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There are several different products that allow underwater repair. Pool putty can help repair chips, cracks, and loose tiles without draining your pool, but it should only be used for a temporary fix. Certain two-part epoxy adhesives will cure underwater, too. That said, while it is technically possible to fix pool tiles underwater, it is usually not ideal, depending on the depth of your pool. You will still have to reach the tile, which means you might have to dive and make the repair while submerged.

You can technically install tile over tile, but we don’t suggest it. Installing tile over any surface that isn’t a completely flat and prepared subfloor will result in a shoddy overall job, uneven flooring, tiles that don’t adhere, extra weight, gaps, cracks, and room for moisture and dirt to enter. For the best results, only install new tile on a flat, sanded surface like subflooring or concrete that is prepared for tile.

If you have asbestos tile and would rather tile over it than remove it, or if your existing tile is completely flat and bonded tightly to the floor, you may be able to tile over existing tile. But experts recommend thinking twice before you do.

For glass tile, you want to use unsanded grout. Sanded grout is a stronger and grittier cement grout that is great for installing tiles with wider gaps and into joints. However, it is susceptible to scratching glass tile and is more difficult to use in thinner gaps. Unsanded grout, while more expensive, is easier to fit between thin gaps and is less harsh on delicate materials, like glass tile.

There are no unbreakable rules of design, but experts recommend against using large tiles in areas with poor subflooring where they’re more prone to cracking, in areas where the floor isn’t entirely level, over raised areas or dips, and in bathrooms where budget is the primary concern. The size of your bathroom shouldn’t be a reason not to use large tiles; in fact, larger tiles, also known as slab tiles, can be a modern and sleek choice for bathroom floors and walls.