How to find discontinued replacement tiles to match existing flooring
When manufacturers discontinue a flooring style or the original pattern is unknown, finding matching tiles becomes an exhausting multi-year search. This leaves people unable to finish rooms or repair damaged sections, forcing them to keep hunting through online forums and stores without success.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to find discontinued replacement tiles to match existing flooring
- 1Scouring the internet for yearsDid this help you?
- 2Asking online communities for pattern and manufacturer identificationDid this help you?
- 3Searching online and in-person stores for remaining stockDid this help you?
- 4Working with design experts to find close-match color samplesDid this help you?
- 5Considering using a slightly different 'close enough' alternative color with a transition lineDid this help you?
- 6Discussing harvesting planks from a less visible room like a bedroomDid this help you?
- 7Apply micro-abrasive cream and buff with a floor buffer to dull the glossDid this help you?
- 8Apply a satin or matte sealer over the finish to match the older tilesDid this help you?
- 9Polish the surrounding older tiles to restore their original shineDid this help you?
- 10Searching online using generic visual descriptions like color and stone effect to find similar-looking products.Did this help you?
- 11Posting photos and physical dimensions on specialized forums to ask professionals for identification.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“we got some new tile and it is brighter than the older ones around - but will the newer tile eventually lose its gloss and be like the older tiles?”source ↗
“Can anyone help me identify these floor tiles. They are 30x30cm and have a uniform depth of about 12mm. I think they are a slate effect but not sure. Need about 5 of them so just not sure what to search for?”source ↗
“A section of my corridor floor is missing some old vintage tiles. I’ve been scouring the internet for them for two years now with no luck, so I’m really hoping someone here might recognize them or point me in the right direction.”source ↗
“Any leads on where to buy replacements or what the specific pattern/manufacturer is called would be incredibly helpful.”source ↗