparse layer of woods mucilage over the widest part of the crack. This method works well for cracks that are larger than small hairline cracks. Clasp out a dollop of forest mucilage onto the crack on your tile. Utilize your finger or a chopstick to smear the woods glue lengthwise beyond any parts of the crevice larger than 1 millimetre (0.039 in) across. Wait about ten minutes for the mucilage to dry.[eight]

    • Wood glue will expand and contract without losing its adhesion to the tile. This strengthens your repair and ensures that the repair job volition last.

  2. 2

    Pigment a thin layer of fingernail polish forth the scissure. Apply the small brush that comes with the nail polish to draw the liquid polish out of the metallic jar and onto the surface of the tile. Smear the polish along the crack in your tile until the unabridged crack is covered. Also embrace one–2 millimetres (0.039–0.079 in) on either side of the scissure to make certain that information technology seals.[ix]

    • This method of repairing tile will merely work on tiles that take a glazed finish, not porous tiles.
    • It's best to use a shade of boom polish that matches the surface of your tiles. For example, if you have low-cal beige tiles, choose a calorie-free biscuit shade of nail polish.
    • In some cases, if you lot can't find a shade of smooth that matches your tile exactly, you may need to mix together ii separate shades to create a matching smoothen.

  3. 3

    Wait 10 minutes for the fingernail smoothen to dry. The boom shine needs to fully dry earlier you finish repairing the cracked tile.[10] To run across if the nail polish is dry subsequently 10 minutes, lightly tap it with a finger. If your finger comes away dry and the boom polish doesn't have the epitome of your fingerprint on information technology, the polish is dry.

    • If the nail polish is still damp afterwards 10 minutes, wait an boosted five minutes.

  4. iv

    Remove whatsoever excess smash fingernail shine with nail smoothen remover. It's easy to accidentally get too much smash polish on the surface of the tile. To remove information technology, only pour a lilliputian bit of nail smoothen remove onto a gauze cotton swab. Smear the cotton fiber swab beyond the excess nail polish v–6 times to remove it.[11]

    • If the excess nail polish doesn't come off on the first try, use some other cotton swab and more than nail polish remover and effort once more.

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  1. 1

    Drill 3–4 small holes in the tile to weaken it for removal. Hold a ability drill vertically in a higher place the broken tile then the flake volition go straight down into the tile. Clasp the trigger to start the drill, and drill a few holes to weaken the tile. The holes should be in a straight line in the centre of the tile, going either horizontally or vertically across the tile face.[12]

    • If the drill kicks up small pieces of tile or creates dust, clean up after yourself with a dustpan and broom.

  2. two

    Scrap apart and remove the tile with a hammer and chisel. [thirteen] Identify the blade of a chisel along the line of holes that you drilled in the tile. Tap on the butt end of the chisel with a hammer until the blade breaks through the tile. Tilt the chisel at a 45-degree bending and go along tapping information technology along so that information technology breaks all of the damaged tile away from the surface beneath it.[14]

    • Hammer with enough power to fissure the tile just not and so much strength that you damage the forest beneath the tile. Also be conscientious not to damage whatever of the adjacent tiles!
    • One time you lot've removed the tile, throw it in the trash and sweep up the area.

  3. 3

    Scrape off any grout or mortar that remain below the tile. [xv] Grout is a tough, viscous textile and will most likely accept adhered to the forest under the tile. Hold the blade of the chisel at an acute 20-degree angle (relative to the floor) and slide it forth the space where you but pulled the tile out. Scrape until you've removed all of the grout.[16]

    • Throw the grout away in a trashcan that children and pets don't accept access to (and then they can't eat it).

  4. 4

    Find or purchase a new tile to replace the damaged tile you removed. Ideally, you'll take a spare tile or 2 left over from when the tile flooring or counter was installed. If that's non the example, take a motion-picture show of the tile you're looking to replace. Bring information technology with you lot to a nearby abode-improvement shop or tile specialty store. Look for a tile that matches the tiles in your home as closely as possible.[17]

    • The sales staff volition also be able to help you find a matching style of tile.

  5. 5

    Utilise mortar to the base of a replacement tile. [18] Put on a pair of latex gloves before yous commencement working with mortar. Purchase a small tub of mortar and a putty knife from a local hardware shop. Use the blade of the putty pocketknife to scoop upwardly a dollop of mortar and spread it evenly across the bottom side of the tile. When fully spread, the mortar should be about 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) thick.[xix]

    • Be careful not to become mortar on any of the other tiles. It's hard to remove!

  6. 6

    Fix the new tile in place and apply gentle pressure level. Hold the tile so that it'due south centered over the pigsty that you removed the original tile from. Set the tile in the pigsty and press downwards lightly to seat the tile in identify.[20]

    • If you lot utilize as well much pressure level, excess mortar will be pressed out from beneath the tile and come on its sides.

  7. seven

    Apply grout around the new tile using a grout bladder. Spread a small dollop of grout onto the bottom of a grout bladder. Run the grout float beyond the surface of the newly installed tile. Continue to utilise grout on and around the tile until the pocket-sized 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) gaps on all 4 sides of the tile are completely filled in.[21]

    • A grout float is a large, flat tool with a handle that y'all tin employ to spread grout around. You lot tin can buy one at a hardware store or dwelling-improvement store.
    • Make sure to employ a colour of grout that matches the existing grout that surrounds other tiles!

  8. 8

    Wipe the tiles clean with a clammy rag. [22] Earlier the grout dries, dampen a rag or old washcloth and use it to rub the new tile (and whatsoever other grout-covered tiles) clean. Make sure to go out the grout in the gaps surrounding the new tile undisturbed. Let the grout dry out overnight, and your tile surface volition be ready for use![23]

    • If you forget to clean off the tiles for a few hours, removing the grout will exist a much harder job!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Can I easily supplant a cracked tile?

    Art Fricke

    Art Fricke
    Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Art Fricke is a abode renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Fine art focuses on a single contractor arroyo to customized renovation piece of work, and performs projects such equally installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

    Art Fricke

    Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Expert Answer

    You lot usually can! Just scrape out the grout around the tile and use a hammer and chisel to break the old ane out. After that, you can employ mortar to the new tile and press information technology into place. Don't forget to make full in the gap with new grout.

  • Question

    Do you put mortar on the back of a tile?

    Art Fricke

    Art Fricke
    Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the possessor of Fine art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over x years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Fine art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such equally installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing croaky tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

    Art Fricke

    Domicile Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Expert Respond

    Yes! When you're ready to lay the tile, scoop out a dollop of mortar and swipe it onto the dorsum of the tile before placing it down on the floor.

  • Question

    Can you lay new tile over sometime mortar?

    Art Fricke

    Fine art Fricke
    Dwelling house Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Fine art Fricke is a abode renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Fine art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over x years of feel, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Fine art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such equally installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing croaky tiles, and installing flooring and wall tile.

    Art Fricke

    Domicile Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Practiced Answer

    No. Before yous lay down new tile, scrape up the old mortar to ready the surface area. Otherwise, your floor may exist uneven.

  • Question

    Tin you remove ane broken tile?

    Art Fricke

    Art Fricke
    Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Fine art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over ten years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation piece of work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

    Art Fricke

    Dwelling Renovation & Repair Specialist

    Good Answer

    Yep! But scrap apart the erstwhile tile you want to remove. Then, pry upward the pieces using a hammer and chisel.

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Things You'll Need

  • 2-function epoxy kit
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Newspaper towels
  • Popsicle stick
  • Cardboard canvas
  • Razor bract
  • Woods glue
  • Chop stick
  • Fingernail polish
  • Nail polish remover
  • Cotton swab
  • Drill
  • Drill bit
  • Dustpan and broom
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Replacement tile
  • Mortar
  • Putty knife
  • Latex gloves
  • Grout
  • Grout float
  • Rag

  • Be aware that, although repairing a cracked tile is a quick and like shooting fish in a barrel method, it's but a temporary solution. The tile volition likely crack again. Replacing the tile—although information technology'south more expensive and fourth dimension-consuming—is a longer-lasting gear up whether the tile is located in your floor, bathroom, or pool.

  • If you'd rather not use an epoxy to patch up your cracked tile, many hardware stores and home-comeback stores as well sell fast-hardening tile filler.[24]

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References

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