FAQ: When You Need Tile Repair Services in Plano, TX

It’s hard to believe that tiles can last up to 100 years as long as you treat them with care and maintain them accordingly, but it’s true. Plus, today’s trends have breathed new life into the art of tiling, in which skilled technicians play around with patterns, colors, and shapes to make Plano homes stand out. When it comes to Plano tile repair, what many people care most about is function and durability as part of their home’s flooring, walls, or backsplash system.

Tile repair may seem easy at first, but when taking a closer look at the details and tile surface, you might not even know where to start, or you get worried about causing further damage. You will have endless questions going through your head, like, “Do I need glazing? What type of grout do I need?”

Signs of damage like cracked tile or crumbling grout usually catch your eyes fast. When left unnoticed, those issues could lead to water damage behind walls or beneath your flooring system. Whether you require professional tile repair or installation in your kitchen or in your bathroom, your local Plano handyman from Mr. Handyman of Plano will get the job done fast and efficiently and show you the steps, so you’ll be able to repair small cracks yourself in the future.

From ceramic to porcelain to marble, and from shower walls to your kitchen floor, every material has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs. We will help you learn everything you need to know about fixing broken tiles for all types of materials and locations.

Determine What Type of Tile You Have (Plus, Its Pros, And Cons)

Before anyone goes ahead with the repair, it’s important to know the type that you have. Certain characteristics won’t settle with easy repairs and will require a replacement. But this can vary, depending on the type used for your wall, floor, or backsplash installation. Let’s get down to the common types that we find in homes nowadays:

• Ceramics: Ceramics consists of a mixture of water, sand, and clay. As the most common, versatile, and cost-effective type, you can glaze and coat it with a protective finish, giving it either a matte or glossy look. (We recommend matte for natural floor designs and glossy for wall installations.) It’s very durable as long as it’s well-installed, sealed, and chosen for the right purpose for your home in Plano. Tile repair may be required more frequently for ceramic styles as they can suffer from wear over time.
• Porcelain: Porcelain is a step up from basic ceramic because it’s made by exposing clay to hot temperatures (approximately 2400 degrees Fahrenheit). While many people think porcelain is fragile, it’s actually stronger than ceramic and is recommended for high-traffic areas when installed for flooring purposes. It’s perfect for both floors and walls and even complex mosaic patterns.
• Granite: As a heavy material, it’s best to let a handyman inspect your granite floor before completing repairs or a new installation. Some homeowners overestimate their home’s structural integrity and believe that it can hold granite’s weight, but this can cause more damage in the long run without certified approval. As a material, granite is crack- and scratch-resistant but requires a fair amount of maintenance. Repairs require you to mix epoxy with granite dust.
• Glass: This type is made from sheets of glass that are cut into shapes and fired in a furnace. There are more ways to treat it, and you can choose from many colors with a translucent or opaque finish. This variety is also sometimes called a fused tile. Although they add a decorative accent and are low-maintenance, they’re also expensive and difficult to install.
• Marble, Stone: Marble and stone are expensive and more complicated to work with and need specific sealants to make them non-porous. You can also find engineered faux versions of these materials.

What Is The Difference Between Glazed and Unglazed?

A glazed or unglazed tile system doesn’t define its overall quality or integrity, glazed varieties have slightly more protection and typically require less maintenance. Glazing means applying enamel coating or liquid glass over your porcelain or ceramic tile to have a smoother, easier-to-clean surface that’s also stain-resistant. You can choose from a matte or glossy finish, although the latter can be slippery by nature. On the other hand, unglazed varieties tend to be more durable due to their higher density and thickness. They are considered to be the safer option for outdoor areas, or areas that need extra slip-resistance from a natural texture. One downside is that maintaining and cleaning unglazed surfaces can be tough and time-consuming.

Ceramic Vs. Porcelain

It’s a misconception that porcelain tile is fragile. When it comes to porcelain, many people tend to think of antique figurines and tea sets that are of high quality and value, but there is a reason for this. Porcelain is more refined, designed to withstand strong impact, and therefore, better suited for commercial environments and even for your Plano home.

When making ceramic tile, it merely goes through a basic process of kiln-firing where the clay isn’t as highly heated as porcelain. While still versatile and strong, ceramic is softer and more porous, although it’s still a great choice for many kinds of installation in areas like Plano.

To weigh out the pros and cons, ceramic is more cost-effective and easy to install, which makes it the preferred choice for many DIY projects in Plano. Although it’s simple to maintain, it has a higher absorption rate, which means that if you have ceramic tile flooring, you’ll have to clean up any spills quickly. Ultimately, porcelain’s only downside is the high cost of material and installation service, because cutting requires certain expertise.

If you are thinking of upgrading, we recommend writing down the advantages and disadvantages of both materials according to your estimated traffic impact and moisture exposure in specific areas of your home.

Which Areas Often Require Plano Tile Repair Service?

Although tile is a very durable and strong material, its two worst enemies are high impact and moisture, so it’s often high-traffic areas or those with repeated moisture exposure that are most at risk for needing repairs.

Floor Tiles

There are many areas in your home that could benefit from a floor upgrade, especially if you’re facing irreparable tiles, such as in the bathroom. That said, it could also affect your kitchen, entryway, or laundry room. Plano tile repair for floors is often related to moisture damage, where cracked grout or individual broken pieces could be the culprit. If left untreated, that could damage your subfloors. Your Plano handyman can inspect your existing flooring and make suggestions in alignment with your needs.

Bathroom or Kitchen Walls

Similar to the issues above, cracks or other damage on your walls could lead to water damage on the surfaces underneath, such as your drywall. Luckily, your local handyman can provide the repairs you need to prevent that from happening and fix any additional damage that does occur. We will offer you long-term and cost-effective solutions that include any necessary drywall repair and installation.

Backsplashes and Countertops

Do your countertops or backsplash look worn or old-fashioned? Whether you want them repaired or replaced, our team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of Plano can repair and install countertops throughout your home. Where there are countertops, you will find corresponding backsplashes. Although backsplashes are easy to maintain, they can also stain easily if you don’t regularly clean them. Too much moisture could also lead to crumbly grout joints that call for grout repair and resealing.

What Do I Need To Know About Grout?

Grouting is crucial to protecting your tiled floors and walls from water damage. It neatly fills the spaces between tiles, creating a seamless appearance. Unsure if you need to use unsanded or finely-sanded grout? This is where professional grouting service from your local Plano handyman will come in handy. But if you want to tackle any repairs yourself, we recommend that you carefully inspect your existing situation by looking at the nature of any cracks.

You shouldn’t ignore cracking and crumbling grout because once moisture seeps through and settles, it can quickly cause damage underneath. If you see dirt and stains settling on those areas, it’s a clear sign that water has reached underneath. It’s crucial to ensure that a professional looks at that before you go ahead with regrouting.

Some people wonder whether it’s safe to apply new grout on old grout, but because it’s already in a bad state, it’s best to remove the old material using a grout removal tool (i.e., QEP). Your local Plano handyman can use a power tool to effectively remove the old grout, along with any dirt attached to it. To refill those empty spaces, epoxy grout is the ideal choice during tile repair. Plano TX professionals use it because it’s durable and dries quickly. Unlike standard cement grout, it doesn’t need to be sealed.

Note: If you need to seal your grout, please note that there are specific grout sealer brands and sealers that you can use for both tile and grout.

Signs You Need Plano Tile Repair

Plano TX property owners take pride in having a beautiful tile system. Although most types are easy to maintain, they will require occasional repairs over time, whether hard impacts or high moisture content causes minor damage. It’s always a good idea to look closely and investigate anything that may stand out to you. Keep in mind that small signs of damage could always develop into costly repairs, especially if water damage is the culprit. Watch out for these early signs that call for Plano tile repair:

Chipping

You may wonder what else could cause a tile sheet to chip other than dropping heavy objects on it or walking on it for many years. Ensure that you don’t place any metals on your tile floor as it would cause metal scratch marks that are difficult to get rid of. Heavy materials on top of it could also lead to chipping.

Loose Tiles

This might be a sign of bad installation or a grouting issue. If you find the grout isn’t adequately anchoring the sheets, you’ll probably have to redo the job. Or to save yourself time and hassle, why not hire your handyman for efficient tile repair? Plano TX homeowners can rest assured that we’ll get the job done right the first time.

Musty Smells

This unpleasant situation might be caused by damaged drywall or subfloors underneath the surface. Sometimes, cracks and holes go unnoticed, allowing water to seep through. One of the most common signs of water damage like that is when you can push individual pieces into your wall or floor.

You haven’t resealed it in a few years

We recommend resealing about every three years. While certain tile types are very durable, your cement grout isn’t. To prevent grout from cracking, it’s best to maintain it with regular grout cleaning and seal it every other year.

DIY Tools for Plano Tile Repair

It’s natural for Plano homeowners to repair one or two broken tile pieces. You won’t require all that many tools either, as long as you know what you are doing. That said, it will require a lot of patience and precision because it’s easy to cause more damage than you already have. Equip yourself with these tools and materials for your repair or improvement project:

Tools

• Tile cutter
• Safety goggles
• Grout float
• Trowel
• Putty knife
• Mortar mixer
• Bubble level (for walls)
• Plastic or rubber bucket
• Damp sponge

Materials

• Thin-set mortar
• Pre-mixed grout
• Trowel
• Epoxy
• Sealant
• Painter’s tape

Looking for Expert Tile Repair? Plano TX Homeowners Can Rely on Their Local Handyman!

Tile repair of any kind is unavoidable down the road, but it can be minimized with the necessary maintenance. Whether you are in Plano or another community nearby such as Carrollton or Dallas, you can always depend on outstanding workmanship and five-star customer service from the team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of Plano. We help with everything from putting in porcelain floors to drywall repair and door repair.

Our reliable handyman services are for residential and commercial properties in Plano. Tile repair, installation, and dozens of other trusted services are available in Plano and the surrounding area, for property owners that seek extensive experience from service professionals who are always perfectly equipped.

Get in contact with us today by calling to speak with our friendly customer service representatives and choose a convenient appointment time, or find out more about why we are the number one choice for tile repair services in Plano, TX, always leaving behind the best-finished product.