HOW- TO HOW-TO REPLACE DAMAGED TILES

Tiles sometimes get cracked and chipped. Redundant screw holes can also be an eyesore. Provided you
have spare tiles or can find matching or contrasting ones of the same size, replacing a tile is quite easy.
See How-To: Fix Wall Tiles

MATERIALS
• Tiles
• Tile adhesive (waterproof if for wet areas)
• Tile grout, ready-mixed (waterproof if for
wet areas)
• Masking tape
• Matches and small pieces of cardboard

TOOLS
• Electric drill • Tile adhesive spreader, notched
• Masonry bits, 5mm and 10mm • Grout rake for removing old grout
• Club hammer • Grout spreader
• Cold chisel, 12mm (tungsten carbide tipped is • Grout finishing tool, plastic
best, otherwise very sharp, hard steel) • Steel rule, for cutting tiles
• Wood-working (firmer) chisel, 15mm • Dust sheets
• Tile scriber • Safety glasses or goggles
• Tile file • Heavy duty work gloves

BEFORE YOU START

SAFETY
While removing an old tile, shards of glaze (glass) and pieces of ceramic will fly about. Wear safety glasses or
goggles and stout working gloves. Remove any food and animals from the vicinity. Cover the floor and work
surfaces with thick polythene sheeting. Keep children away from the area.

HOW - TO 1
 F1 F2

F3 F4

F5 F6

F7 F8

F9 F10

CUTTING OUT AN OLD TILE

1 Fix masking tape diagonally across the tile. Use a 5mm masonry bit to drill holes at 20mm centres (intervals)
across the diagonals (F1). Only drill through the tile, not into the wall.
2 With a grout rake, remove the old grout surrounding the tile (F2). Take care not to damage the adjacent tiles.
3 Start at the middle and, using a cold chisel and club hammer, chip away the tile. Work outwards over the
whole tile (F3).
4 Just before the edge of the tile, use the firmer chisel, bevel side down, and mallet to get under the tile and
ease it out in small sections (F4).
5 Using the firmer chisel, bevel side down, carefully remove any adhesive remaining on the wall. Chip away a
little at a time (F5). Don’t rush – you may slip and damage another tile. As you do this, remove any remaining
grout. Angle the chisel away from the adjacent tile (F6).
6 Spread the back of the new tile with adhesive (F7), not too much, as the tile must be flush with the wall.
Gently press the tile into place until it is level with the adjacent tiles (F8).
7 Remove adhesive from the tile joints and surfaces.
8 Use bits of cardboard or matches as spacers, to ensure even spacing around the tile (F9).
9 After 24 hours, remove the spacers and apply grout. Neaten the joint with a grout-finishing tool (F10).
10 When the grout is dry, polish the surface with a piece of hessian or old towel.

HOW - TO 2