How to Resurface a Broken Tile Porch

Pull up the old tiles. Use pole scrapers, shovels or pry bars to loosen the tiles from the floor as well as the mortar and grout holding them in place. Keep a wheelbarrow close by to throw the debris into as you work. Level the surface of the floor as much as possible.

Check the soundness of the floor by walking over the floor. If there is any give, as is normal for most porches, lay 1/2-inch cement board to provide a sound surface for the new floor surfacing. Cut each board outside, using a carbide blade on your power saw. Mark each piece for cutting using a measuring tape and a 4-foot straight edge.

Mix a batch of thinset with equal parts of acrylic additive in a 5-gallon bucket, adding enough water to make it a pudding-like mixture, using a mixing paddle on your electric drill.

Spread the thinset over the surface of the old floor using a 1/4-inch notched trowel. Work only an area large enough for one sheet of concrete board at a time. Set the concrete board on the thinset and walk over lightly.

Screw the board into the floorboards of the porch using concrete board screws, sinking them into the boards every 6 to 8 inches. Cover the seams with fiberglass seam tape and smooth them out with a coating of thinset using flat trowel. Allow the floor to dry overnight.

Snap chalk lines across the floor to make straight guidelines for laying the new tile. Measure equal distances from opposite walls to mark the center of the room. Create a grid for the tiles, based on the size of the new tiles.

Spread thinset over the surface of the concrete board, using the notched trowel to work over a 3-foot area at a time. Set the tiles in line with the chalk line grid, using spacers to keep them evenly spaced. Cut tiles to fit small spaces using a tile cutter. Dry the thinset overnight.

Remove the spacers and push grout between the tiles with a float. Work a small area at a time and remove any excess grout from the surface of the tiles. Allow the grout to set for about 10 minutes until a skin forms over the surface. Wipe the tiles with a damp sponge, rinsing it often in clear water. Polish the tiles after 24 hours using a damp rag. Dry the grout for three days.

Seal the grout between the tiles with a grout sealer, applying liberally until the grout no longer absorbs any more sealer. Dry for the manufacturer’s recommended time.