Cracked tile repair in South Hornchurch, Rainham. Individual tiles lifted and replaced, with the reason the tile cracked dealt with first.
A cracked tile is a symptom. Before replacing it, it is worth knowing why it cracked, because putting a new tile into the same hole solves nothing if the cause is still there.
Three things cause most of them. A void under the tile, where the adhesive was dabbed on rather than combed, so the tile snaps the first time something heavy lands on it. Movement underneath, usually a timber floor without a decoupling layer. Or an impact, which is the straightforward case and the only one where a straight swap is the whole answer.
Lifting a single tile without damaging its neighbours is the skill: the grout is cut out first, the tile broken inwards from the middle rather than levered from the edge, and the bed cleaned back so the replacement sits at exactly the same height.
Matching is the other half. South Hornchurch has a lot of houses tiled in the last ten to fifteen years, so ranges are often still available - and if you kept spares from the original job, this is the day they earn their keep. Tiles that sound hollow when tapped, grout cracking in the same line twice, or a floor that gives underfoot are worth looking at before anything new goes over them.
Void, movement or impact - the repair is different for each, and only one is a simple swap.
Grout cut out and the tile broken from the centre, so the surrounding tiles survive intact.
The new tile sits at the same height instead of standing proud.
Current ranges checked; if we cannot match it we will say so before starting.
New grout matched to old so the repair does not announce itself.
If the tile cracked because nothing was under it, the neighbours get checked too.
Yes, in most cases, and it is a fraction of the cost. It needs the right approach to avoid damaging the tiles around it.
Options are a deliberate contrast, a feature, or using a tile from a less visible spot and putting the odd one there. We will lay out the choices.
Usually movement or voids under them. Replacing tiles without fixing that just repeats the problem.
A few tiles is normally a morning, plus grout. Larger areas depend on what is found underneath.
We do not stock ranges, but we will tell you how many spares to keep from any job we do - this is exactly why.
South Hornchurch, Rainham, Beam Park, Wennington and nearby.
Send a photo or a quick video of the room on WhatsApp. Or ask for a free fixed quote with no obligation. We will tell you straight what it needs.