Shower Tile Replacement

Tools:

5-in-1 painters tool
putty knife
plastic cup
grease pencil
straightedge
tile trawl
rotary cutter
pry bar
grout sponge
spacers
towel
hammer
face shield
dust mask
tiles
combination grout and adhesive
rock-hard water putty
tongue depressor
replacement tiles

1. Put on the face shield and use the painter's tool to loosen the grout around the tile or tiles you need to replace.

2. Draw a grid on the tiles with a grease pen to help guide your cuts (figure A).

3. Set the depth on the rotary tool just for the depth of the tile to avoid cutting into the wallboard (figure B).

4. Put on a dust mask and face shield and start cutting the tiles. Work from the inside out and cut the tiles into several sections.

5. Using a mini-pry bar and hammer, loosen and remove the cut squares of the tile (figure C).

6. Scrape away remaining adhesive with the painter's tool.

7. Mix up some putty and spread over the area to create a smooth, even surface for the replacement tiles. Before the putty hardens, use the painter's tool to make sure it's smooth (figure D).

8. Apply adhesive onto the back of the tiles using a toothed tile trowel (figure E).

9. Find spacers that match the gap between your current tiles. If plastic spacers are too wide, cut sections out of a tongue depressor (figure F). Fit the tiles into place and use a straightedge to make sure they're lined up.

10. Let the adhesive dry for about an hour, then remove the spacers.

11. Mix the grout/adhesive mixture according to package directions and force into the grout joints using your finger. Wipe off excess using a damp grout sponge.

12. Let the tiles dry for a couple of days before exposing them to moisture.