How do I repair cracked floor tile?

Evelyn Calleva
by Evelyn Calleva

How do I repair cracked floor tiles?

  4 answers
  • William William on Jul 22, 2019

    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 (Bondo) 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.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jul 23, 2019

    There are repair kits for ceramic tile. If you know the brand, there may be a specific repair colors for your tile. I've found repair kits on websites for tile manufacturers, the hardware store and on Amazon. My husband swears you need to replace them, but if a little touch up works I don't think it needs replacement.