DIY tile repair

Smooth surfaces of pavements and squares in cities, glossy walls of bathrooms, solid floors and a traditional “backsplash” in the kitchen - all this would be impossible without tiles, a reliable and practical building material. She perfectly tolerates atmospheric street cataclysms, and serves as a traditional element of decor in the house. We are accustomed to the fact that ceramic, sidewalk and tile products serve for decades, however, even they are subject to wear and tear and various kinds of damage.

Working with tiles requires a certain skill, experience and skill; a professional can easily lay and repair it. Are building tricks available to an ordinary person who wants to make a replacement or partial repair of a tile covering in his house with his own hands? At a minimum, such opportunities will save a considerable amount, besides, a positive result will also bring moral satisfaction.

Tile problems: can they be avoided?

Until recently, we admired the result of repairs in the bathroom, but today some of the tiles fell off, and a few more cracked - a picture familiar to many. Let's try to figure out what mistakes the workers or the landlords themselves made, and for example, let's take a wall covered with tiles and to be repaired.

Most of the reasons are hidden during the installation process, let's name the main ones:

• insufficient initial processing of the walls;
• violation of the laying technology, entailing the gradual formation of cracks and chips;
• improperly prepared tile adhesive;
• non-observance of the tightness of the tiled coating (poor-quality processing of the seams), in connection with which the adhesive base is destroyed.

There are other unfavorable reasons that affect the rapid wear of the material. For example, paving slabs are constantly exposed to changes in temperatures, exposure to moisture, and experience increased loads - it is not surprising that some of its elements deteriorate over time and must be replaced.

Repair can be avoided only when a number of rules for installation, operation and careful maintenance are observed.

Types of tile and ceramics repair

What kind of metamorphosis does not occur with a beautiful glossy or matte finish during the service. It becomes covered with greasy spots and stains, a network of cracks appears, the tiles split at the corners, or even fly off altogether. Sometimes, in place of once beautifully designed seams, black holes appear, and under the removed cabinets there are hidden holes for fasteners. Consider several types of repair work that you can carry out yourself with the help of improvised tools.

Masking cracks and chips

It so happens that one large crack or scratch spoils the whole picture, this is especially noticeable on a matte monochromatic surface. The easiest way is to dismantle the damaged element and replace it with a new, spare one. But what if there are no tiles left after laying, and the store has run out of the product of the required series? Let's try to do without fundamental changes, but simply to make the crack unobtrusive.

1) We prepare a simple material - cement and water - and make a solution out of it, but not thick, more familiar, but rather liquid. No other components need to be added.
2) If the scratch is shallow, cover it with the resulting liquid and try to rub the solution into the crack (you can use a piece of cloth). After drying, add the next portion of the solution and rub in again until the groove disappears.
3) If the treated area stands out against the background of the rest of the surface, we select the paint of the desired shade and carefully apply it to it, trying not to go beyond the borders. There is a useful service in hardware stores - the ability to select and manufacture paint of the required color.

Bonding loose tiles

It often happens that one element disappears, but quite often the violation of the tightness of the coating leads to a total peeling off according to the "domino principle" - the tiles begin to separate from the wall one by one, one by one or in whole layers. If the surface is not damaged and the product has retained its integrity, there is a chance to hoist it in place without any problems.

Before laying work, it is necessary to dismantle unstable elements, that is, carefully separate all tiles that partially move away from the wall or swing when pressed.

An important stage is the preparation of the wall, the base for laying. Pieces of old adhesive should be completely removed and the surface cleaned as thoroughly as possible. Dust, grains of cement, any dirt will interfere with adhesion. After cleaning, moisten the surface of the base with water.

What types of mortar or glue are used to fix tiles to the wall?

• Special tile adhesive: dry mixes are sold in the store in a large assortment.
• A solution of cement is not a sufficiently effective remedy, we use it as a last resort.
• Silicone based sealant. A white substance has suitable properties.
• Liquid glass (or liquid nails).
• White zinc. They are applied to a base previously treated with linseed oil.

It should be remembered that due to the thick layer of adhesive, the newly laid tiles will protrude above the rest of the surface. To prevent this from happening, the place where the glue is applied must be deepened by a few millimeters. The notched trowel - the tiler's basic tool - is essential for evenly leveling the adhesive.

Suppose the old tile is completely unusable, but it is possible to replace it with a similar one. In this case, there is only one way out - to carefully remove the damaged elements, and glue new ones in their place.

In order not to spoil the adjacent, good tiles, first we take a spatula or a thin drill and clean the seams. Then we drill holes in the desired element, as a result, it splits into several pieces, which are much easier to remove with a chisel. We do not apply strong efforts so that the flying fragments do not touch the neighboring elements.

We carefully clean the place where the old tile was located, we treat the base with a primer - for better adhesion. We look at how much glue is needed so that the new element aligns with the rest and does not protrude forward. We put glue with a spatula and try to install the tiles in the prepared slot as evenly as possible. Until the glue has dried, there is time to correct its position if it is laid unevenly. We wait until the glue dries completely, and only then we process the seams.

Renovation of tile joints

When using low-quality grout, it collapses over time, disappears, and ugly gaps appear between the tiles. In addition, in a room with high levels of humidity, for example, in a bathroom, black mold often appears in the area of ​​tile joints. You can act in different ways: either completely replace the grout, or only partially repair the affected areas.

The first method is used when you need to update a large enough area. The new grout will create a uniform finish and no areas of color variation will arise. With partial refurbishment, it is possible that the part treated with the new material will be different from the rest of the surface.

The procedure is as follows: first, remove the old grout, trying not to damage the tiles, then apply a new one.When removing, we use a sharp object, which is convenient for cleaning the seams. A tile-safe tool is any pointed object made of wood.

Returning shine to tiles

The surface of ceramic and tile tiles is sufficiently resistant to dirt and chemical attack, so it looks brilliant in the literal sense of the word for a long time. To improve its appearance and restore its gloss, it is enough to wipe it with a damp cloth and a special detergent.

But sometimes you want to radically change the interior, for example, change the color of the walls. To do this, we use the usual method - painting. Before painting, we grind the glossy surface of each color with fine emery paper, degrease it with a special agent (based on acetone) and prime it so that the paint adheres better. Only after a series of preparatory work, we take the paint and apply it carefully with a roller.

In this way, you can paint not the entire wall, but selective elements, as well as create patterns and ornaments directly on the old tiles. The result is completely new walls without any building intervention.

Before calling specialists or planning a complete tile replacement, look: perhaps, with a little effort, you yourself will fix some of the damage, and major repairs will not be required.

When starting a bathroom renovation, first assess its general condition. Sometimes you have to resort to capital work to replace water pipes and finishing materials. But if the general condition suits, then cosmetic repairs are required, which in most cases is limited to updating the grouting joints or individual tile elements. The article will give detailed instructions on how to restore broken tiles with your own hands.

There are ceramic tiles in almost every home. She lays out the walls and floors in bathrooms and toilets, as well as floors in the hallway and in the kitchen. If the wall tiles can serve for decades, since they are rarely exposed to mechanical stress, then the floor elements often crack and chips form on them. Even if the damaged area is glued, the crack will still remain noticeable and spoil the overall appearance of the room.

Initially, when laying new tiles, they buy it with a margin and leave it in case of repair work. If this has not been done, or too much time has passed and it has got lost, then you can beat to make a new design by partially replacing a new tile. But in this case, you will have to change not one element, but several at once. But, in any case, it is much less expensive than changing the floor completely.

But it so happens that due to a violation of the technological process during installation, over time, wall tiles also move away.

Nuances that may arise when partially replacing broken tiles:

• poor cleaning of old glue will cause an uneven surface;
• incorrect consistency of the adhesive composition and a decrease in the strength of the coating;
• rough removal of broken tiles, which leads to damage to adjacent elements.

Advice: timely preventive maintenance of the tiles will help to avoid repairs, which consists in cleaning the grout joints, especially if signs of mold appear. Floor tiles can be protected with carpets, especially in the countertop area, where glass or ceramic jars of soap or creams are often displayed. When dropped, they are often the cause of the chips.

• In most cases, the need to replace grout joints occurs when mold or cracking is found on them. Even the most beautiful and expensive tiles will lose their beauty if the seams are of poor quality.
• If the grout is light, then dirt can also spoil its appearance, which will inevitably form in the shower or bath area due to foam and water getting on the walls. It can be easily removed using conventional detergents and a brush.

When these measures are not enough, it is necessary to resort to repair work.

• First, all washcloths, cosmetics and interior items are removed, since a lot of dust and dirt will form in the process.
• If it did not work out to match the color of the grout exactly with the old one, then you will have to clean all the seams. This is a long and laborious process. It is more convenient to clean it with a knife or any other hard and sharp object.

Tip: there are special compounds on sale, when applied to an old grout, it begins to soften. It is much easier to remove and dust does not form.

• Then the entire surface is wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust.
• The grout is diluted with water in a small amount to a pasty consistency. Work should be done quickly, as the composition sets quickly, especially when applied to the surface to be repaired.

This is a simple type of work that is easy to do on your own.

• repair when cracks or chips form;
• replacement of solid tile elements;
• repair work of floor tiles;
• repair work of wall tiles.

It is not always possible to repair damaged tiles. Even a thin crack will be noticeable and spoil the appearance of the entire cladding. To replace the tiles, you will need the following tools and material: a hammer, chisel, puncher, glue, notched and rubber spatulas, grout.

• Before proceeding with the removal of the tile itself, clean the seams around it.
• Next, a hole is drilled in the center with a puncher. And from it they begin to carefully remove the tiles in pieces using a chisel and a hammer. The main thing is that the tools do not break off and do not damage the adjacent elements. It is advisable to wear goggles or a protective mask, since when chipped off, the pieces can fly off into the face.

• It is most convenient to clean it with a spatula, but if the glue is too hard and you cannot remove it manually, then it is recommended to use a chisel and a hammer. It is very important that you do not accidentally break other tiles.
• If there were holes in the repaired area for attaching a shelf, a mirror or a hole for a switch, then they must be transferred to a new tile and pre-drilled. This is done using a special attachment for a screwdriver. At the same time, they drill at low speeds so that a split does not happen.

• Then the surface is moistened. The glue is applied to the tile itself and pressed firmly against the wall. The gaps with adjacent tiles must be even and correspond in width to the existing ones. To do this, you do not need to buy a package of special crosses, but use matches.
• It is allowed to use liquid nails, silicone sealant or special tile glue as an adhesive.

• After a day, the seams are sealed with grout and smoothed with a finger.
• If the tiles that are adjacent to the bathtub or shower tray have been restored, then immediately the joints must be sealed with a special putty, which has water-repellent properties. A decorative corner made of plastic or ceramic can be laid on top.

Replacing broken video tiles

If no elements were left from the old tile for repair, and the store could not find a suitable option, then all that remains is to restore the damaged area with your own hands.

• Cement milk... It is easy to make, just mix the cement with water in a very liquid consistency. It is applied to the surface of cracks and chips with a sponge. After drying, it remains to mask the repaired area with a suitable color paint or a thin layer of grout.
• Epoxy adhesive... If the chip or crack is too large, then more effort will have to be made to repair. First you need to remove the grout around the tiles. Then, using a spatula and a hammer, carefully separate the broken element. All fragments are cleaned of glue and dirt. It is easier to do this if you put them in hot water for several hours.Then it is dried, glued with epoxy glue and left to dry. Then they are glued back to the wall and, after waiting for the composition to grab, rub the seams with grout. Thus, it turns out to hold the tiles together and not be afraid that over time it will fall off the wall. But at the same time its appearance remains unprepossessing. To complete the work, the entire surface must be covered with alabaster, which hardens literally instantly and painted on top with a special waterproof paint for ceramics.

• Floor tiles are most susceptible to mechanical damage, so more often there is a need for repair. All work begins with the removal of grout around the problem area.
• To remove the tiles, first a hole is made in the center using a punch or a screwdriver with a special nozzle for ceramics. If there are no such tools, then you can simply strike with a chisel and a hammer and remove the resulting fragments.

• Before starting any further repairs, it is important to properly prepare the coating for tile replacement. Chipping off all large pieces, begin to clean out all the irregularities that have formed from the old adhesive composition. Then all the dust is vacuumed and wiped with a damp cloth.
• Since the tiles are laid on the floor in rooms with high humidity, the waterproofing layer could be damaged after removing the old coating. So, the first step is to coat the cleaned area with a primer or any other liquid waterproofing.
• Then everything is done as usual, glue is applied with a notched trowel and the tiles are laid flush with the entire surface. The size of the seams is also very precisely measured. You must not step on the repaired area during the day.
• In conclusion, the seams are rubbed with grout.

• Due to the pattern, small cracks may not be so obvious, so it makes sense to try glue them... To do this, carefully separate the tiles from the wall. To pick up the edge, you need to remove the grout. In addition, the grouting joint additionally fixes the element and makes it difficult to separate it from the wall. With a knife, carefully clean off the remnants of the glue, and wash it. Then they are glued together with epoxy glue and tied up to firmly fix for the time of setting. The repaired tiles are attached back to the wall.
• If it didn't work out nicely and the seam remained noticeable, or there is a more obvious defect in the form of a chip, then it will come to the rescue color photo printing... In this case, you just need to pick up the tile of the right size in the store and bring it and the broken tile to any store where they make photo prints on a mug, clothes, etc. The designer will transfer the drawing to the computer and restore it, after which it will be applied to the tiles. Thus, an inexpensive but high-quality repair will be obtained that does not require replacement of the artistic cladding.

• In addition to photo printing, you can use self-adhesive film... The glued tile is treated with sandpaper to increase adhesion, wipe and glue the film, smoothing it with rubber plastic for a tighter fit. Modern films are not only moisture resistant, but also resistant to chemical components. They can be washed with cleaning sponges. In addition, this film is sold in a huge range of designs.
• You can do it even easier, but whether such a repair method will be different in durability. A chip or crack is filled and leveled with grout, and glued on top decorative film sticker.

Even if the area to be repaired is small, you still cannot do without special tile glue. There are several types of them, consider the main differences and characteristics.

• cement glue... The most common today. This is due to its low price and versatility. It has good adhesive properties, and due to its consistency, it is allowed to work even on uneven surfaces;
• epoxy adhesive. Having a two-component base, it makes it possible to adhere tiles to plastic, wood, metal and a number of other surfaces. Available as a paste or liquid. For fixing 1 - 2 tiles, the most preferable option;
• dispersion adhesive... It can be used to glue tiles directly to drywall, without additional surface treatment with concrete contact. The glue is based on various resins and acrylics. It goes on sale in a ready-to-use form.

Tile adhesives differ in their bonding properties and are classified into porcelain stoneware, standard ceramic tiles and mosaics. But regardless of its characteristics, the composition must contain latex components and quartz sand.

• For small and light mosaic tiles polymer or cement glue will do. In addition, there is a special mosaic glue.
• Porcelain stoneware not only a heavy material, but also possessing very high moisture-resistant qualities. Therefore, to fix it, a special glue is used, on the packaging of which it is written that it is suitable for porcelain stoneware. It has increased adhesiveness and elasticity.
• Universal adhesive good in that it is equally suitable for work both indoors and outdoors. But only suitable for standard tiles 20 x 30 cm or mosaics, as it is not able to withstand heavy loads.

Restoration of ceramic tiles: repair on the floor, floor and floor, how to repair a chip of porcelain stoneware with your own hands

It is possible to quickly and easily renovate the interior with the help of tile restoration. Tile coverings sometimes require repair. Even considering that high-quality tile material is very dense, any careless handling can damage it, break it or deprive it of its former attractiveness. In this case, the restoration of ceramic tiles will help out, which is so popular now due to the fact that it is often difficult to find a replacement for a damaged composition of tiles.

If one or more damaged tiles are found on the floor, you should not turn to major repairs. You can replace cracked places with your own hands without the help of specialists. Damage to tiled flooring can show as chipping, cracking or tarnishing of the grout.

The renovation work begins by assessing the degree of deterioration of the floor covering: if a third of the tiles are damaged, it is wiser to choose a complete replacement of the floor.

Partial replacement of the canvas implies the selection of a suitable tile if it was not prepared in advance.

If you notice any damage to the tiles, you can repair them yourself.

Damaged areas can be removed:

• Sawing seams with a grinder with water;
• Cutting seams with a drill having a thin drill;
• Removing tiles with a puncher;
• By combining options.

After that, the previous layer of glue is removed. Small chips are filled with cement paste. If there are solid cracks, the tiles are replaced. After removing the tiles, you need to clean up the debris, prepare the base, install a new covering and grind the seams.

If no obvious damage was found on the tile, and only the seams are worn out, you can update them in different ways:

• Completely remove the old grout and re-grout the joints;
• Renew the coating with impregnation;
• Paint the seams with a special compound to mask the seams;
• Use a marker.

If, during a partial cosmetic repair, you do not pay attention to the state of the tile joints, over time, fungus or mold may appear between the tiles, which will finally spoil the appearance of the floor covering.

Floor tiles are often prone to deterioration and breakage. While operating it, it is worth preventing situations with the fall of heavy objects, and if this happens, repair is necessary and as soon as possible in order to avoid the spread of the defect further.

Putting into work a hammer drill or drill, it should be taken into account that injury may occur.You must use personal protective equipment or contact a specialist for repairs.

Cement mortar removes all defects well. The crack is filled with it, then grouting is carried out. Over the next three days, the surface must be moistened to set. The place where processing takes place should be covered with foil.

You can fix a shallow crack in a floor tile using special glue.

If glue is used, you must:

• Remove dirt from each cracked tile with a damp cloth;
• Mix the tile adhesive by placing a portion of the pigment in it with the same color as the surface shade;
• Fill the crack with the resulting composition;
• Cover the area to be treated with non-dry sawdust and leave for a day.

It should be remembered that for use in the kitchen or bathroom, it is worth purchasing grout, glue and other components with a moisture-resistant structure.

Ceramic tiles have many advantages; they are a very popular finishing material for bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and other places. If the tile is damaged due to careless handling, there is no need to be upset. With the help of special technologies, you can get rid of chips on the tiles yourself, using a corrective composition.

In order to repair a chip on a tile, it will be necessary to correctly remove a separate fragment of the tile.

The problem can be solved:

• Removing the damaged fragment;
• In the absence of withdrawal.

Removal is used if the tile is cracked due to mechanical stress. If there is a chip without cracks on the floor surface, dismantling is not required.

When dismantling, first, the damaged fragment is carefully removed. In order not to spoil the adjacent tile, it is necessary to clean each seam to the base with a sharp object, then knock on the tile, lift the chipped part with a spatula and remove it. In case of failure, it is worth dampening the tile with soapy water. The water will get under the tiles, it will be absorbed into the glue and it will be easier to remove the tiles.

When restoring a damaged fragment, it should be noted that you need to clean its back surface from the adhesive base with a wet rag or spatula.

Further, the place of the break is cleaned with sandpaper, pieces of tile are glued together with glue. When it dries, the back surface is covered with glue again. After the place for the tile is prepared, it is cleaned of dust, the glue is applied to the surface and the tile, and it is glued. The seam must be covered with grout.

Porcelain tiles and porcelain stoneware tiles may be chipped due to impact. The damaged tile can be replaced or there is an option to mask the chip.

For the restoration of porcelain stoneware, it is better to seek help from professional craftsmen

The work is done as follows:

1. The chip is cleaned and degreased with acetone.
2. To color the glue, add a little dye and mix.
3. The resulting composition is applied to the part that has broken off, no hardener is added.
4. If the glue is close in color to the tile, it must be removed from the breakaway part, the chip is cleaned with acetone and dried.
5. A hardener is added to the glue and mixed. The adhesive must be applied immediately before hardening occurs.
6. The glue is smoothed over the surface of the chipped part, the excess is removed.

If the polyester glue has a matte surface, after it has hardened, it needs to be polished by hand using a thick cloth or felt.

When choosing the color of the glue to match the color of the tile, one should not expect a complete match. A good result will be the invisibility of the damaged area.

Hard wax is also widely used for the restoration of ceramic tiles. It helps to cover up the chips that have appeared without any problems.