Preventing Tile Trouble

If ceramic tile is such an indestructible building material, why would a tile floor need maintenance and repair? Often, the fault lies not in the tile but in the floor below. Follow a manufacturer's requirements for the supporting floor, and the tile is likely to require only cleaning, not mending.

Wood-frame floors give a little as you walk on them, which makes them more comfortable than concrete. But tile is rigid, which sets up a conflict when it's laid over anything but a masonry base - unless you make the frame almost as rigid as solid concrete. For example, you can double up the existing joists, gluing and nailing a second 2x8 to each one.

In most houses with wood floors, sheets of plywood laid over the joists are 1/2-inch thick. For tile, it's wise add an additional layer of 3/4-inch-thick plywood to make the floor strong enough to bridge the spaces between joists without flexing. When adding a second layer of plywood, make sure to stagger the new layer so the seams don't line up.

Most tile is designed to have a specific amount of space for grout. Some have protrusions that keep the tiles uniformly separated; some are sold with spacers. In any case, you should follow the instructions for grout seams, even though they may appear to be a little wide. If the grout pattern seems to overshadow the tile, you can increase or decrease its prominence with color.

1) Drill holes
To remove a damaged tile without damaging others, drill a row of holes in the damaged tile and score a line with a hammer and cold chisel. Be sure to wear safety goggles. (Fig. 1)