How To Replace A Wall Tile

In this video, This Old House tile contractor Joe Ferrante explains how to replace a wall tile.

Project details

Protect work area with canvas drop cloth
Use a utility knife to score grout joints around the cracked tiles
Loosen cracked tile using cold chisel and hammer; remove loose tiles
Use trowel to scrape the wall clean of loose debris
Dry-fit the new tile to the wall
If necessary, use tile nippers to remove spacer lugs from edge of tile
Smooth edges of tile by rubbing it with a rubbing stone
Mix thinset mortar with latex additive
Apply thinset to wall with trowel
Spread thinset on back of tile and press tile to wall; repeat for all replacement tiles
Wait 30 minutes, then mix tile grout, following manufacturer’s directions
Use a rubber float to force grout into the joints between the tiles
Apply grout with fingertip to fill hard-to-reach areas
Wait 10 minutes, then clean the grout from the tile using a damp sponge
Wait overnight, then buff off haze from the tile using a clean, dry sponge