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Paint expert Mauro Henrique teaches Kevin O’Connor how to patch scratches and chips in porcelain. While it is a tough material, Mauro explains that these types of damage are extremely common, and he teaches Kevin how to handle them.
Porcelain is a durable material, but it’s relatively soft as far as tiles go. This means it’s susceptible to cracks or chips, and they’re often eyesores. Luckily, it’s possible to hide the damage with a bit of touch-up glaze. Here’s how to fix cracked and chipped tiles.
How To Fix Cracked and Chipped Porcelain Tile
- Lightly sand the damaged area with 120-grit sandpaper to knock down any sharp edges. A light sanding should be all it takes.
- Use painter’s tape to mask off the rest of the porcelain surface around the damaged area. Porcelain patching glazed and epoxies can run so it’s best to protect the surrounding area.
- For a crack or a scratch, use the touch-up glaze to fill in the damage. In most cases, the bottle of glaze will have a paintbrush built into the cap. If not, use an artist’s paintbrush to apply the touch-up glaze. Give the touch-up space 30 to 35 minutes to dry before applying more glaze. For chips, use a putty knife to apply spot epoxy to the damaged area. Use thin coats but cover the entire chipped area. Give the damaged area about 45 minutes to dry before sanding and applying another coat, if necessary.
- The repaired areas will have a slightly glossy finish. If the damaged tile has a matte finish, it will be necessary to lightly sand the patch until the finish matches the rest of the tile.
- Give the repairs 24 hours to dry entirely and 5 days before cleaning with any detergents or solutions.
Resources
Mauro shows Kevin ways that homeowners can patch small porcelain scratches and chips.
To fix the scratch, Mauro preps the porcelain tile by washing and drying the scratched surface using acetone and a rag. After the surface is dry, Mauro tapes off the damaged area with painter’s tape.
Using a porcelain touch-up glaze, Mauro mixes thoroughly and applies it using an applicator brush.
After it dries fully, Mauro uses 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Mauro says to allow the glaze 24 hours to dry.
To fix the chip, Mauro sands the chipped area with 400-grit sandpaper. After sanding, Mauro cleans off the surface with acetone and a rag. Mauro then tapes off the chipped area with painter’s tape. Using a spot epoxy, Mauro applies a small amount to a putty knife and gently applies it to the chipped area. Mauro says to allow the epoxy to dry for 24hrs and 5 days before cleaning.
