How to Replace a Broken Bathroom Tile

Ceramic tiles are one of the most durable flooring materials, frequently used for kitchens and bathrooms. That said, they are far from indestructible and they will eventually get worn out as the material reaches its expected life span.

In this post, Handyman Connection® of Lincoln shares how to properly replace a broken bathroom tile.

Remove the Grout

We’ll start by removing the grout that lines the tile. It’s an important first step as failure to remove it will make replacing the actual tile difficult to do. Wear your safety goggles and use a grout remover to carefully remove the grout strip from the line. Apply just enough pressure to remove the grout and scrap it slowly off the tile.

Loosen the Tile

Once you’ve removed the grout, you’ll want to apply some painter’s tape around the edges of the tile. This is necessary to protect the other tiles since you’ll have to drill the damaged one. Once you’ve placed the tape, you want to drill evenly spaced holes in the broken part of the tile using your ¼ inch ceramic bit as a guide. This frees the pieces from the substrate, making the tile easier to remove later on.

Removing the Tile

This last part requires a bit of dexterity. After drilling the tile, you’ll want to gently tap out its broken pieces using a hammer and chisel. It’s best if you use something small like a ball peen hammer so that you have some more control when removing the tile. Alternatively, you may use a cold chisel or a flat-bladed screwdriver.

Either way, you’ll want to chisel the tile at a 90-degree angle and then switch to a 45-degree angle once you hit the glaze. Once you’ve completely removed the tile, all you need to do is clean the old thinset off the substrate. You also want to clear the dirt and debris before installing the new tile and sealing it with grout.

Let Handyman Connection of Lincoln help you with more complex tile work. Call us today at (402) 205-2575 or fill out our form to learn more about our services.