DIY Related: How to replace tiles in a quarry tiled path?

[esvery12]

Hello, I arrived at this forum while looking for some advice on refurbishing a Victorian quarry tiled path. I'm hoping someone can help!

I have around 14 tiles cracked or missing from a short path fronting the house I've just bought. With everything else that needs doing I just can't run to hiring someone to repair the path. I've found a source of cleaned reclaimed quarry tiles of the right size and colour. My question is whether it is usually possible to remove the cracked tiles without lifting and relaying the whole path (I'd be afraid of breaking more tiles), and how would I do that? Assuming this is possible, what should I bed the replacements down on?

Sorry for total ignorance, but I'm trying to learn as I go along... Thanks!

[nybor62]

i would smash one out and see what the foundation is like underneath , it may not be suitable to relay another tile
in that case a new concrete foundation then relay the lot

[garythetiler]

every time I have done it I have found that once you break one out several others around them come loose too just be very careful and patient and you should be okay

[Dave]

Hello and welcome..

I agree with Gary.. you jst might find t hat you get a knock on effect here, once one comes up.. so do the rest.. but at least you can reuse then if they all come up..

[tfs]

It may depend on how they were fitted sometimes they are fitted onto a wet screed so when you break one out you damage the screed underneath which will damage an area greater than just below one tile.

Best thing would be to;

cut out the grout linre around one tile

score the tile with a grinder or drill a series of holes throught the tile

use a hammer and chisel to breakout the tile and try not to chisel too deep below the tile.

You will find that this will either work well and pretty much lifts only the tile you are working with or it will damage the the substrate beneath more than one tile.