Porcelain tile has become a popular surface for bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas in recent years. However, it’s not nearly as durable as many people think.
Porcelain tile can be scratched in some situations. Some scratches in the glazed finish of these tiles are normal wear-and-tear from activity in the room. They can often be buffed out with the proper cleaning product or even bare fingers.
Scratches that dig down into the body of the tile should be filled with an epoxy filler before attempting any other remedies to prevent further damage.
This article will discuss porcelain tile scratch patterns common in these high-traffic rooms and some ways to fix them.
How Does Porcelain Tiles Get Scratched?
Porcelain tiles typically become scratched in high-traffic areas of the home.
This is because these rooms see a lot of use and abuse.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways are common areas where porcelain tile can become scratched.
Scratches on porcelain tile are common in high-traffic areas of the home, such as the kitchen or entryway. They most commonly come from wheels on furniture with steel casters or the steel ball bearings found in many office chairs.
Typically, this type of scratching occurs when something is dragged across the floor.
It could be a chair leg pushing an office chair or even heavy cleaning equipment with small casters that roll over the surface.
Porcelain Tile Scratch Patterns
Most scratches on porcelain tile are simple lines at 90 degrees to the edges of the tile.
These scratches are typically parallel to each other and run the length of the tile.
These scratches can be deep and may damage the glaze or even go through the porcelain to the body of the tile.
They can also be wide, making them more visible.
Porcelain Tile Scratch Removal
The good news is that most scratches on porcelain tile can be removed without too much trouble.
There are a few methods you can try:
- Use furniture polish or wax to fill in the scratches and help disguise them. Make sure to test this in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the tile.
- Rub a white pencil eraser across the scratch. This works best if the scratch is relatively shallow and not too wide.
- Buff out the scratch with a commercial scratch remover. You can use a polish used for cars such as the Nu Finish Scratch Doctor (available on Amazon.com). This product is great for removing scuffs, haze, and paint scrapes. It can also reduce the appearance of deep scratches. Overall, the product is easy to use.
If these options fail, there are kits that contain several wet or dry sandpaper grades of grit which will allow you to gradually smooth out deeper scratches until they’re gone.
They also include polishing compounds so that you can buff out the scratches and make your tiles shine like new.
How To Fix a Scratch in Porcelain Tile With a Sanding Kit
If your porcelain tile scratches, don’t worry! It’s possible to fix them without replacing the tiles.
There are a few different ways that you can go about fixing the scratches, but the most common way is to use a sanding kit.
A sanding kit contains several wet or dry sandpaper grades of grit, allowing you to gradually smooth out deeper scratches until they’re gone.
They also include polishing compounds so that you can buff out the scratches and make your tiles shine like new.
Here are the steps on how to use a sanding kit to fix a scratch in your porcelain tile:
- Choose the right sandpaper grade for the depth of the scratch. For anything deeper than surface scratches, you’ll need at least two different grades of paper.
- Wet your finger or a sponge with water or tile cleaner. Use it to moisten the surface of the scratch so that it doesn’t create any dust as you sand.
- Sand out the scratch. Lightly move your piece of sandpaper back and forth across the length of the scratch until it has gone away completely. Don’t push down too hard – just let gravity do most of the work for you!
- Apply some polishing compound to your finger or sponge. Rub it firmly into the scratch for a couple of minutes. You should see the scratch disappear before your eyes!
- Wipe off any polishing compound residue with a dry cloth.
- Apply some wax to a clean, soft cloth or cotton swab and rub it into all the scratches thoroughly. You should be able to buff out the last of them with a bit of elbow grease at this point!
Conclusion
Porcelain tiles often become scratched over time, but with a few quick and easy steps, you can restore them to their former glory!
All you need is a few simple household items and a bit of elbow grease.
Sanding kits are available at your local hardware store and can fix larger, deeper scratches on porcelain.
