How to Repair a Gouge in Tile

Wash the damaged tile with trisodium phosphate to remove any dirt, oils and debris from the surface of the tile and the gouge itself.

Sand the edges of the gouge lightly with wet 240-grit sandpaper to remove any sharp edges. Immediately follow by sanding the gouge with wet 600-grit sandpaper. Dry the area with a rag and pick up any excess sanding dust, using a tack cloth.

Match an epoxy-based paint color to the tile color if the gouge affects the tile color. Apply two coats of paint with an artist's paintbrush. Allow each coat to dry fully between applications, generally one to one-and-a-half hours.

Apply light coats of clear epoxy to the gouge, using an artist's paintbrush. Allow each coat to dry completely, typically 45 minutes to one hour in between applications. The number of epoxy coats will depend on the depth of the scratch. Continue to layer clear epoxy on the gouge until it is flush with the surface of the tile.