Hairline cracks in bathroom tile
May 20, 2014 9:12 AM Subscribe
One of the floortiles in the bathroom cracked. How do I fix this?
Our bathroom has ~12x12 ceramic tiles on the floor, installed about 10+ years ago, and one of them just cracked. I don't have a photo at the moment, but it's just three hairline cracks radiating out of the center. The cement/grout on the sides is 85% intact, so prying the pieces up will cause more damage.
Should I attempt to fix this myself? Can I caulk it or something to prevent water damage? A complicating factor is that we just sold the apartment and are currently staying in there as renters.
Our bathroom has ~12x12 ceramic tiles on the floor, installed about 10+ years ago, and one of them just cracked. I don't have a photo at the moment, but it's just three hairline cracks radiating out of the center. The cement/grout on the sides is 85% intact, so prying the pieces up will cause more damage.
Should I attempt to fix this myself? Can I caulk it or something to prevent water damage? A complicating factor is that we just sold the apartment and are currently staying in there as renters.
It depends (TM) on why it cracked. If you dropped a hammer on it, say, or it broke from other heavy abuse -- by all means, replace it, it'll be fine. This is something you can do yourself. Just tape off the surrounding area so you don't damage it ...
If it just cracked out of the blue, it's more likely that the subfloor is not solid or steady enough, and allowing some deflection such that the tile eventually cracked. The solution for that is ... more complicated than you want to get into, it sounds like, but you would have to address the root problem, or it's going to happen again.
If you do replace it, can you match the grout well enough, or (if the grout is old and stained, etc) will it just look like a patch job? If the latter, you might want to leave it be and disclose it, let the new owners deal with it.
posted by Dashy at 10:13 AM on May 20, 2014
If it just cracked out of the blue, it's more likely that the subfloor is not solid or steady enough, and allowing some deflection such that the tile eventually cracked. The solution for that is ... more complicated than you want to get into, it sounds like, but you would have to address the root problem, or it's going to happen again.
If you do replace it, can you match the grout well enough, or (if the grout is old and stained, etc) will it just look like a patch job? If the latter, you might want to leave it be and disclose it, let the new owners deal with it.
posted by Dashy at 10:13 AM on May 20, 2014
Another option, is nail polish. I can't believe there's a You Tube about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:41 AM on May 20, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:41 AM on May 20, 2014
So you cracked it, as a renter?
I think you should talk to your real estate agent about what your next moves should be. You might be better off disclosing it at the end of your rentback.
posted by fontophilic at 12:47 PM on May 20, 2014
I think you should talk to your real estate agent about what your next moves should be. You might be better off disclosing it at the end of your rentback.
posted by fontophilic at 12:47 PM on May 20, 2014
« Older 24 hours of free time in Brussels: Stay or Go? | Writing a letter of character reference. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Then just do this.
It's pretty easy.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:17 AM on May 20, 2014