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Repairing Tile
Floor, counter, and wall tile can
be repaired by a homeowner or by a professional. Often the
task requires that a tile be replaced. This sounds simple
enough, but extra steps are needed when you need to track
down a tile to take its place. For those of you that don't
need the extra hassle, consider hiring a professional to
save you the time and frustration.
Common damages to tile include chips, cracks,
scratches, discoloration and missing or cracked grout. Regardless
of whether it is porcelain, ceramic or stone tile, replacement
is usually the first means to repairing it. This process
entails the removal of the grout, the removal of the old
tile and the installation of a new replacement tile.
Often times you will have some saved tiles
from the original installation that you can use during replacement.
If you do not have the extra tiles needed, there are other
options. For starters, you can try to integrate a set of
new tiles in with the old ones. However, this may require
a bit more time and energy since you will need to replace
more than just one tile in order to create a new design.
Another alternative to replacing tiles
would be to repair the chipped or cracked tile with porcelain
filler. Porcelain filler dries real fast, doesn't shrink,
takes paint real well, sands easily, and is inexpensive.
However, using this approach will also require you to finish
the surrounding tile and grout to match.
If you find that your tiles are loose and
lifting, you have the option of replacing the loose tiles,
re-grouting them or bonding them. Two common methods for
bonding tiles include thin-set mortar and adhesive mastic.
Generally, you will need thin-set mortar if there is cement
below your loose tile.
In addition to tile replacement and repair,
you may also need to invest in professional grout cleaning.
Grout between tiles often retains dirt and grime. This happens
because the grout hasn't been sealed or a sealer has not
been periodically reapplied. Cleaning dirty grout usually
involves scrubbing the grout and using a cleaning product.
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