How to Replace Falling Tiles From a Kitchen Wall
If one day you find one or more of your kitchen wall tiles in pieces on the floor, the first thing you need to do is figure out what caused them to fall. Moisture behind the wall, blunt trauma from in front or behind the wall, or improper installation are all possibilities. Once you've identified the problem and addressed it, it's time to replace the tiles. If you don't have replacement tiles handy, take some pieces of the old ones, plus measurements of the hole, to your local home improvement store to get a match. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Grout saw
- Razor scraper
- Tile nippers
- Replacement tiles
- Thinset mortar
- Putty knife
- Pre-mixed grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
Instructions
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Use your grout saw to clean up the edges of the space (or spaces) of the missing tile. Scrape out any grout that's sticking to the adjacent tiles, taking care not to scratch the tiles themselves.
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Use your razor scraper to remove all tile adhesive or mortar from the wall itself. Push the scraper at a steep angle to get the glue off without digging into the wall.
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3
Break off any spacing nubs (small ceramic tabs, about 1/8-inch wide, to space the tiles from one another) on the sides of your replacement tiles, using your tile nippers.
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4
Spread thinset mortar on the back of your replacement tile, using your putty knife. Cover the back of the tile completely. Set it into place in the space where the old tile was, making the space around it the same as the grout lines between the surrounding tiles. Press it firmly, holding it there for a full minute. If there are other missing tiles, repeat the process with each of them. Let them set overnight.
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Apply your pre-mixed grout to the edges of the new tiles using your grout float. Press the grout into the spaces between new tiles and the old ones. Scrape the grout off the tile face with the edge of the float. Let the grout sit in the line for a minute, then wipe it all down with a damp sponge to remove the excess grout from the surface. Let the grout set for two days before resuming use of the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection when using your grout saw.
