Is it Possible to Fix Damaged Ceramic Tiles? If So, How?

The combination of beautiful colors and patterns, varying sizes, accessibility, and affordability is why many people choose ceramic tiles as the preferred flooring solution. Made of thin slabs made of clay or other inorganic materials, these thin tiles look gorgeous. Also, once fired and glazed, they’re incredibly durable.

Damaged Ceramic Tiles

Why and How

The Most Common Type of Damage

Considering how well ceramic tiles hold up, they are a perfect choice for bathrooms and kitchens. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re limited to just those two rooms. Although strong, ceramic tiles can get damaged. Most often, this is in the form of cracks.

Dropping Something Heavy

If something heavy gets dropped onto ceramic tile flooring, there’s a chance of it cracking. Now, the first time this happens, you might only notice a slight dent. However, if you drop something heavy again on that same spot, a crack will likely appear.

Subpar Quality Tile

There’s a rating for ceramic tiles that ranges between zero and five. For residential flooring, you want to go with a rating of three whereas you would need a four or five for commercial use.

Always purchase ceramic tiles from a reputable source and buy a little more than needed. Someone with knowledge of the ASTM and ANSI testing standards can guide you to the best product for the application. The quality of the tile you buy plays a significant role in the risk of damage.

Excessive Load

Ceramic tile with a three rating can easily accommodate a stationary load up to 250 pounds of pressure per square inch. Keep that in mind if this is the kind of flooring you want. That means an extra-heavy load could damage the tile.

Improper Installation

Even the installation of new ceramic tiles plays a role in whether they crack soon after. For instance, if an unqualified person installs a ceramic tile over a control joint, it’ll likely crack.

Fixing Damaged Ceramic Tile

The good news is you can fix ceramic tiles yourself. One option is to loosen the grout around a damaged piece, replace it with one of the extra tiles you purchased and then regrout it. That way, you have a perfectly matched tile to use.

There’s another easy fix. Make sure the damaged piece of tile and the area around it is void of any dirt, debris, oil, and water. Then, mix white or clear epoxy. Working carefully but quickly as epoxy sets fast, apply it over the crack. As expected, this works best on smaller cracks.

If you’re not a handy type of person, you can always hire an expert to replace or fix the tile for you. Using similar techniques, your floor will look great in no time.

One important note, if a crack gets subjected to moisture, it’ll probably spread. So, be sure to wipe up any spills immediately. Also, to prevent damage, have the ceramic tile sealed, keep the floor clean, and never use harsh abrasives or chemicals on it. 

Allow Us to Help

When you’re ready to purchase ceramic tiles, contact us at Ceramique au Sommet. We offer an exclusive line of ceramic tiles.