Sticking on a Cracked Tile, any water protection?

[SamB]

Hi,

Unfortunately we have to stick on a cracked porcelain tile to the wall around the bath area underneath the over bath shower.

When the 2 broken pieces are put together there is no gap but Im afraid over time
some water may get behind it into the wall.

Is there anything we can put behind the crack before we stick it onto the wall?

 

[Old Mod]

If there's a way through, water will find it!
Wouldn't advocate sticking a cracked tile on, ever!
But if you're going to do it anyway, I would imagine liquid tanking may work. U'd have to stick two pieces together first (superglue, mitre mate, something like that with no thickness to it), apply 2 coat of tanking, let it dry then stick it!
But others may have better solution.

 

[Dan]

Hi maybe a smidgen of Silicon then spread out a bit. Or tanking as said above.

Hope you've tanked the walls behind the tiles though if you have a shower there because evidently in our recent tests we showed grout isn't in fact waterproof.

 

[Old Mod]

Hi maybe a smidgen of Silicon then spread out a bit. Or tanking as said above.

Omg! I didn't even think of that! Hahaha

 

[Tile Shop]

Suggestion.... tell me if this is good or bad.

Tanking membane on the wall, tape the sides of the adjacent tiles (half way up so it cant be seen when grouted but enough to cover other adhesive). When dry, some mapei kerapoxy (totally waterproof and slightly flexible) of a similar colour to the tile and use that to join the crack making sure theres no gaps. Also use the kerapoxy as the adhesive (solid bed) and back-butter both parts. Rubber gloves are a MUST!

Depending on the tile size leave for up to 7 days (too cautious maybe but best to be safe) before grouting with whatever was used previously.

If i'm right, i'm both amazed and proud

 

[Dan]

Could work I guess.

What was the glue used for the vases in the vase competition?

 

[Old Mod]

Could work I guess.

What was the glue used for the vases in the vase competition?

Tanax
Trouble is anything like that or even a resin has body to it and u won't get invisible join in tile.
I've tried! Haha (I didn't say that!)
Superglue is the only thing I've found which is liquid enough.
But NEVER tried it in wet area, and thinking about it I think water breaks down superglue!

 

[Dan]

This is just dodgy through and through eh?

Why can't we use a new tile @SamB ?

 

[Old Mod]

This is just dodgy through and through eh?

Why can't we use a new tile @SamB ?

Completely!
I wouldn't even try tbh!

 

[AliGage]

Super glue would stick the tile together but wouldn't make it impenetrable to water and infact I think moisture does break it down.
It wouldn't really matter what you did to protect the substrate if the crack will reappear.

Can you not source anymore tiles?
If not I'd probably be more inclined to remove a while piece from elsewhere in the bathroom and use that putting the cracked tile someone less inclined to be an issue

 

[Dan]

That's an idea.

 

[SamB]

Thank you for the replies and the great ideas.

Yes AliGage, we cannot source any more tiles.

I was hoping there maybe some kind of waterproof
tape we could use behind the crack?

I cannot see any tanking behind the tiles.

 

[WetSaw]

Where is it in relation to the centre? Could you use a contrasting tile/mosaic etc as a "feature", maybe remove 1 or 2 more to make it work?