How to Replace a Broken Tile

Threatening the aesthetic appeal of your perfect wall, a broken tile is something that needs to be replaced. Luckily enough, replacing a broken tile can be a relatively simple task, although managing to remove it without causing more damage to surrounding tiles can pose difficulty. Here at Tiles 2 Go, we know that broken tiles can be frustrating, so this is our guide to replacing a broken tile.

Safety Concerns

Before working with tiles and the sharp tools involved in removing broken tile shards, make sure that you stay safe.

Step 1

Use a grout remover to loosen the grout around all of the edges of the damaged tile. Once it has loosened, you should be able to rake out the grout.

Step 2

In the centre of the tile, using a power drill (fitted with a ceramic tile bit), drill some holes. This will weaken the tile surface and make it easier to remove from the adhesive. If a larger hole is necessary, you can change the ceramic tile bit to a masonry bit.

Step 3

For the next step, use a cold chisel and a hammer to cut through the tile between the holes you have just drilled, so that you can remove the central portion of the broken tile.

Step 4

Continue using the cold chisel and hammer and work towards the edges of the tile, breaking small pieces away and avoiding the edges of neighbouring tiles, as this is where the most damage to the rest of the tiling often happens.

Step 5

Remove as much of the adhesive as you can and insert a new dry tile, making sure it is flush to the surrounding tiles and doesn’t stick out too far. Then use an adhesive spreader to coat the back of the tile with adhesive and place into the existing gap.

Step 6

Now you can use a wooden batten to press the tile into place to ensure it is positioned correctly. You can then fit tile spacers to help maintain the gap for the grout and stop the tile from slipping while the adhesive is drying.

Step 7

Finally, once the adhesive has dried, remove the tile spacers, and grout the new tile.

For any and all of your tiling needs, including a vast array of kitchen and bathroom floor and wall tiles, as well as adhesive and grout, contact us at Tiles 2 Go today.