Anyone Know Anything About Laying Tile Or Tile Repair?

[AKL_Megs]

We were moving things into the kitchen of our new house last night when we noticed that one of the ceramic tiles is a little "bouncy" in one corner of the tile, and that same corner has a small crack in the grout. (If it matters, these tiles are about 12"x12", and the crack in the grout is round and about the size of a pea, but is still attatched, just cracked.)

It is not a "loose" tile, it just "bounces" a little when you press on it in that corner of the tile. Subsequently, none of the adjoining tiles are bouncy or loose whatsoever.

The "bounce" doesn't bother me, but I would hate for the crack in the grout to deteriorate and crack off completely. Is there anything we can use to reinforce the grout in that small area? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[disney1990]

My suggestion would be to go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a grout saw and at the same time pick up a grout color guide from the tile area of the store.

Go home and match the color of the grout and go back and buy the smallest amount that you can get. (this is assuming that none of the original grout is stored in the house anywhere.) Mix up a tiny amount for a test and find an inconspicuous place like a corner or behind the door put a thin layer on the existing grout and allow it to dry to see that the color does match. If it does take the grout saw and remove the grout in the affected area and a few inches on each side including corners down to the cement board. Mix about half the grout that you think that you'll need and make it very thin or soupy. Pour that into the crack and with a piece of wood to fit the width of the grout line and nearly as long as the length of removed grout press down on the poured grout. This will force the grout under the tile where the cement is missing and help to stabilize it so that it is not bouncy. Clean any excess grout from the tile and allow this to dry completely. Then mix up an amount of grout to finish the job. I am assuming that you have experience grouting tile and know how to work with the materials. If not, let me know.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

My suggestion would be to go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a grout saw and at the same time pick up a grout color guide from the tile area of the store.

Go home and match the color of the grout and go back and buy the smallest amount that you can get. (this is assuming that none of the original grout is stored in the house anywhere.) Mix up a tiny amount for a test and find an inconspicuous place like a corner or behind the door put a thin layer on the existing grout and allow it to dry to see that the color does match. If it does take the grout saw and remove the grout in the affected area and a few inches on each side including corners down to the cement board. Mix about half the grout that you think that you'll need and make it very thin or soupy. Pour that into the crack and with a piece of wood to fit the width of the grout line and nearly as long as the length of removed grout press down on the poured grout. This will force the grout under the tile where the cement is missing and help to stabilize it so that it is not bouncy. Clean any excess grout from the tile and allow this to dry completely. Then mix up an amount of grout to finish the job. I am assuming that you have experience grouting tile and know how to work with the materials. If not, let me know.

I was going to suggest re-laying the tile, but I like disney1990's suggestion better. I just had to do this in my kitchen, b/c we had some 'bouncy' or squeaky tiles as well. We actually pulled them up and either re-layed or replaced them. But, our house is new and we new the color of the grout used and had extra. We were able to re-mastik (glue) one of the existing tiles, and then re-grout. But we had to replace another. I wish I had read dis's post before I had removed the tiles.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I was going to suggest re-laying the tile, but I like disney1990's suggestion better. I just had to do this in my kitchen, b/c we had some 'bouncy' or squeaky tiles as well. We actually pulled them up and either re-layed or replaced them. But, our house is new and we new the color of the grout used and had extra. We were able to re-mastik (glue) one of the existing tiles, and then re-grout. But we had to replace another. I wish I had read dis's post before I had removed the tiles.

My suggestion would be to go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a grout saw and at the same time pick up a grout color guide from the tile area of the store.

Go home and match the color of the grout and go back and buy the smallest amount that you can get. (this is assuming that none of the original grout is stored in the house anywhere.) Mix up a tiny amount for a test and find an inconspicuous place like a corner or behind the door put a thin layer on the existing grout and allow it to dry to see that the color does match. If it does take the grout saw and remove the grout in the affected area and a few inches on each side including corners down to the cement board. Mix about half the grout that you think that you'll need and make it very thin or soupy. Pour that into the crack and with a piece of wood to fit the width of the grout line and nearly as long as the length of removed grout press down on the poured grout. This will force the grout under the tile where the cement is missing and help to stabilize it so that it is not bouncy. Clean any excess grout from the tile and allow this to dry completely. Then mix up an amount of grout to finish the job. I am assuming that you have experience grouting tile and know how to work with the materials. If not, let me know.

I don't know anything about laying tile, but my DH and I are pretty good DIYers... and your instructions sound great!

I really don't want to have to pull up the tile because we would risk breaking it, and we don't have any extra tiles. The people who were in the house remodeled the kitchen for the sale of the house, but left no extra supplies.

 

[disney1990]

The instructions actually came from my DH. I said, here's a question you can answer. He's so handy.

 

[AKL_Megs]

The instructions actually came from my DH. I said, here's a question you can answer. He's so handy.

Tell your DH my DH said thank you!

 

[MWAZU39]

Google John Bridge Tile Forum and you'll find all the info you need (by either searching through the old threads) or writing a new one.

Good luck!