When you choose us for tile repair in Lehi, UT, the most important thing you’ll receive (after repaired tiles, of course!) is peace of mind. On the day of your service appointment, we’ll arrive at your property on time in a company vehicle and uniform. There are many different types of tools that may be required for your repair, depending on the type of damage that requires fixing. Some of these tools may include:
- Safety goggles
- Damp sponge
- Grout saw or lever
- Hammer and nailset
- Glass cutter
- Cold chisel
- Putty knife
- Shop vac
- Grout float
- Notched trowel
- Painter’s tape
- Spacers
Our service technicians have all the tools they need to get the job done properly, so you won’t have to worry about providing your handyman with any of the equipment they may need. Materials that may be required for your Lehi tile repair include:
- Grout
- Thinset
- Rubbing alcohol or acetone
- Paint
- Epoxy
- Extra tiles
The tools and materials required will vary depending on whether you have a cracked or chipped tile that needs filling, or if the tile is so severely damaged that it needs to be replaced.
Chips and Hairline Cracks
No matter how careful you are, sometimes accidents happen. Tiles are resilient, but if you drop a heavy object, they can easily chip and crack. Fortunately, most minor chips and cracks can be repaired without needing to replace the entire piece. Porcelain and ceramic tiles that are uniform in color are the easiest to repair, but it’s possible to patch materials that are a little more varied in color as well.
Using clear epoxy, we’ll fill the chip or hairline crack. Drying time for epoxy varies according to the specific product used, but once dry, we may add paint to help the patch blend in with the rest of the flooring. For very small cracks and chips, this may not be necessary. We’ll discuss the best course of action with you once we observe the damage. If we do use paint, we’ll also need to apply a sealant on top to ensure the paint does not flake or peel.
Loose and Broken Tiles
Epoxy is a great fix for small chip repair, but if cracks and chips are large and very visible, it won’t effectively disguise the damage. If appearance isn’t your concern and you’re just looking for an option to protect your subfloor until you’re ready to redo your flooring entirely, epoxy may still be a solution. Otherwise, we recommend replacing damaged tiles piecemeal.
Replacing single tiles requires the expertise of our experienced Lehi tile pros to ensure that none of the adjacent tiles are damaged in the process. Ideally, you will have replacement tiles in your basement or garage that are left over from your original installation. This will allow us to replace your damaged pieces with a perfect match. Otherwise, we encourage you to contact the manufacturer of your tile to see whether they are still making your design and can ship a few over. You can also head over to your local hardware store and see if you can find a replacement that may not be a perfect match but won’t stand out.
With your replacement tiles in hand, we’ll get to work removing the damaged tiles. Not all of our handyman professionals will use the same technique to do this, but you can trust that your service technician will use the method that works best for them. Once the old tile is out of the way, a chisel will be used to carefully remove any thin-set (adhesive) or grout that remains, leaving a smooth, clean surface. Using a shop vac, we’ll clean up the area so that it is debris-free.
Laying the new tile follows many of the same steps as tile installation. First, we’ll apply a thin set and place the new tile on top. Once it has fully cured, we’ll apply color-matched grout in the grout joints using a grout float. Excess grout will be scraped off. We will again wait for it to cure the required amount of time before using a damp sponge to smooth the grout lines and clean up the surface of the tile.
Most Lehi tile repairs should not be walked on for 24 hours to ensure that the repair has all the time it needs to fully dry and harden, but your service technician will provide you with any aftercare information you require before leaving you to enjoy your newly repaired tiles.