Repair Loose Shower Tiles

Tools:

hammer stapler
tile cutter
grout saw
toothed trowel
tape measure
5-in-1 painter's tool
Phillip's-head screwdriver
hammer
gloves
power drill w/dimpler attachment
trowel
notched trowel
putty knife
utility knife
hacksaw blade
15-pound felt paper
mesh tape
thin-set adhesive
shower tiles
ceramic tile backer board (also called cement board)
safety glasses

Steps:

1. First, remember to wear safety glasses while removing or cutting tile, hammering and sawing.

3. Mark your cut line so that the line between the original and replacement sections will be straddled by a row of tiles. Mark the cut by popping a chalk line along the wall.

4. Cut the damaged wall out, starting by cutting through the surface with a utility knife (figure B). Pull out the damaged wallboard, then scrub the area with a solution of three parts bleach to one part water to kill mold and prevent it from coming back through the new wall (figure C).

5. Cut the new ceramic tile backer board (or cement board) to the size of the space. The best way to cut this board is to score it with a utility knife and then snap it.

6. Place felt paper against the wall as a moisture barrier and staple it down with a hammer stapler (figure D).

7. Use a dimpler to drive corrosion-resistant screws into the backer board and to the wall.

8. Cover the seam between the old wallboard and the new wallboard with mesh tape (figure E).

9. Mix thin-set adhesive according to the instructions.

10. Apply thin-set adhesive to the seam at the top, allowing enough for the top row of tiles to be placed on it, then come back and smooth it over with a toothed trowel (figure F).

11. Place a row of tiles in position, then continue row-by-row until all the tiles are back in place (figure G). Make sure to scrape any old adhesive off the back of the tiles.

12. For any small tiles, measure their space and cut them to fit with a tile cutter. Score the top of the tile first, then use the foot to snap it along the scored line.

13. Wait at least 24 hours for the thin-set to dry; then grout the tiles.