I was looking at a restroom that has one tile (2×2) missing. I have not idea what happened. The bottom was and sides of the looks perfectly clean and solid and full. No cracks or anything else.
Looks as through the it might have been coated with a release agent and then lift out with a vacumm cup.
The floor is otherwise perfect condition and it does not look like this has been patched in the past (unless they extended the grout several ft. I did not inspect the whole floor).
The grout is a sanded dark gray. But what is strange is the the bedding was the same materail.
IIRC correctly the it looks like it was monolithic.
Could grout have been used to bed it as a patch job? And if so would it be expected to hold.
Or does it need a separate thinset and then regrouting?
I have some regrouting, but never had to replace a tile.
Replies
Could grout have been used to bed it as a patch job?
Yes, it "could have" been...but that's an exercise in trying to figure out what was originally done.
And if so would it be expected to hold?
NO...
Or does it need a separate thinset and then regrouting?
YES.
Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most!
Glue it in with silicone or some such adhesive. No need to make it original. Or are we too "Old House Journal," where floors are "storeys?"
I wouldn't use silicone as an adhesive in this case. Tile needs to be attached rigidly, otherwise the movement of the tile will crack the surrounding grout. Glue is fine for this repair, but it needs to be something rigid.
What WayneL5 said...Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most!
Well, of course you guys are right. If silicone will jiggle, than Liquid Nails will work as well. The issue is not to think an original thinset is needed for an orphan tile.
I think the 2x2 tile is more a "runaway" or "MIA", versus "orphan"...but, really can't tell from his original post!
LOL!
Putting the replacement tile back in (if suitable one is to be had or found) is the easy part, in my experience. The tougher part is trying to match the existing surrounding grout - (anyone got any pearls to share bout that? I'm all ears...)Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most!
"I think the 2x2 tile is more a "runaway" or "MIA", versus "orphan"...but, really can't tell from his original post!"I am not sure either. It is in a mems restroom and along this wall there are 3 basins, a divider and 2 urinals.And the missing tile is infront of the divider. Relatively out of the way and not a high traffic area.But after learning more about what is going with all of the other things I might try the silicon if it appears that I will get a reasonably clean fit.
I think magnets will do it..?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Why look here?
In early tile work it was common for the same mortar to be used for substrate, securing the tile down, and the grout. I would imagine that different aggregates got used for the different applications, but that is just a guess.
Mix a little thin set to stick the tile down, and I imagine you can use the rest of the thin set as the grout, if the color is ok, but be sure to get it off of all tiles quickly before it sets up. Maybe tape it down too to minimize shifting. One tile, if you can keep people from walking on it for at least 24 hours (48 would be better) I think you can do it all in one pass. We did with some hex tiles that had to be replaced in a bathroom.
"You can have your tile job in any color combination you want, as long as it is white tile with gray grout" (with apologies to Henry Ford)
The problem is that it is a dark gray, almost black grout.So it will probably require the use the grout rather then the thinset. And I don't know how good I am at trying to add dyes and color match.So rather than trying to match I am going to try the clear silicon first.
Old Timers like me used to float a mud bed, then spread portland cement on it while still wet, and beat tiles into the mud bed. Thus, doing the setting bed, the thinset, and the grouting in one step.
Now, we perform the three steps as three separate functions, each with its own quality control.
I have still done the all in one method, but these days, I use Laticrete 4237 added to powdered grout to make a substance which is both thinset and grout. 4237 is an additive, like a "glue" and the grout powder is the color and it makes a easy one step approach for small mosiacs.
It is not a Laticrete recommended application.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934