Replacing a Ceramic Floor Tile

If it was properly installed, your ceramic floor was built on top of a double layered plywood base. This greatly reduces the risk of tiles being damaged through everyday use as it prevents the floor from bending under the weight of your footsteps. However, a significant impact (i.e. when a heavy object is dropped) can cause damage to the tiles, which some people will choose to live with for the rest of their lives. And yet, it is fairly simple to replace the damaged tile.


For the purposes of this guide, we will assume that you kept the extra tiles and grout required for the repair when the ceramic flooring was originally installed. The procedure is the same, whether you have to replace one or several tiles.
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1. Removing the Damaged Tile
2. Remove the Tile Adhesive
3. Glue the New Tile in Place
4. Applying the Grout
5. Cleaning

1. Removing the Damaged Tile

1.1 

Place a cold chisel in the centre of the tile and strike it with a small sledgehammer (do not use a standard hammer; it may get damaged hitting the chisel. Also, wear safety glasses). Starting from the centre of the tile, break off pieces of ceramic and remove them as you go. You can try to remove the rest of the pieces with a wall scraper.

1.2 

Once all the pieces of the ceramic tile have been removed, remove any grout stuck to the adjacent tiles. Be careful not to damage any more of the tiles while removing the grout. The grout should come off easily.

2. Remove the Tile Adhesive

Once the damaged ceramic tile and grout have been removed, scrape away the adhesive that held the old tile in place in order to expose the original surface (the plywood).

2.1 

To make this task easier, moisten the old tile adhesive with hot water and wait 10 to 15 minutes before scraping it off.

2.2 

Remove all the tile adhesive by scraping it with a pry bar, cold chisel or wall scraper as required.

If you are having difficulty removing the tile adhesive, apply some Adhesive and Paint Remover Gel with a paint brush and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, scrape the surface with a wall scraper, wipe off the surface with a cloth and wait 12 hours before setting the new tile. If you must complete the repair job in short order, the effects of the remover gel must be neutralised before proceeding. To do this, soak a cloth in a solution of wood alcohol and water (one tablespoon (15 ml) of alcohol in 1 litre (2 pints) of water) and wipe the surface down with the cloth while leaving a thin layer of the solution behind. Let stand for 10 minutes and wipe the surface clean. This procedure will allow you to continue the project immediately.

3. Glue the New Tile in Place

During the original installation of your ceramic tiles, the tile adhesive was applied on the floor surface. For the repair project however, the adhesive must be applied to the back of the replacement tile. Keep in mind that the floor surface must nevertheless be clean and dry prior to setting the tile.

3.1 

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare the tile adhesive and apply the adhesive to the back of the tile using the notched trowel. It is important to hold the trowel straight, and not on an angle, as the height of the teeth determines the height of the adhesive grooves. The trowel must be of the appropriate size to fit the tile. For tiles of less than 10 in., use a ¼ in. x ¼ in. trowel. For tiles between 10 and 14 in., use a 3/8 in. x ¼ in. trowel. For tiles larger than 14 in., use a ½ in. x ½ in. trowel.

3.2 

Set the new tile while ensuring that the width of the joints is the same as the joints that extend from the new tile in every direction. To do this, use the same type of spacers used during the initial installation. Apply pressure on the tile until it is level with the neighbouring tiles (a small amount of “torque” may be required to ensure that the tile finds its rightful place). Let dry for 12 hours (or 3 hours if you used fast drying tile adhesive).

4. Applying the Grout

4.1 

Wipe the new tile and the neighbouring tiles with a damp cloth before laying the grout. This helps hydrate the mixture and makes it easier to spread. It also helps prevent the grout from sticking to the tile surface, which makes cleaning easier.

4.2 

Mix the grout according to manufacturer’s instructions and pour a portion of the grout directly on the new tile. Spread it into the joints using a rubber float or a plastic applicator (to ensure that no damage is caused to the tile surface). While using the rubber float, keep the tool on a 45° angle in relation to the joints. The grout should be flush with the surface of the tile. Let the grout dry for ten minutes.

4.3 

Without applying too much pressure, wipe the surface of the new tile and the neighbouring tiles with a wet sponge to remove any excess grout. Keep in mind that, following this step, it is normal for a thin layer of grout to remain on the surface of the tiles. If the tiles have a heavily textured surface, make sure you remove all the accumulated grout from the tile’s ridges as it will be practically impossible to remove it once the grout is dry.

4.4 

Slide the damp sponge along the new joints to smoothen them out; again, without applying too much pressure. Let dry for 12 hours.

5. Cleaning

Once the grout is dry, clean the layer remaining on the tiles using a damp cloth or sponge.
And there you have it! That damaged tile will never bother you again. It was easily replaced with a brand new tile and you would be hard pressed to even tell which one it was!
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