Ceramic Tile Repair Tip

Tile decor is a beautiful way to decorate in the home. Ceramic tile can liven a kitchen or bathroom in beautiful ways. I have worked on simple to complex tile designs and each one has always been a pleasure to behold after the job is done. Even a simple white field of tile in a shower can look fabulous. In fact ceramic tile can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, tiled floors and counter-tops. Tile can be a timeless method of home decoration, but even decor needs some maintenance once in a while.

I have worked for several years installing and maintaining ceramic tile in college student housing buildings. I have also replaced and installed tile in homes. Some of the projects I worked with have been around for 20, 30, sometimes 60 years or more. Trouble spots are bound to come up no and again as time goes on.

Tile mosaics make beautiful fields of color and shape. The most obvious damage to a field of tiles are cracks, chips and breaks. I can spot these walking into most rooms because they break the pattern of the tile field. Cracks will also collect dirt over time, especially from washing. Chips flake away the glaze of ceramic tile. This breaks up the color patterns and draws the eye to the damaged area. Breaks in tile can have pieces falling out or spider web patterns running through the field.

Stains on grout are another obvious problem. Some stains are simply that, caused by things such as coffee, dies, etc. Mildew from damp areas, such as showers, can cause grout to stain over time. You need to watch for this because over time the mildew will eat the grout away. This takes a while, but looks bad.

Grout is basically a cement. And over time the cement will deteriorate and erode. Again showers are a big culprit of this, but any place that sees constant running water see erosion. As the grout erodes holes will form, and pieces fall out. Some of the first holes will only be visible upon close inspection. I have have found grout lines with no holes but hairline fractures along the grout edge next to the tile.

The least obvious thing to look for in old tile works is the bed the tile is glued to. Mortar (Thinset) and mastic are used to glue tile to a surface. Over time these adhesives can crumble or rot. I have seen this more in areas of constant standing water or were a wall has shifted, applying lateral pressure to the tile field. Problem is you don't see it. Best way to find these areas is to tap the tile with your knuckle or a wooden handle. Gently of course.If you hear a dull thud no problem. If you hear n eco you have a gap between the tile and bed were the adhesive used to be.

Fixing these problems in old tile works is fairly easy. Damaged tiles from cracks, chips and breaks need to be removed. A hammer and cold chisel will work well. Remove the grout around the tile with a box knife or grout saw. apply some Thinnset Mortar to the new tile and press on. Line your tile edges and let dry. Grout the next day. TIP: Always let grout dry a day. This makes sure the tile is truly set in place.

Grout that is mildewed or eroded needs to be scraped out. A grout saw works very well for this fix. In the case of mildew bleach the area once all the grout is removed. Important thing here is to make sure are the surfaces are dry before re-grouting. I have found a float works well for applying grout on these fixes.

In the case of a bad mortar bed start with grout removal. You can save tiles this way by taking the jib slow and easy. get all the tile that will come up easily. Clean them off and apply some thinnset. Press, let dry, and re-grout.

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