How Do You Repair Buckled Ceramic Tile?
When a ceramic tile has buckled so that it’s rising out from the rest of the tiles, it usually means the tile has cracked and moved, or indicates that moisture has gotten into the adhesive or mortar underneath. Whatever the cause, the tile has to come out or more moisture can get under the adjacent tiles, and cause additional problems. Make sure your new replacement tile is in hand before you begin the extraction, though, so you’re not exposing the bare underlayment for any longer than necessary. Scrape the grout out from around the damaged tile using your grout saw (it’s a square carbide blade on a handle). Run the blade back and forth over the grout, breaking the surface and gradually digging it out. Hold the sharp end of the chisel in the open grout lines, against the base of the tile. Tape lightly with your hammer to break the mortar bond and pop the tile out. Use the chisel and hammer to scrape out any remaining mortar, getting the whole area flat and smooth. Blow away any remaini
