The main stages of repairing tiles on the floor from one to the entire coating. Ceramic tile floor repair Do-it-yourself tile repair

Tiled flooring sometimes needs repair. Even considering that high-quality tile material is very dense, any careless handling can damage it, break it or deprive it of its former attractiveness. In this case, the restoration of ceramic tiles will help out, which is so popular now due to the fact that it is often difficult to find a replacement for a damaged tile composition.

If you find damaged tiles on the floor, one or more, you should not turn to a major overhaul. You can replace cracked places with your own hands without the help of specialists. Damage to the floor tiles can be expressed in the form of chips, cracks or tarnishing of the grout

Repair work begins with the assessment of the degree of destruction floor covering: If a third of the tiles are damaged, it is wiser to opt for a complete floor replacement.

Partial replacement of the canvas involves the selection of a suitable tile in case it was not prepared in advance.

Damaged areas can be removed:

Sawing seams with a grinder with water;
Cutting through the seams with a drill having a thin drill;
Removing tiles with a perforator;
Combining options.

After the previous layer of glue is removed. Small chips are filled with cement paste. In the presence of solid cracks, the tile is replaced. After removing the tiles, it is necessary to clear the debris, prepare the base, lay a new coating and grout the seams.

If there are no obvious damages on the tiles, and only the seams are worn out, you can update them in different ways:

Completely remove the old grout and grout the seams again;
Refresh the coating with impregnation;
Paint the seams with a special compound to mask the seams;
Use marker.

If, during partial cosmetic repairs, you do not pay attention to the condition of the tile joints, over time, fungus or mold may appear between the tiles, which will completely ruin the appearance of the floor covering.

Shallow cracks: restoration of floor tiles

Tiles on the floor are often prone to damage and fracture. When operating it, it is worth preventing situations with the fall of heavy objects, and if this happens, repairs are necessary and as soon as possible in order to avoid the spread of the defect further.

When putting a hammer or drill into operation, it should be taken into account that injury may occur. It is necessary to use personal protective equipment or contact a specialist for repair.

Cement mortar well eliminates all defects. The crack is filled with it, then the grout is carried out. Over the next three days, you need to moisten the surface so that setting occurs. The place where the processing takes place should be covered with a film.

If glue is used, you must:

Remove dirt from each cracked tile with a damp cloth;
Mix the tile adhesive by placing a portion of the pigment in it with the same color as the surface shade;
Fill the crack with the resulting composition;
Cover the treated area with dry sawdust and leave for a day.

It should be remembered that for use in the kitchen or in the bathroom, it is worth purchasing grout, glue and other components with a moisture-resistant structure.

How to fix a chipped floor tile

Ceramic tile has many advantages, it is very popular finishing material for bathroom, toilet, kitchen and other places. If the tile is damaged during careless handling, you do not need to be upset. With the help of special technologies, you can get rid of chips on the tiles yourself, using a corrective composition.

The problem can be solved:

Removing the damaged fragment;
In the absence of withdrawal.

Removal is used if the tile is cracked due to mechanical stress. If there is a chip without cracks on the floor surface, dismantling is not required.

When dismantling, the damaged fragment is first carefully removed. In order not to spoil the adjacent tile, it is necessary to clean each seam to the base with a sharp object, then knock on the tile, lift the broken part with a spatula and remove it. In case of failure, it is worth moistening the tile with soapy water. Water will get under the tile, soak into the adhesive and the tile will be easier to remove.

When restoring a damaged fragment, it should be noted that it is necessary to clean its back surface from the adhesive base with a wet rag or spatula.

Next, the fracture site is cleaned with sandpaper, pieces tiles glued together. When it dries, the back surface is covered with glue again. After the place for the tile is prepared, it is cleaned of dust, the glue is applied to the surface and the tile, and it is glued. The seam must be covered with grout.

Difficult job: porcelain stoneware restoration

Chips on ceramic and porcelain tiles may occur due to impact. Tiles with damage can be replaced or there is an option to mask the chip.

The work is done as follows:

The chip is cleaned and degreased with acetone.
To tint the glue, a little dye is added and mixed.
The resulting composition is applied to the part that has broken off, the hardener is not added.
If the glue is close in color to the tile, it must be removed from the chipped part, the chip is cleaned with acetone and dried.
A hardener is added to the glue, mixed. The adhesive must be applied immediately before hardening occurs.
The glue is smoothed over the surface of the chipped part, the excess is removed.

If the polyester adhesive has a matte surface, after it has hardened, it needs to be polished by hand with a dense cloth or felt.

When matching the color of the adhesive to the color of the tile, you should not count on a complete match. A good result will be the invisibility of the damaged area.

Hard wax is also actively used for the restoration of ceramic tiles. It helps to cover up the chips that have appeared without any problems.

Do-it-yourself tile replacement (video)

Holes in the tile, chips and cracks do not decorate the coating. That is why, when you see something like this at home, you want to immediately repair the flaw. Sealing tile cracks is a creative process that anyone can master. Tiles on the wall, floor and other places will look like new if you give them a little attention and effort, and then you will not need to spend a lot of money and completely replace them.

Tiled floors and walls sometimes require repair. Tiles, depending on the strength class and the quality of laying, are affected by different intensity. Some fragments do not withstand and cracks and chips appear on the surface. To eliminate such shortcomings, it is important to know the repair rules, and why this or that problem arose. Consider what factors lead to damage and how to repair the coating yourself.

Cracks or chips in tiles are more likely to occur due to point impacts.

Causes of defects

First you need to deal with one part of the question: why do flaws appear on the tile? There are many explanations for this.

At first glance, there is practically no load on the finishing of vertical surfaces. Nevertheless, cracks on it are not uncommon. The reason is:

point impacts on the coating;
mobile base, for example, wood;
hanging heavy furniture on the walls;
damage to tiles during drilling or other types of work;
strikes from the opposite side of the wall;
temperature and humidity fluctuations;
microcracks in the coating.

To find out why the tile in the bathroom is cracking, first of all, let's pay attention to the microclimate in the room.

With regards to gender, the aforementioned factors influence its condition.

Most flooring needs repair

Cracks appear due to the fall of a heavy object or the load from furniture. Point exposure is especially dangerous. The low class of tiles increases the risk of surface damage even in everyday use. Separately, we highlight the quality of styling. If there are voids in the solution or the surface has irregularities, in the future, when such a tile is loaded, it will break and the fragment will need to be replaced. Bathroom tile repair is often associated with a violation of the installation technology on such capricious surfaces as wood or plasterboard. Wood expands with increasing moisture, so technological gaps are left, seams are made larger, and elastic glue is also used.

If it was not possible to avoid the repair, carry it out with high quality so as not to encounter similar problems again.

Necessary tools and materials, masking defects

Do-it-yourself ceramic tile repair on walls or floors is done using conventional tools. You will need a chisel, a flat screwdriver and a grinder for dismantling. Remove adhesive residue with sandpaper. To repair a small chipped tile on the floor with your own hands, use ordinary grout. You will also need glue, if the cracks require replacement of the element, a notched trowel, a level and a mallet. Do-it-yourself tile repair rules, read on.

If the damage is minor, the restoration of the coating without compromising its integrity is suitable. In other words, small cracks or chips along the edges of the tile are hidden without replacing the element.

Most simple ways masking defects - grout and self-adhesive film

The easiest way to repair a chip is with a fugue. Such a mixture is selected so that it does not differ from the general background in its tone and structure. If you want to use white putty on a colored background, then adjust the stitch width. Please note that a single wide joint will spoil the overall impression of the coating. To close the chip with grout, it is enough to apply a wet mass over the flaw and align the seam. After drying, the plane is brought to the ideal.

Small cracks on the tile are also hidden with the help. The best option– use of self-adhesive film. Another way is to close the flaw with some kind of accessory, for example, a towel holder. If the material cracks further, it is better to immediately glue a new one.

Fragment replacement

The most effective ceramic tile repair is complete dismantling damaged item. This method is used when local restoration of damage is not possible.

Replacing tiles on a wall or floor is as follows:

Seam cleaning. Such work is carried out carefully so as not to hurt neighboring parts. If the cracks cover the entire tile, you can walk with a grinder.
Removing tiles. Pry the element and pull it off the surface with force.
Glue cleaning. Remove the old mortar from the base floor and walls as much as possible.
Inspection of neighboring elements. If a nearby tile is damaged or the quality of the masonry has been compromised, it is better to remove it and re-lay it.
Tile installation. Fastening is carried out with glue. It is more convenient to apply it on the tile itself. Make sure to get level with the rest of the cover.
Seam grouting. Be sure to seal the joints. Choose the material as on the other tile. If this is not possible, it is recommended to completely renew the seams.

Smooth surfaces of pavements and squares in cities, glossy walls of bathrooms, durable floors and a traditional "apron" in the kitchen - all this would be impossible without tiles, reliable and practical building material. It perfectly tolerates atmospheric street disasters, and serves as a traditional element of decor in the house. We are accustomed to the fact that ceramic, paving and tiled products last for decades, however, even they are subject to wear and various kinds of damage.

Working with tiles requires a certain skill, experience and skill; a professional can lay and repair it with ease. But are building tricks available to an ordinary person who wants to do the replacement or partial repair of the tiled flooring in his house with his own hands? At a minimum, such opportunities will save a considerable amount, and besides, a positive result will also bring moral satisfaction.

Tile problems: can they be avoided?

Until recently, they admired the result of the renovation in the bathroom, and today some of the tiles fell off, and a few more cracked - a picture familiar to many. Let's try to figure out what mistakes the workers or the owners of the apartment made, and for example, let's take a wall covered with tiles and to be repaired.

Most of the reasons are hidden during the installation process, let's name the main ones:

insufficient initial processing of the walls;
violation of laying technology, entailing the gradual formation of cracks and chips;
improperly prepared tile adhesive;
non-compliance with the tightness of the tiled coating (poor-quality seam processing), in connection with which the adhesive base is destroyed.

There are other unfavorable reasons that affect the rapid wear of the material. For example, paving slabs are constantly exposed to temperature changes, moisture, and experience increased loads - it is not surprising that some of its elements become unusable over time and must be replaced.

Repair can be avoided only when a number of rules for installation, operation and careful maintenance are observed.

Types of repair of tiles and ceramics

What kind of metamorphoses do not occur with a beautiful glossy or matte finish during the service. It is covered with greasy spots and stains, a network of cracks appears, the tiles split in the corners, or even fly off completely. Sometimes black dips appear in place of once beautifully designed seams, and under the removed cabinets there are hidden holes for fasteners. Consider several types of repair work that you can do yourself with the help of improvised tools.

Masking cracks and chips

It happens that one big crack or scratch spoils the whole picture, this is especially noticeable on a matte plain surface. The easiest way is to dismantle the damaged element and replace it with a new, spare one. But what to do if there are no tiles left after laying, and the store has run out of the goods of the desired series? We will try to do without cardinal changes, but simply make the crack hardly noticeable.

We are following the plan:

1) We prepare a simple material - cement and water - and make a solution out of it, but not thick, more familiar, but rather liquid. No other components need to be added.
2) If the scratch is shallow, cover it with the resulting liquid and try to rub the solution into the crack (you can use a piece of cloth). After drying, add the next portion of the solution and rub it again - until the recess disappears.
3) If the treated area stands out against the background of the rest of the surface, we select the paint of the desired shade and carefully apply it to it, trying not to go beyond the borders. In construction stores there is a useful service - the ability to select and manufacture the paint of the required color scheme.

Bonding loose tiles

It often happens that one element disappears, but quite often a violation of the tightness of the coating leads to a total peeling off according to the "domino principle" - the tiles begin to separate from the wall one by one one by one or in whole layers. If the surface is not damaged and the product has retained its integrity, there is a chance to hoist it into place without any problems.

Before laying work, it is necessary to dismantle unstable elements, that is, carefully separate all tiles that partially move away from the wall or sway when pressed.

An important stage is the preparation of the wall, the base for laying. Pieces of the old adhesive solution must be completely removed and the surface cleaned as thoroughly as possible. Dust, grains of cement, any contamination will interfere with adhesion. After cleaning, the base surface is wetted with water.

What type of mortar or adhesive is used to attach tiles to the wall?

Special tile adhesive: dry mixes are sold in the store in a large assortment.
Cement mortar - not enough effective remedy, we use it as a last resort.
Silicone based sealant. A white substance has suitable properties.
Liquid glass (or liquid nails).
Zinc white. They are applied to the base, pre-treated with drying oil.

It should be remembered that due to the thick layer of adhesive, the newly laid tile will protrude above the rest of the surface. To prevent this from happening, the place where the glue is applied must be deepened by a few millimeters. Notched trowel - the main tool of the tiler - is necessary for uniform leveling of the adhesive solution.

Laying new tiles

Suppose the old tile has finally fallen into disrepair, but it is possible to replace it with a similar one. In this case, there is only one way out - carefully remove the damaged elements, and glue new ones in their place.

In order not to spoil the adjacent, good tiles, first we take a spatula or a thin drill and clean the seams. Then we drill holes in the desired element, as a result it splits into several pieces, which are much easier to remove with a chisel. We do not apply strong efforts so that the flying fragments do not touch neighboring elements.

We carefully clean the place where the old tile was located, treat the base with a primer - for better adhesion. We look at how much glue is needed so that the new element catches up with the rest and does not come forward. We apply glue with a spatula and try to install the tile into the prepared nest as evenly as possible. While the glue has not dried, there is time to correct its position if it is laid unevenly. We wait until the glue dries completely, and only then we process the seams.

When using low-quality grout, it collapses over time, disappears, and ugly gaps appear between the tiles. In addition, in a room with high levels of humidity, for example, in a bathroom, black mold often appears precisely in the area of tile joints. You can act in different ways: either completely replace the grout, or partially repair only the affected areas.

The first method is used when it is necessary to update enough large plot. The new grout will create a uniform coating, and there will be no areas that differ in color. With a partial repair, it is possible that the part treated with the new material will differ from the rest of the surface.

The order of work is as follows: first we remove the old grout, trying not to damage the tile, then we apply a new one. When removing, use a sharp object, which is convenient to clean the seams. A tile-safe tool is any pointed object made of wood.

Bring back shine to tiles

The surface of ceramic and tile is sufficiently resistant to dirt and chemical attack, so it looks literally brilliant for a long time. To improve its appearance and restore gloss, it is enough to wipe it with a damp cloth with a special detergent.

But sometimes you want to radically change the interior, for example, change the color of the walls. To do this, we use the usual method - painting. Before painting, we grind the glossy surface of each color with fine sandpaper, degrease special means(based on acetone) and primed so that the paint holds better. Only after a row preparatory work We take the paint and apply it gently with a roller.

In this way, it is possible to paint not the entire wall, but selective elements, as well as create patterns and ornaments directly on the old tile. The result is completely new walls without building intervention.

Before you call in the experts or plan a complete tile replacement, take a look: with a little effort, you can fix some of the damage yourself, and major repairs are not required.

If tiles are damaged on the floor, one or more, it is not at all necessary to start overhaul. Replacing cracked tiles with new ones is a simple process and there is even no need to involve a specialist for this. Of course, provided that when repairing tiles on the floor on your own, you need to do it correctly and exercise maximum caution and accuracy.

Ceramic tile flooring is particularly durable and practical. It is easy to clean, sterilize and, one might say, practically does not wear out. It would seem that all these characteristics are in conflict with such a concept as "repair". But it turns out that all abrasion-resistant coatings have in common weakness- fragility. From impact or deformation, cracks form on the surface. What do they do in such cases?

Tile laying rules

In most cases, the occurrence of defects in the tile coating is associated with improper installation. Having chosen the optimal laying formula (in rows, diagonally or otherwise), you need to prepare the surface of the subfloor.

If necessary, the plane is leveled with the help of special building mixtures. Since the screed can expand during the temperature difference, it must contain steel reinforcement. Usually this metal grid located at a depth of 2/3 of the fill floor.

After the preparatory work, when laying the tiled floor, observe certain rules and recommendations.

There should be some distance between the tiles - 1-3 mm. After installation, it is filled with a special putty.
The adhesive layer is evenly distributed over the surface of the subfloor. It is best to use a special notched trowel for this. In no case should tiles be installed only at 5 points - this will lead to the formation of voids. According to technology, their volume should not exceed 10% of the total.
The alignment clamp should be applied evenly. At the same time, excess glue should not be squeezed out of the tile.

By following these rules, you can minimize the likelihood of defects or damage even at the laying stage. But even in this case, there are objective factors, after which it is necessary to repair the tiled floor.

Causes of Defects

They can be divided into two groups - non-compliance with the installation technology or violation of the rules of operation. The consequences are expressed in the deformation of the surface of the tile, changing the location individual elements about the overall picture. Consider the most common cases of defects.

Cracks. Most often this is a consequence of improper installation - uneven distribution of glue on the inner surface of the tile. During walking on such an element, the load on the voids can lead to cracks or chips.

An inappropriate tile model is another factor in its cracking. The floor has a large thickness, including the enamel coating. One of the defining differences is the low slip coefficient (prevents injury), slight hygroscopicity and mechanical strength. If you install a wall model on the floor, then over time, moisture can degrade the performance of the adhesive.

A thin layer of enamel will quickly be damaged, which will cause loss appearance coatings. The best way solution to the problem is the replacement of individual elements of the coating.

Damage, chips. Observing the above rules for choosing and laying tiles, there is still a possibility of external defects - chips and scuffs. In some cases, tile replacement is not required. You can use special repair putty. However, you must periodically update the area of the defect.

How to repair a tile floor: phased execution

start repair work with an assessment of the degree of destruction of the floor - this will help to make the most economically justified decision. If more than 30% of the tiles are damaged (such damage is already considered significant), it will be cheaper to completely replace the old coating - remove the existing material and lay out the coating again. A complete replacement of the floor will make it possible to change its design, use a more modern tiled material. True, such a repair of tiles on the floor is not for everyone.

If the ceramic sheet is partially changed, then the biggest difficulty is, perhaps, in the selection of the appropriate one. The prudent owner, who at one time followed the golden rule and bought a tile with a margin, of course, is not in danger. Others will have to look for a similar one in stores, and if the tile is already outdated and discontinued, then finding and repairing the tiled floor with it becomes a separate problem.

How to remove old tiles without touching adjacent tiles

The main problem is precisely this. The easiest way to solve this issue is with sufficiently wide seams between the flooring elements.

Removing one or more tiles is the most time-consuming process of repairing a tiled floor. To do this, you need to use the following tools and materials:

Scraper. It removes the outer layer of adhesive and decorative putty between the tiles.
Chisel or perforator with a chisel. During dismantling, it is impossible to save the defective element, so it will be necessary to break it to completely remove it from the floor surface.
New tiles, tile adhesive and notched trowel.
Personal protective equipment - gloves, goggles.

Options for removing damaged areas

propyl seams with a grinder with water;
cutting seams with a drill with a thin drill;
removal of tiles with a perforator or manually with a chisel;
a combination of these options, depending on the availability of a particular tool.

Then remove the old layer of glue.

Attention

It is important to find out the cause of the damage. Perhaps the underlying concrete screed was broken, then it will have to be restored.

The screed is restored with a cement-sand mortar. With a significant number of damaged tiles, a self-levelling floor can be laid. For laying individual tiles, which are surrounded by durable, preserved floor elements, only tile adhesive is used.

When restoring the screed with cement or a self-leveling mixture, the level is set just below the old floor so that you can then trim the new part with the main coating in height.

It remains only to wait for the glue to dry. Approximately 24 hours later, the floor repair can be considered completed.

Screed repair

Repair concrete screed required in the event that the technology of its installation was not observed. With thermal expansion, it acts on the tile adhesive, creating stress on the surface of the tile. As a result, this leads to damage to the latter. Most often, this situation occurs when repair of floors in the corridor is required.

If, after performing the above steps to remove the defective tile, cracks are found on the surface of the screed, it is necessary to repair the screed. To do this, remove the tiles along the entire length of the split and carefully remove the concrete layer. Its thickness should be about 4-7 cm. Reinforcing strapping must be present. If not, you will have to redo the entire screed. This is a time-consuming process, but after its completion, the probability of a floor defect is significantly reduced.

Consider the most common option - the pouring technology was done correctly, but the crack still appeared. This phenomenon is typical for new houses, the foundation of which has not passed the stage of final shrinkage. First you need to expand the crack, remove 1-2 mm of concrete along its edges. After removing the debris, you can start pouring the repair mixture.

It is best to use special compounds that form a strong bond with the rest of the screed surface. Having poured some part of the mixture into the crack, you need to wait for its distribution throughout the volume. For leveling, you can add more solution on top. At the end, it is necessary to wait some time for the preliminary cooling of the mixture. Then, using a spatula, a leveling surface layer is applied.

Laying tiles can only be done after 5-7 days. You should act according to the above technology.

How to repair floors in the hallway

If the cracks are small, you can try to level them with cement paste - a mixture of fine sand and cement taken equally. Cracks are filled with the resulting mixture and rubbed with a spatula or swab in different directions so that it is better absorbed into the depths of the crack. If the crack is severe, the tile will need to be replaced.

Let us describe in more detail the process of replacing one cracked tile.

Remove damaged material. Along the diagonal of the damaged element with a step of no more than 2 cm. Then they put on goggles and gloves and, armed with a hammer and chisel, break the tile into small pieces. They work carefully so that neighboring ones are not damaged. You can also break off fragments, starting from the center and moving towards the edges.
We clean up the trash. Debris and dust are removed with a vacuum cleaner. This is an important step and should be taken seriously. The remaining dust may well cause insufficient “grabbing” of the material with the floor and, when laid, it will stagger. In this case, it will have to be repaired again.
We prepare the base. How to proceed will depend on the condition of the base and the cause of the defect. In any case, in order to replace the floor element, it is advisable, especially if there are several of them, to remove the screed layer and level it.
A new screed is poured from a cement-sand mixture, special glue or a self-leveling mixture. In this case, it is necessary to observe a 5 mm gap to the desired level of the screed in order to be able to accurately adjust its height due to the thickness of the adhesive layer. It is necessary to ensure that the screed layer lies on the full surface, without voids. The screed must be allowed to dry.

We stack. A pillow is prepared from tile adhesive, on which waves are arranged with a spatula - after installation and adjustment of the coating, they will settle.
WITH reverse side tiles are applied with a notched trowel with special glue and adjusted with a level in height. Then they upset with a fist, a mallet or a rubber press. So that it does not stand out from the rest of the coating, the seams must be processed.

We sew the seams. To grout the joints begin after a day. Its excess can be removed after a quarter of an hour. To do this, use either a special sponge or an ordinary household one. To completely eliminate all stains from the grout, you will need several passes (3-4 times).
Special care when grouting seams is not required. The putty that accidentally fell on the "neighbors" can simply be wiped with a damp sponge.

On a note

Self-repair of tiles on the floor can be done with a minimum set of tools. Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the adhesive and the repair mixture. They should be designed to perform this type of work. If all the rules and technology have been followed, it will be almost impossible to distinguish the new installed tile from the rest of the coating externally.

Tiled flooring is considered one of the most resistant to natural wear and damage of any kind, but it so happens that they also require attention. In addition, not always during the repair, the laying of the tiles is carried out again, and the chipped, worn and worn areas against the background of the new interior will be distinguished by sloppy spots. Meanwhile, knowing some professional secrets and the tricks of builders, you can easily, quickly and no less qualitatively repair tiles with your own hands, without spending huge amounts of money either on a complete replacement of the coating or on the expensive services of qualified teams.

Why does the tile fail, or how to avoid its repair?

Most often, tiles fall off and damage occurs various errors allowed by the masters in the process of laying. The most common of them are:

poor preparation of the surface of the walls or floor;
improper dilution of cement mortar for gluing;
careless handling of tiles, leading to the appearance of microcracks, which, during further operation, with any light impact, turn into chips and cracks.

In addition, if during operation the tightness of the connection between the tile and the base is broken, then the moisture that gets under it quickly destroys the adhesive layer. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the condition of the tile joints and carry out the necessary repairs of ceramic tiles in a timely manner.

If we talk about paving slabs, then the factors that negatively affect the durability of the coating are also added to the aggressive effects of atmospheric phenomena, as well as an increased risk of damage by falling heavy objects on the surface.

Compliance with the technology during laying, careful handling of the material and proper operation will allow you to forget about the need to repair the tiled floor for many years.

Tiled or ceramic tiles

Types of repair work

The most common tile repair is the installation of fallen tiles in place. Often there is a need to replace the old damaged coating. For example, when a kitchen is being renovated, tiles after moving furniture or decor items to another place remain with holes from fasteners. Old worn seams that have absorbed dust, grease and other dirt and have lost their original color also do not look very aesthetically pleasing.

If there are chips and cracks on the tile...

If there is no stock of tiles left, and the store could not find a suitable material for replacement, the cracks can be repaired with “cement milk”.

"Cement milk" is a solution of cement with water, without the addition of sand, reminiscent of real milk in consistency.

To do this, it is necessary, gradually pouring the solution onto the surface of the tile, rub it with a rough piece of cloth into the crack. For better penetration, this should be done in two directions: along and across the crack. Deeper chips and depressions can be completely filled with this solution and smoothed out after drying.

To achieve greater strength of the solution that fills the cracks, it must be slightly moistened for another two to three days.

If a whole tile fell off ...

... do not panic and start a global repair with a change of the entire coating. This tile can easily be returned to its place. If the tile has not completely gone away and still holds on a little, it must be very carefully removed from its nest with a chisel or chisel.

Then painstakingly prepare the base for laying, otherwise you will have to face the same problem very soon. To do this, remove all adhesive residue or, if floor tiles are being repaired, knock out all the old cement mortar to the base. After that, it is necessary to clean the surface of the smallest particles of dust and other contaminants and slightly moisten it with water.

There are several ways to reattach a tile:

On the silicone sealant, and it is better to use white than transparent, which has less strength.
On liquid glass. With this method, a solution of liquid glass must be mixed with ordinary tooth powder.
On zinc white. In this case, it is necessary to treat the base with drying oil a day before fixing the tile.
For cement mortar.
For tile adhesive.

In the last two options, when preparing the surface of the base, it is necessary to go deeper into it by 3-4 millimeters. Such a margin is necessary so that the laid tile does not stick out due to the adhesive layer.

For better adhesion, any adhesive applied to the tile must be leveled with a notched trowel.

If you need to replace the tile with a new one ...

First, the damaged tile must be removed. It is easier to do this if you first get rid of the tile joints, for example, with a spatula.

Next, with a thin drill, we drill holes around the circumference in the center of the tile at a close distance from each other and knock out this part with a light blow. Now, inserting a chisel into the resulting hole, carefully chip off the damaged tiles, while trying not to damage the nearby ones, of course, if they cannot be removed.

The next step is to carefully clean the whole tiles from residues. grout composition, and the base is from old glue. After that, it is necessary to make sure that the surface is intact; before gluing the tiles, even shallow potholes should be repaired. Do not neglect the primer, it will help to achieve maximum evenness of the base.

After the tile is glued into place, be sure to check its level with the rest of the coating. If it protrudes, then a simple tapping on it will help put it in the right position, if, on the contrary, the tile is buried among the rest, then it must be removed and some glue added.

Seams between only laid tiles should be sealed no earlier than the adhesive composition has completely dried.

If the tile seams don't look good...

If the seams between the tiles have lost their attractive appearance or become moldy, you should not panic either. There are a variety of solutions in the hardware stores that deal with these problems.

If the grout is partially (or even completely) crumbled, you will have to work a little. After all, it will need to be completely replaced throughout the room, otherwise the updated area will stand out from the rest. Of course, you can try to choose a tool with the most suitable color, but this rarely succeeds.

So, first you need to clean the entire tile surface from limescale and other deposits. Now it is not difficult, the range of appropriate tools is simply huge. After that, we completely remove the old tile joints using a thin and pointed object (it is better if it is wooden, this will avoid accidental damage to the tiles) and overwrite them again.

If the tile has lost its former gloss ...

In general, ceramic tiles quite easily restore their original view with the help of special impregnations, detergents and other preparations, but if you really want to change radically, and a new styling is not yet in your plans, then you can try to change the surface design.

One way is to paint the tiles. Of course, first it must be thoroughly cleaned and sanded with sandpaper. After that, we degrease the section of the tiled coating intended for the drawing, and remove the plaque remaining after washing with acetone. If the pattern is simple, for example, geometric ornaments, then its boundaries can be marked with thin tape or tape. If you want something unusual, you will have to suffer with the preparation of stencils. The entire surface left under the drawing must be primed, and its coloring can only be started after the primer has completely dried.

That's all, you can enjoy the new interior!

paving slabs

A few words need to be said separately about this type of tile. Yes, it requires the same types of repairs, but there are several nuances in their technologies.

First, when replacing a sagging paving slabs it is necessary to re-fill the base with sand, carefully compact and level it.
Secondly, if the subsidence or deformation was caused by sewage, then you should first take care of their proper removal from the surface of the coating, and only then begin repairing paving slabs.

And finally, a short video that tells about some building secrets of laying tiles and grouting:

Do not forget that even the most durable materials can fail as a result of careless handling. Pledge of durability of a tiled covering - proper care and timely repairs.