Asked on Mar 22, 2020

How can I fix cracked bathroom tiles without replacing them?

Sathya Ram
by Sathya Ram

Only two of the tiles are cracked. I think it's because the surface is uneven and poor cushioning. I know people would ideally rip open the whole thing and relevel and lay new tile, but I can't afford that right now. Is there a more economical way to fix this issue and prevent the tiles from cracking in the future?

  14 answers
  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Mar 22, 2020

    Sounds like if you don't fix the underlying problem it will continue to crack. If you can't fix it, put a rug over it.

  • Annie Annie on Mar 22, 2020

    If it's because the surface underneath is uneven, then you have to level it. Otherwise it will just happen again.


    You could chip the broken tiles out and replace if you have some. Do you have that same color grout?

    • See 1 previous
    • Annie Annie on Mar 23, 2020

      The problem I think is that even if you found the original color grout, the grout that has been around those tiles is discolored, right? Just from years of being there. So even a match won't be a match, if you know what I mean.


      You can check at the building store if they have the color. To exactly match will be really hard.

  • Annie Annie on Mar 22, 2020

    I'd be tempted to just find that color of a sharpie and see if you can cover the crack a bit with color.


  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Mar 22, 2020

    Hello. For a purely cosmetic repair.....I would try some caulk to fill and use acrylic paints to disguise. Match the paint color as best you can and chose the correct sheen such as gloss matte or satin formulations.


    A stronger repair might be epoxy putty and enamel paints they tend to be glossier.


    Third option...place a rug to cover it?

  • Jocelyn saulog Jocelyn saulog on Mar 23, 2020

    Do some stenciling using dark colored paints. You may look for a farmhouse design to add flair or something morrocan to cover all cracks.

  • Craft Invaders Craft Invaders on Mar 23, 2020

    Here's what one Hometalker did

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/floors-ceilings/tile-quick-fix-43910540

  • Dianacirce70 Dianacirce70 on Mar 23, 2020

    unfortunately there is no real way to fix a broken tile that will prevent it from cracking again, or give it the support it needs. Your options are to pull out the damaged tile(s) and replace them, if you can find that color still. Its labor intensive, and you'll want to scrub the heck out of the grout first so you can get as close a match as possible. Or you can do a cover up like the one above, which really is a pretty good looking fix, especially considering what they started with . That should prolong your floor until you can redo the whole thing.

  • William William on Mar 23, 2020

    This is the best solution for repairing broken or cracked tile.


    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.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Mar 23, 2020

    You can’t you could put a little glue between the cracks that’s it and paint it the same color in the cracks to match

  • You can cut the two out with a dreamt and just replace the broken tile