IN THIS POST
– How to prevent tiles from cracking
– How to repair cracked tiles
Looking for a way to repair cracked tiles in your home without replacing them? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
One of the main reasons why installing tiles is considered the top flooring choice among homeowners in Pakistan is because of their durability and aesthetic appeal. However, that does not mean that tiles are indestructible. After years of use or due to a blunt force accident, you may start to notice hairline cracks appear on your floors. In most cases, professionals recommend replacing the damaged tiles with the new ones, but sometimes finding a tile in the same shade as your existing ones can be a bit of a nuisance.
Since you can’t retile your entire room because of one cracked piece of ceramic or porcelain, we’ve put together some DIY tricks to fix a broken tile without replacing it.
How to Prevent Tiles from Cracking
In order to stop floor tiles from cracking, you first need to figure out what’s causing them to break or chip?
Here are the most common reasons behind cracked tile flooring in homes.
- If only one or two tiles are cracked, there is a good possibility something heavy was dropped on them. For instance, heavy pots and pans can cause hairline cracks if dropped on the floors.
- In case you have noticed cracks and chips on several tiles across the house, it could be an indicator that you’ve installed low-quality tiles. Therefore, it is extremely important to check the quality of tiles on site before buying them
- Although this is very rare, tile flooring can also crack under heavy stationary loads, such as that of a refrigerator or a deep-freezer
- Tiles installed over a control joint are also likely to crack. Control joints are placed in concrete slabs to ensure it only cracks in a predictable line instead of any other random pattern
- If a crack extends across multiple tiles, it could be because the concrete below the surface has begun to crack
- After the concrete is poured and levelled, it needs to be left for a certain period of time for curing. This process allows water to evaporate and the concrete mixture to shrink. If tiles are installed before the concrete is properly cured, it might result in tiny fissures or cracks appearing later
- Lastly, if you installed your tiles a decade or two ago, there is a good chance that they may just be showing signs of general wear and tear
If you suspect any of the above-mentioned reasons to be responsible for your cracked floor tiles, it’s advised to hire a professional to help you out with the problem. Please note that problems with underlayment need to be sorted out before you install new tiles, or they’ll end up getting damaged as well.
In order to prevent tiles from cracking in the future, you need to figure out what caused them to break in the first place.
How to Repair Cracked Tiles
Now that we know some of the most common causes behind cracked tile flooring, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can fix them.
How to Repair a Hairline Crack
Chips and hairline cracks in tile floors are usually fixable.
Usually, homeowners ignore small fissures and cracks in tiles until they break completely. This can be extremely dangerous as the cracks in floor tile may allow moisture to seep through to the underlayment. This is especially true for bathrooms, which happen to be the most humid and moist rooms in a house.
In order to repair hairline cracks in tiles, you first need to remove any dust or debris that may have settled inside. The best way to go about this is to vacuum the tile flooring and then use a solution of warm and dishwashing liquid to get rid of grease or any other leftover debris. Next, wipe the tile with a clean cloth and allow it to dry thoroughly. You can even use cotton swabs to remove any moisture from the fissures.
One of the best things you can use to repair cracked tiles is clear epoxy. Available easily at hardware stores, epoxy acts as a tile filler and can be used to fix smaller and larger cracks alike.
If you are using two-part epoxy, which includes separate containers for resin and hardener, you need to mix them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have any old tiles similar to the ones you are about to repair, it is suggested you do a small patch test for practice.
The next step to fix cracked tiles is to patch up the cracks by filling it with the epoxy mix using a toothpick. Leave it to dry for a few minutes before scraping the excess off with a razor blade or a utility knife.
The same method can be used to fix hairline cracks in tiled walls and backsplashes as well as damaged countertops. Moreover, epoxy can be used to repair ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, granite and marble among other porous and non-porous flooring materials.
In case you can’t find epoxy, a hot glue gun might provide a temporary solution.
How to Hide a Cracked Tile
Another way to repair a cracked tile without removing it is by camouflaging the chips and fissures – and what could be a better way to do that other than painting the tile?
In order to hide a damaged tile, you must first thoroughly clean and dry the surface as well as the crack. Then use a small paintbrush to apply an oil-based primer to the inside of the crack in a thin layer and wait for it to dry. Make sure you don’t get any primer on the glazed surface of the tile.
Once the primer is dry, you can apply a coat or two of a high gloss oil-based paint in the same shade at your tiles. If the cracked tile is located in a high foot-traffic location, consider covering it with a big pot or a pan to ensure no one steps on it. Leave it to dry overnight and check it in the morning to see if the crack is still visible. In case it is still pretty noticeable, you’ll have to use the epoxy method mentioned above to repair the crack tile.
So, this is all you needed to know to be able to repair cracked tile flooring with replacing any of the tiles.
Meanwhile, if you’re having trouble selecting the right tiles for your home or want to learn more about different types of tiles and their rates in Pakistan, you can take a look at our handy guides on the topic. Furthermore, our tutorials on how to tile a bathroom floor and how to install a backsplash may also help you out.
For more DIY home improvement tips and tricks, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the best lifestyle and property blog in Pakistan. If you have any more questions about how to repair cracked tiles, feel free to get in touch with by emailing on blog@zameen.com. In addition to that, please make sure to subscribe to our newsletter in order to receive the latest construction and real estate-related updates directly in your inbox.
