I have a 15x15 tile that is on the floor in front of a gas fireplace (never been used) that has a hairline crack in it. The tile is one of 4 on the floor and matches 8 others that ring the face of the gas fireplace, the bathrooms and the kitchen. I cannot find the same tile to replace it. There is no elevation difference across the crack.Is there a method to fill the hairline crack so it doesn‘t stand out like a sore thumb?
Ceramic Tile Crack Repair
If you must replace it. (because it is not yours and you will have to pay) It can be matched very closely as 15 is not common replace the 4. Being in a different area the difference should no show. Remove the grout around the tile with a grout remover (its a scraper, ask at the hardware store). It can also be removed with a Dremmel tool and carbide tips. Use a center punch and hammer to crack the offending tile into pieces and then pick and scrape the tile and old mastic out. You have to get it ALL out. Be sure not to use surrounding tiles for leverage. You can then place new mastic and eyeball the tile for proper placement or purchase tile spacers when you get the grout removal tool. You should measure how wide the grout lines are. Use a trowel that places mastic at the proper height (measure how thick it is under the other tiles once you have your tile out and the hole is clean) for example if your mastic under the remaining tiles is 1/8th inch that is the notch to use. When placing the tile place enough pressure to make it level with the other tiles. wait 1 day with NO TRAFFIC and re-grout.
If you must fix the crack, go to a stone fabrication company, they have a product called akimi that can be colored to match the tile and will harden when mixed with a hardner. The only problem is that tile does not crack unless the tile is not bonded or the substrate moves, so your one tile may be the first of many to crack. Take a broom handle and tap the tile, the cracked one might have a hollow sound, if it does, it is not bonded well to the floor. tap the others to see if you have other problems.
Try adding some dye to grout to match the color. You will still know the crack is there but nobody else will! You can also use silicone but its harder to work with and doesnt last as long. You may want to experiment with the color by mixing a couple different colors to see which one is the best. Get the dye from a masonry or tile supply house. It is meant for grout. Have fun, Dan
just leave it be if you try to do something with and make it worse thin what you may have to change it all unless you can take a picture and go to a tile store sometimes if you find some one that has sold tile for years they know what kind it is and can tell you where you may be able to find some don't do the Lowe's or Home depot they usually don't have a clue
