In short
Cracked, chipped or loose tiles are cut out one by one, the bed is cleaned, and new tiles go in on fresh thinset with grout to match. In showers we also check the wall behind before resetting, since loose shower tile often means water got in.
Your photo checklist
- The damaged tile close up
- The full floor or wall
- Any spare tiles
- A clean grout line, so we can match the color
- Tiles that move or sound hollow
Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Single cracked or chipped wall and floor tiles cut out and replaced
- Loose or hollow-sounding tiles lifted, back-buttered and reset
- Crumbling grout lines raked out and refilled around the repair
- Spare tile from your garage used first; close matches sourced when there is none
- Cracked bullnose and trim pieces at tub edges and countertop fronts
- Soap dish, toothbrush holder and towel bar tiles reset after they pull loose
Outside what we take on
- Foundation cracks or wall movement.
- New walls, framing changes or opening up a wall.
- Full exterior repaints.
Tile in older Rosemead bathrooms and kitchens
Rosemead’s median home was built in 1959, so plenty of bathrooms still carry their first pink, mint or speckled tile, set on a thick mortar bed. That bed is strong, which is good news: a cracked tile there is usually just a surface problem, and the fix is careful chiseling rather than tearing out the wall.
The harder part is matching. Colors from that era are often discontinued, so the first question we ask is whether any leftover boxes are in the garage or the rafters. If not, we look for a close match, or suggest pulling a tile from a hidden spot, like behind the toilet, and putting the new one there instead.
How one tile gets swapped
Score the grout
The grout around the damaged tile is cut out by hand so the vibration does not crack its neighbors.
Break it out from the middle
The tile is scored and lifted out in pieces, then the old thinset is scraped flat.
Set the new tile
The replacement is back-buttered, pressed in level with the tiles around it, and left to cure.
Grout and clean
Grout matched as closely as we can is packed in, tooled to the same depth, and the face is wiped clean.
When it’s more than a tile
If many tiles are cracking in a line, a floor is flexing, or a shower wall is soft behind the tile, that points to the structure or a hidden leak. We tell you so rather than patching over it, because the leak or the structure has to be dealt with first.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add caulking and grout repair, drywall patching and crack repair or shower head and tub spout replacement.
What to text
A close photo of the broken tile, one from a few feet back showing the area around it, and a photo of any spare tile you still have.
Broken tile questions from Rosemead
My floor tile is loose but not cracked. Can it be saved?
Usually. It’s lifted, rebedded and regrouted.
Can you replace one tile without redoing the whole floor?
Yes. That is most of what we do: the single tile comes out on its own and the ones around it stay put.
What if I don’t have any spare tile?
We look for a close color and size match. With vintage tile, a donor piece from a hidden spot is often the best match.
Why did my floor tile crack?
Common causes are something heavy dropped on it, a hollow spot underneath, or movement in the floor. A hollow tap around the crack tells us which.
How long before I can walk on it?
Once the thinset and grout have set; we’ll let you know after we see photos. We tell you the exact cure time for the products used.
Will the new grout match?
Close, but not exact. We match the color as closely as we can, but old grout darkens with age, so fresh grout can look a shade different at first.
Can you fix a cracked tile in the shower?
Yes, as long as the wall behind it is solid. If it feels soft or moves, water has likely gotten in and that needs a bigger repair.
How much does it cost to replace one broken tile?
It depends on the tile, where it is, and whether we need to find a match. Text a photo and we send a free estimate before anything is booked.
Do you handle loose tiles too?
Yes. A loose tile is lifted, cleaned, and reset on fresh thinset so it sits flat and quiet.
Why are the tiles in my shower loose?
Loose shower tile usually means water got behind it through cracked grout or failed caulk, softening the backing. We remove the loose tiles, check the backer, dry it, and reset them.
Does a cracked tile sealer stop leaks?
Not reliably. A clear sealer can slow water through a hairline crack, but it doesn’t fix it. In wet areas the tile should be replaced.
Jobs that pair with this one
- Caulking and grout repairGrout.
- Squeaky floor repairFloors.
- Vinyl plank and laminate repairFloors.
- Shower door repairShowers.
Related guide: Broken tile repair tips from our guide to recaulking tubs and sinks.
Just outside Rosemead? We take these jobs in Alhambra (broken tile repair in Alhambra) and San Gabriel (broken tile repair and regrout in San Gabriel) as well.
Bathroom tips for Rosemead homes
- Replacing cracked, moldy caulk around the tub and sinkWhen old caulk needs replacing, why caulking over it does not work, and how we strip and recaulk tubs, showers and sinks in Rosemead bathrooms.
- Replacing an old recessed medicine cabinetHow to replace an old recessed medicine cabinet in a Rosemead bathroom: measuring the opening, stud spacing, what you may find inside the wall, and fit.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of wall patching and paint touch-ups. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.