Restoring the Ceramic Countertops and Replacing Cracked Tiles : ChiTownPost.com

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Restoring the Ceramic Countertops and Replacing Cracked Tiles

Posted by Jim Johnson in Remodelling

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Ceramic tile countertops are resilient. You can’t burn tile even when you take a hot pan from the oven and put it directly on the surface. But tile can be chipped or cracked and it may break if a heavy object, such as a soup can, falls on it. And while tile doesn’t stain, the grout does, especially if it’s light colored. Even though you seal grout, it still gets dirty and there’s a risk that mold will form if you don’t clean it regularly with an antibacterial cleaner.

Replacing Cracked or Broken Tile

You can replace a broken or cracked tile, but it’s more work than cleaning the grout. You have to cut into the grout along the edges of the tile, remove the grout and the tile, and after putting in a new tile, regrout the edges. You need a tile cutter; look for it at a home improvement, hardware, or paint store or buy cheap tile cutters here . You also need replacement tiles, adhesive for tile, a trowel, a utility knife, a rubber mallet, dry grout mix, colorant if needed, a Popsicle stick or spacer, and warm soapy water. You can get Popsicle sticks at craft stores or wash and save old ones.

Follow these steps to replace broken or cracked tile:

Use a utility knife to cut between grout and damaged tile, and between grout and adjacent, undamaged tiles.
Pull out the grout, prying under it with a putty knife or wide-tipped screwdriver, if necessary.
Use a putty knife or chisel to get under the damaged tile. If it doesn’t work out easily, drill a few holes in the center and tap the tile with a rubber mallet to break out the pieces. Put a block of wood over adjacent tiles to protect them as you pry out the tile.
When the tile is out, use the putty knife to scrape out all the old adhesive.
Put adhesive on the new tile and fit it into place.
Place Popsicle sticks into the cracks to straighten the lines, but be sure to overlap the corners of adjacent tiles. Tile spacers can be used instead of Popsicle sticks; they’re available wherever tile is sold.
Push the tiles down so the adhesive makes a good bond between the tile and plywood.
Let the adhesive dry, keeping the Popsicle sticks in place.
After 24 to 36 hours, remove the Popsicle sticks.
Mix a batch of grout according to package instructions.
Put it in all the cracks.
Push down on the grout — use the edge of one of the Popsicle sticks.
Compress it to get out air bubbles.
Put more grout along the seams, especially if you see any indentations.
Push it with the Popsicle stick again until all of it looks level.
Immediately scrape off excess grout with as many clean Popsicle sticks as you need.
Wash grout residue off the tiles.
Grout sealer may be used to keep the grout from absorbing dirt and stains.
Let the grout set up for a couple days before you start using the tiles. Patching cracked and missing grout.