Although ceramic tiles will last as long as the lifespan of the house, small repairs will occasionally become needed. This could occur if walls must be opened up to reach hidden plumbing for mending, when single tiles are incidentally scratched or cracked or if tiles become loose and come out completely.
There are several different reasons why ceramic tiles may become loose on bathroom or kitchen walls. The leading cause is poor workmanship within the original ceramic tile installation. Nevertheless, it may also be made by settling of the foundation, by leakages inside the wall which cause decomposition of the backing material, by heavy tremors nearby or by inadvertent damage when nearby fixes are being made.
Whatsoever the reason, replacing these loose ceramic tiles has been overly simplified in very recent years by the creation of ready-mixed tile cements, that are available in most paint and hardware shops. These get rid of the needed work with mortar cement, which should be mixed prior to each job, and they can be bought in small cans and in quarts or gallons. This kind of tile adhesive is put on in thin layers to the backside of the tile, instead of the thick applications normally needed with conventional mortar cements.
Prior to readjusting the loose pieces, scrape off completely the old cement still on the back and edges of every ceramic tile. Apply a broad smear of adhesive the backside of the tile with and then push firmly into its position on the wall. Leave to set till the adhesive becomes hard, then fill up in the open joints surrounding each tile using grout. Grout is the pasty stuff used to fill in the spaces in between the tiles. Professional tile setters utilize a white portland cement mortar which they mix on the job. Even so, home handymen would find it simpler to buy ready-mixed grouting stuff from the tile dealer or hardware store. This is rubbed in between the open joints using your finger tip, and the excess wiped off right away using a damp sponge or cloth.
When grout must be set to a multitude of ceramic tiles after whole parts have been substituted, it is much easier to thin the grouting stuff slightly using water and then cover it on over the entire area with an old paintbrush. Rub considerably into each joint using a soft cloth, then smoothen the joints by rubbing with your finger tip. Wipe away the excess with a damp cloth or sponge until the faces of every ceramic tile is clean.
References:
Popular Science Magazine
Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair by Jennifer Gehlhar
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