How to repair a chip on a floor tile

Tile is a very popular flooring material. It is durable, beautiful and does not require special care. But even the most durable material can get damaged. So, cracks or chips may form on the tiles. However, you should not change the entire coating. Existing defects can be easily eliminated yourself.

Restoring a chip on a tile

To carry out restoration work, you must first prepare materials and tools:

• knife;
• screwdriver:
• putty knife;
• epoxy glue;
• coloring pigment;
• grout;
• drill or hammer drill.

Small defects can be repaired without replacing the entire tile. The easiest way is to grout a chip or crack with a fugue.

ATTENTION! If this method of restoration is used, it is very important to choose the right grout so that it does not differ in color and structure from what has already been applied.

The grout should be carefully applied to the chip or crack using a rubber spatula. After which the seam should be leveled. The fugu should be left until completely dry, after which the unevenness and roughness should be eliminated. This can be done using the finest sandpaper.

Sometimes automotive putty or epoxy resin is used for these purposes. Since they are colorless, you first need to give the desired shade. To do this, use the desired color. Procedure:

• the area where the defect occurs should be degreased, and adjacent tiles should be covered with masking tape to prevent the product from getting onto undamaged areas;
• putty, which has been given the required color, must be mixed with a special hardener;
• Apply the prepared mixture to the damaged area and level it with a rubber spatula;
• all excess putty should be removed;
• When the solution has dried, it must be sanded and varnished.

If the defect is small and you don’t want to waste time on eliminating it, then you can mask the defects. To do this, you should use some kind of accessory, for example, a towel holder.

ATTENTION! If there are a large number of cracks, it is advisable to completely replace the damaged element.

Replacing damaged tiles

This option is the most effective. It is performed as follows:

1. The seams between the elements must be moistened with solvent or water. This is necessary in order to soften the fugu.
2. When the grout has become soft, it must be removed using a knife or screwdriver.
3. Using a drill or hammer drill with a suitable attachment, you need to drill several holes in the damaged area.
4. A chisel is installed in one of the holes. After which you need to tap it very carefully with a mallet.
5. It is necessary to repeat the manipulations until all the pieces are removed.
6. Undamaged tile elements are sealed with masking tape. This is required so that they do not get damaged.
7. Using a spatula, carefully remove any remaining adhesive. Since it is very dense, you can soften it with a solvent.
8. The place where the new element will be installed should be carefully primed.
9. The adhesive composition must be prepared according to the instructions.
10. Moisten the surface with water.
11. Using a spatula, apply the composition to the base.
12. The tiles need to be laid in the prepared place, and crosses should be inserted along its perimeter.
13. Use a building level to level it.
14. Once the glue has dried, you can begin applying grout.

ATTENTION! To ensure that the whole tile is not damaged, the drill should be set to a small number of revolutions!

Causes of chips on tiles

To prevent the situation from recurring, it is necessary to find out the causes of the defects. The main ones include:

1. Rough mechanical impact. Very often, cracks appear due to the fall of a heavy and dense object.
2. Uneven base. The tiles only need to be laid on a flat surface. Sometimes this rule is neglected, which subsequently leads to its damage.
3. Some try to save money and purchase low-quality material.
4. Different finishing materials are used for walls and floors. When purchasing, please note that these tiles are used specifically for laying on the floor. Otherwise, the risk of defects increases.
5. The base must be properly and qualitatively prepared before installation. If the technology has been violated, the surface will begin to collapse.
6. Temperature changes also negatively affect the coating.

Restoring tiles is a fairly simple procedure that even a beginner can do. However, do not forget that you need to choose the right material and prepare the base. Otherwise, defects may reappear.