How to Repair Cracked Floor Tiles

If your floor or kitchen tiles are cracked—whether due to normal wear and tear or from a heavy object falling—there's no immediate need to replace the damaged tile. If you're on a tight budget or the crack isn't too severe, repairing it is an option. For minor hairline cracks, you can fill the gap with epoxy glue. Alternatively, a simpler solution could be using wood glue or even nail polish. If the crack is too large to repair, it's best to replace the broken tile altogether.

Purchase a two-part epoxy glue kit from a hardware store. Epoxy glue is essentially a compound used to bond two broken pieces of tile. While single-part epoxy is available, the two-part version offers higher quality and ensures a longer-lasting fix. Look for it at hardware stores, or visit a home goods store if it's not available.

• A good quality two-part epoxy glue typically costs around $35-40 USD (in the U.S.).

Clean the cracked tile using paper towels and rubbing alcohol. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto one or two paper towels. Use the alcohol-soaked towels to clean the surface of the cracked tile thoroughly. This cleaning process will remove dust and dirt, ensuring that the epoxy glue will adhere securely to the tile's surface.

• Both of these items can be found at grocery stores or pharmacies.

Mix the epoxy glue on a piece of cardboard. Squeeze both tubes of the epoxy components to release approximately 2 tablespoons (43g) of glue onto a piece of cardboard. Use a popsicle stick to stir the two components together until they are fully blended. The mixture will start reacting chemically and cause the epoxy glue to harden.

• If you don't have cardboard available, you can use wax paper or an unused piece of wood to mix the epoxy.

Apply the epoxy glue along the crack in the tile. Use the popsicle stick to scoop up about half of the mixed epoxy glue. Carefully spread a thin layer of glue along the crack's length. The liquid will gradually seep into the crack before it hardens. Be sure to apply about 5mm of glue on both sides of the crack. Work quickly, as the epoxy glue dries fast.

• Avoid letting the epoxy glue touch any area of the tile that isn't cracked.

Wait 5-10 minutes for the glue to dry. The epoxy glue will dry completely in under 15 minutes. To check if it's dry, tap it gently with your fingertip. The glue will feel firm when fully set, and your finger won't stick to it.

• While the epoxy is drying, avoid touching it or placing anything on it. Also, keep pets and children away from the tile.

Scrape off any excess dried epoxy around the crack. Use a utility knife to remove any excess dried epoxy on the tile. Hold the blade at a 45-degree angle to the tile surface and slide the knife underneath the excess epoxy to scrape it off.

• Be cautious when using the utility knife, as it is very sharp and can cause injury if you slip.

Color the epoxy glue to match the tile color. You can purchase dye powders (specifically designed for epoxy glue) from craft stores. Mix different color powders together (e.g., brown, gray, black) to create a shade that blends with your tile color. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and add the color powder into the glue until the crack is no longer visible.

• This step is optional. If you find that the epoxy glue already closely matches the tile color, you may skip the coloring step.

Apply a thin layer of wood glue to the widest part of the crack. This method works best for cracks that are wider than hairline fractures. Squeeze a small amount of wood glue onto the crack. Use your finger or a stick to spread the wood glue along the length of the crack, covering any areas that are wider than 1 millimeter. Wait about 10 minutes for the glue to dry.

• Wood glue will stretch without losing its adhesion to the tile, ensuring the repair’s strength and durability.

Brush a thin layer of nail polish along the crack. Use the small brush that comes with the nail polish bottle to dip into the polish and then brush it onto the tile surface. Paint along the crack to ensure the entire crack is covered, extending the polish about 1-2mm beyond the edges of the crack.

• This repair method is effective only on glossy glazed tiles and not on porous tiles.
• For the best result, choose a nail polish color that matches your tile color. For example, if your tile is light beige, choose a matching nail polish.
• If you cannot find nail polish that matches your tile color, you can mix two different colors to create the desired shade.

Wait 10 minutes for the nail polish to dry. Nail polish needs to be completely dry before proceeding with the next step. To check if it’s dry after 10 minutes, gently touch it with your finger. If your finger doesn’t stick to the polish and no fingerprint is left, it’s dry.

• If the nail polish is still wet after 10 minutes, wait another 5 minutes.

Remove excess paint using nail polish remover. Be cautious not to accidentally wipe away too much paint from the tile surface. Simply apply a small amount of nail polish remover to a cotton swab. Gently rub the swab on the painted area 5-6 times to remove it.

• If the first attempt doesn't work, try using a fresh cotton swab dipped in remover and repeat the process.

Drill 3-4 small holes in the tile to weaken its bond before removal. Hold the drill vertically over the broken tile so the bit goes straight into the surface. Press the trigger to start drilling and create several holes in the tile. The holes should be aligned in a straight line through the center of the tile, either horizontally or vertically.

• If drilling causes small debris or dust to scatter, use a broom and dustpan to clean up.

Break the tile into pieces using a hammer and chisel. Place the chisel tip along the drilled holes. Strike the chisel with a hammer to break the tile apart. Hold the chisel at a 45-degree angle and continue to strike until the entire cracked tile breaks into pieces and can be removed.

• Strike the hammer with enough force to break the tile, but avoid damaging the wooden surface underneath. Be cautious not to damage surrounding tiles.
• After removing all pieces of the tile, dispose of them in the trash and clean up the area.

Scrape off any remaining mortar beneath the tile. Mortar is a bonding material that may have firmly adhered to the wood under the tile. Hold the chisel at a 20-degree angle (to the floor) and slide it along the gap where the tile was removed. Scrape off all mortar from the wood surface.

• Dispose of the mortar in the trash to ensure it is out of reach of children and pets.

Find a new tile to replace the damaged one. Ideally, you should have a few spare tiles left from previous flooring or kitchen work. If not, take a photo of the tile you want to replace and head to a nearby home goods or tile store. Show the photo to find a tile that closely matches the color of your existing tiles.

• The sales staff will assist you in finding the right tile style.

Spread mortar on the underside of the new tile. Before you begin, wear latex gloves for safety. Purchase a small bucket of mortar and a putty knife from a local hardware store. Use the knife to scoop some mortar and spread it evenly across the bottom of the tile. The mortar layer should be approximately 3mm thick.

• Be careful not to get mortar on surrounding tiles, as it can be difficult to remove once it has set!

Place the new tile in position and press gently. Hold the tile over the spot where it needs to go, then place the tile in the gap and press down lightly.

• If you press too hard, excess mortar may be pushed out from beneath the tile, spilling over the edges.

Use a grout float to apply grout around the new tile. Take a small amount of grout with the float and apply it along the edges of the newly laid tile. Continue to spread grout around the tile until the 5mm gaps on all four sides are filled.

• A grout float is a flat, wide tool with a handle, perfect for spreading grout. You can find one at a hardware or home goods store.
• Be sure to use grout that matches the color of your existing grout!

Wipe down the floor with a damp cloth. Before the grout dries, dampen an old towel or washcloth and wipe down the newly laid tile (or any tile with grout applied). Avoid touching the grout in the gaps around the tile. Allow the grout to dry overnight, and your new tile will be ready for use!

• If you forget to clean the tiles within a few hours, removing excess grout will be much harder!