Do you know of an easy fix for a few cracked floor tiles?

This one can be a simple fix or it can get complicated. Here are the reasons I say that. If you have extra of the original tile, then you are in pretty good shape. If you don't have spare tile but can find a match, and this can be tricky depending on how old the tile is, then you are still in good shape. However if you don't have or cannot find the same tile now things do become more complicated.

First let's start with you having the same tile. A good tile man can dig out the existing grout that is around the broken tile and then lift up or break out the old tile. I say this because you won't know how easy the tile comes up until you start to take it up.

So either with a lot of hard work or with not so hard work, the tile will come up. Once that is done, you will need to take a look at the underlayment to see if it got damaged while removing the tile. If the underlayment was concrete board, then there is a good chance that with a little clean up, it will be just fine. If it is wood, usually luan, then you have to make sure that it does not de-laminate, because if it does, then the best thing to do is to take up any bad sections. This can be done with a hammer and chisel and a flat bar. Keep in mind when removing the wood underlayment, there will usually be several nails or staples holding it down, which although it can make it tough to remove, with some work, it will come up.

You will have to replace the underlayment that you remove with the same thickness as what was already put down. Make sure that you nail the seems about every two to three inches apart and then every four inches apart in between. Again, a good tile man will know exactly how to do this.

Once that is all done, you can then replace the tile using a good tile mastic, if that was what was originally used or tile cement if that is what was there. Once the tiles are installed and given time to set up, usually a day or two, they will be ready for new grout.

The grout can be tricky because the new grout may not match exactly. You may have to first clean all the grout on the floor with a good oxygen based cleaner and then match the new grout to the clean grout. If you cannot get a perfect match then you may have to go with a good Grout Colorant Paint. Please see one of my previous posts on this subject.

Just one more thing, if you cannot find a tile that will match what you already have then it may be time to re-tile the entire floor. The way that we usually do this is to tear up the old floor and then install new underlayment, if it needs it, and then the new tile.

Be sure to check our How To and Videos tile categories for more help and ideas.

Rick Maselli
Founder of Showroom411.com