[sum_weirdo]

Been getting on a home improvement kick and there's this broken tile surrounding the faucet in my bath tub. I think a cold snap caused it, or my former roommate sat on the damm thing (he denied it). Right now you can see through it into the wall, it looks like crap, as you can see in the picture.
I could use some ideas on fixing it/covering it up. I'm more of a mechanic than a carpenter, even if I could find a tile that matches I'm not sure I'd do a good job fitting it. Thanks for any help.

 

[Just Bill]

You will never find tiles to match those. Best solution is to look for something that compliments them, and get careful measures ment for the tile. Tiles come in the generic term of 4", but in reality they can vary from 3 7/8 to 4 3/8. You need the correct size. But I am concerned with what is behind the tiles. I see either air or black, neither of which is good.

 

[al's sewer]

I agree with bill you need to look behind that wall (there should be an access panel behind the tub wall ) check how much water damage you have on that wall. If you use the shower a lot my guess is that there will be too much damage to the wall to even get a piece of tile to stick.

 

[sum_weirdo]

Behind the tile I can see shattered gyprock and the back of the other wall but not very much. There's no access panel to get back there, the place was very obviously slapped together by amateurs on LSD back in the 70s, I'd be amazed if it's actually up to code. If there's something living in that wall I'd just as soon charge it rent as get the landlord involved, knowing her she'd just quietly absorb my damage deposit and leave it as is until I move out. She wouldn't even fix the 50 year old garage door until it fell off its rails onto my head :wink: But I'm ranting.

 

[4just1don]

Its your 'duty' as a renter to TELL the landlord of this water leak. It would be in her best interest to fix this quickly before it became major headaches,including and not limited to areas UNDER this on lower floors. if I were a landlord I WANT to know of such things,,,before they cost 10 times as much to fix. Garage doors are one thing,water leaks another entirely!! best GUESS is this whole area needs stripped and cement board installed,they probably tiled over drywall or plaster back then!!

 

[sum_weirdo]

I didn't say anything about a water leak, the whole water damage thing is hypothetical at this point.

 

[sum_weirdo]

Been considering what I see there and I think what probably happened is that someone just bashed a hole to run the faucet through, then gently glued a tile to the surrounding tile with nothing supporting it from the back. Sloppy work but then again you should see my ceiling. Guess I'll try and find some adequate tile to go in its place.

 

[sum_weirdo]

While I was at Home Depot I thought I'd ask the "professionals" for ideas. 1st guy I asked said simply "replace the tile" while giving me a look that seemed to say "I could take you" :huh: and when I asked about covering it he suggested go find a flange in the plumbing section. So off I went and there tried to get help from the horse whisperer :whistling2Guy who spoke softly in broken english so I had no idea what he was saying). Since I was on lunch and had most of what I needed I said forget it.
It's looking like I probably will replace the tile eventually, but if anyone else wants to chime in, advice is welcome.

 

[rjniles]

I would find a nice 8 inch square tile of a complementary color, remove the tub spout, cut a hole in the new tile the size of the tub spout pipe, thinset the new tile to cover the broken tile. Reinstall the spout you might have to put in a longer nipple or extend the copper with a coupling. Grout around the unfinished edges of the cover-up tile. Fixed and waterproof.

 

[sum_weirdo]

I would find a nice 8 inch square tile of a complementary color, remove the tub spout, cut a hole in the new tile the size of the tub spout pipe, thinset the new tile to cover the broken tile. Reinstall the spout you might have to put in a longer nipple or extend the copper with a coupling. Grout around the unfinished edges of the cover-up tile. Fixed and waterproof.

Would a holesaw crack the tile? I also have a Dremel.

 

[al's sewer]

I would tell the landlord about the problem if she doesn't fix it then it will cost her a fortune down the line. If the damage was done by an incompetent plumber or handy man why should you be responsible to fix it. If its what it looks like is your problem see if you can find a plastic tile that you can cut to fit around it and glue it on there.