How to Fix a Shower Floor
When one or more tiles is cracked, loose or otherwise damaged on a shower floor, it must be fixed immediately, or water will get under the adjacent tiles. This could ultimately mean far worse damage. Extracting individual tiles and replacing them is a fairly straightforward process, once you have the proper replacement tiles. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Grout saw
- Heavy steel putty knife
- Hammer
- Replacement tile to match the damaged one
- Thin set mortar
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
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Instructions
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Remove the grout from around the damaged shower floor tile with a grout saw. Scrape the straight blade of the saw forward and back over the surface of the grout while pressing firmly down to break the surface and dig down into it. Remove as much grout as possible without damaging the adjacent tiles.
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Repeat for each tile that must come out.
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Set the tip of the heavy putty knife against one exposed side of one of the tiles. Gently hit the back end of the putty knife with a hammer to force it slightly under the tile. Move the knife along the edge of the tile, tapping it repeatedly. Continue until the whole tile comes loose and you can pull it out.
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Repeat for each tile that must come out.
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Use a hammer and a putty knife to scrap the exposed surface of the floor, taking up any remaining mortar or grout.
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Spread mortar over the back of a replacement tile, to a thickness of about one-eighth inch and covering the whole back.
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Press the tile into the space on the floor, spacing it properly with the surrounding tiles. Repeat for each new tile. Let the tiles set overnight.
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Grout the spaces between the new tiles, using a grout float to force the grout into the lines. Use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout. Let it set for 48 hours before using the shower.
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