The Two Unexpected Items You Need To Fix A Small Crack In A Ceramic Tile

If you have ceramic tile anywhere in your house, there may come a time when one or more tiles sustain damage. Overall, ceramic tile is quite durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. But they're not indestructible and occasionally have a tendency to chip or crack. If this happens, one way to fix them involves nail polish, Q-tips, and perhaps the teeniest wee bit of artistic flair. In fact, the hardest part is probably going to be finding the closest match in nail polish color to the shade of your tiles.

But the color doesn't have to be perfect. Find something that looks similar to the shade from a short distance away, or try mixing two or three hues together. You may have a bit of trial and error, depending on what kind of color you're trying to match. The reason nail polish is typically recommended for this hack is because it's like a lacquer and is meant to last a long time. It also will have some resistance and won't come off easily.

As previously mentioned, you may have to use more than one color to match it. Get your nail polish and cotton swabs together, and grab the nail polish remover in case of minor emergencies. The first thing you want to do is clean the area well with a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water. Then, apply some wood glue to the crack if you need to. Allow it to dry completely before starting.

You can use the nail polish brush to apply the paint in thin layers, always allowing plenty of time in between for each coat to dry. Once several layers have been applied, use a clear topcoat to set it in place. You can use the cotton swabs to quickly wipe off any excess, or to get better coverage for bigger areas. Nail polish remover can be used to correct any mistakes you may make on other tiles, just don't leave it on the tile for too long, or it can become discolored.

If you have tile damage that's a little more serious than what we've covered so far, you can use the following method. You'll first need to fill the crack and any missing tile with some liquid epoxy. Then use some sandpaper to lightly sand where the epoxy is and smooth out the area. Repeat this process until the damaged tiles are flush with the rest and you have a clean, prepared area for painting.

Choose a water-based paint color or ceramic tile touch-up paint that matches the rest of the tile. Then, use a small hobby paint brush to apply the paint to the damaged area on the tiles. Once it's dry, use a coat of clear, water-based acrylic with the right finish to match your tiles. For example, matte, satin, or gloss. Whichever method you choose, thankfully, it's not too difficult to repair the occasional damaged tile.