How do I replace one floor tile?

Barry Thaler
by Barry Thaler

One tile on my floor has a crack in one of the corners. It is a tile that is one tile away from a wooden floor. Can one tile be removed and another replace it? Can I fill in the hole that is fight near the corner? Help me!

  3 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 12, 2018

    Hi Lynn,

    If the tile is white, you may be able to get away with patching it with ceramic filler, but if chips are too large, you can chisel it out and replace it. Make sure you clear away the old adhesive before hand and clean up immediately after you re-grout.

  • William William on Nov 12, 2018

    Perfect videos from Lynn. You can also repair. Whatever you choose.


    How to Repair Holes or Cracks in Ceramic Tile


    Patching unwanted holes in glazed tile like this can be a tricky proposition. Here's a solution that may not always be perfect, but will make a big improvement. Polyester resin or auto body filler, often used to repair car bodies. Mix up a small batch by adding some hardener and stirring it thoroughly. Using a putty knife, press the resin into the hole slightly overfilling it. Then just as the material begins to harden while it's somewhat rubbery, trim off the excess with a razor blade.


    Next use 600 grit sandpaper to sand the filler smooth. Wetting the paper with water makes it work best. Now it's time to try and match the color of the tile. A porcelain touch up kit which is available at most home improvement centers comes with several different colors of paint. You can also use artists acrylic paints available from Michaels, Hobby Lobby, art supply stores, and online.


    The trick here is to mix these different colors together until we come up with one that matches the tile. Apply the paint with a small brush. You can test it on a nearby tile. When you get it the way you want it, then just paint over the patch and let that dry. Give it one final sanding with that very fine sandpaper and you'll have, well, maybe not a perfect match, but something that's a heck of a lot better than what you started with.