Retiling a Larger Loose Ceramic Wall

Protect the flooring below your loose tiles with several layers of newspaper and a piece of clear plastic sheeting. Examine the wall, wiggling each tile to locate all the loose ones. Mark the loose tiles by applying small pieces of masking tape to the center of each one.

Dig out the old grout with a grout saw. Use this tiny hand-held tool to cut and scrape away the grout in joints around the loose tiles. Hold each tile in place as you cut it out to avoid dropping and cracking the tile. Lay the loosened tiles on the plastic sheeting.

Clean the old grout and dried glue off the backs of the ceramic tiles. Scrape the backs of the tiles with a small putty knife until the dried substance particles break off. Use a bristle brush to buff away any remaining particles.

Scrape the bare sections of your tiled wall with the putty knife to remove any old grout and glue from the surfaces. Clear the wall all the way to the edges of the remaining tiles.

Clean the wall surface with a mold and mildew remover, using a damp sponge. Let the wall surface dry completely.

Apply a ceramic tile adhesive to the bare patches of wall. Set the cleaned tiles in their former places, spacing them equal distances apart using tile spacers. Wiggle and press each tile firmly into the adhesive. Let the adhesive set for the amount of time recommended on the product label.

Apply a ceramic tile grout that matches the grout in the rest of the ceramic wall. Smooth the grout into all the joints with a grout knife. Run the grout knife in opposite directions along the joints to ensure even coverage. Wipe the surface of the tiles with a damp sponge, using light pressure to avoid disturbing the grout in the joints. Let the grout dry completely, then scrub off any remaining residue that clouds the surface of the ceramic tiles.