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luca 

Oct-31-2007 16:38

I would like to put tiles in my garage, what kind of tile do you suggest?

Dear LUCA: You may want to consider either quarry tile or a porcelain tile. Check with your tile dealer to see what's available. Gerald Sloan NTCA

anady 

Oct-31-2007 14:19

Okay, I've searched the Q&A back to Dec and haven't found my answer, but have found some needed advice, thank you. My septic backed up last week and we are cleaning the mess up. Come to find out the counter/vanity were not savable. The vanity was built into the wall and tile laid up to it, counter top and floor. Q 1- The house was built in the 70s, I am wanting to remove old tile (which is covering approximately 200 sq ft - floors and walls), but my husband says there is a wire mesh under the tile and it would be harder then it looks. After removing the vanity you can some what see how the tile was laid. It looks like they added additional sheets of sheet rock to give height then mortar or cement and then the tile. Could this be? Q 2- If I can't remove old tile then I will compromise and had another vanity with tile top, but I want to add 3 to 6 inches to the height of it. If I did that I would run into the tile toothbrush holder and soap dish attached, plus that only gives me 2-3 more inches where I really want 6inches. I was wondering if the attachments would have tile underneath or would be hollow and could they be removed easily and replaced?

Dear ANADY: It sounds like the old tile work was installed using the old mud set method, which is a good installation method but it can be difficult to remove. If you decide to remove the old tile work, protect all surrounding materials with drop cloths and tape also use caution when handling the wire lath which can be very sharp--use leather gloves. You can apply new tile over the old tile by first scuffing or sanding the surface with a belt sander or a grinder. Clean the surface good, then using a polymer modified thinset, install the new tile. Gerald Sloan NTCA

jeanie 

Oct-31-2007 02:05

the tiles in my house are 32 years old, good quality etc, but the grout is really grotty. no missing tiles. how best can I renew the grout without breaking my hear. The tiles are approximately 12mm x 12mm in another square approximately 25mm x 25mm

Dear JEANIE: There are grout stains available from almost all grout manufactures that allows you to change or brighten up the grout colors. Gerald Sloan

kklaw   

Oct-31-2007 01:25

Hi tileman, If I want to stain the grout joints using grout stain or grout colorant and the grout joints were once sealed with impregnating sealer about 3 years ago, what kind of sealant remove agent should I use prior to grout staining to ensure a good bond of the stain to the grout joints? Will a alkaline base grout cleaner work? I would rather use an alkaline base product instead of acid base product as acid does react with the grout joints. Thanks, K.K. Law

Dear KKLAW: The cleaner/stripper will need to complement the type of sealer being applied. Call or go on line to the company of the sealer you plane on using to get their recommendations. Gerald Sloan NTCA

BOSS 

Oct-31-2007 00:45

Kindly let us know whether the UV rays would effect the ceramic tiles and also please let us know UV tests are conducted on ceramic tiles to prove the ceramic tiles are UV resistance. If yes, the testing centres in India.

Dear BOSS: In most ceramic tile, the UV rays have almost no effect. You may want to contact the Tile Counsel of North America to get more information. Go to www.tileusa.com Gerald Sloan NTCA

jmyers 

Oct-30-2007 21:49

About 1 year ago a tiled a bathroom shower with 12 inch tile. One wall of the shower is an exterior wall, where 1/2 of the wall is the concrete stem wall for the house foundation. I fured out the stem wall with 1 x material and secured hardi-backer (1/2 inch) with glue and screws. I used hardi on the rest of the walls. I used mesh tape on the corner seams of the hardi and applied thinset to bond the tape at the corner seams of the hardi. However, recently, some tiles on the outside wall, common to the area of the stem wall have cracked. These tiles are all at the corners of the tile and the corner of the back wall where it meets the side walls. the tiles have cracked, not the grout. Could this be because I taped the hardi corner seams and expansion from the side walls are pulling the tape and thus cracking these tiles? I am afraid if I just replace the tiles that are cracked it will do it again. Any thoughts you may have are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dear JMYERS: You may want to consider a crack isolation membrane/ water proofing in this area. Do not pack the inside corners with thinset but certainly tape them with the appropriate fiber glass mesh tape and after installing the tile, use a 100% silicone caulking to seal the inside corners. Gerald Sloan NTCA

nastieta 

Oct-30-2007 18:24

i did a shower inclosure about a year ago and i have had problems with the grout cracking and coming out, i am get water sipping through and into my crawl space. i have regouted the enclosure sveral times but i still have problems with it. why is this happening?

Dear NASTIETA: There may be several reasons and without seeing it first hand, I'm just guessing at some of the possible causes such as the thin set may not be the appropriate material for the wet area -- sometimes people use a mastic adhesive which should never be used in a wet area such as a shower. A portland cement based thinset is recommended. A properly installed shower pan and/or water proofing is mandatory to control the seepage through the grout and tile work. Gerald Sloan NTCA

hershie 

Oct-30-2007 18:03

Dear Tileman, I sent you a letter on October 2 and it seems like you passed up all the letters for that week. I am the contractor who regrouted with the epoxy grout. My "helper" grouted the floor originally and there were some [few] soft spots. I wasn't sure if the grout had been mixed too loose to begin with, over washed or if the grout itself was old. I have worked for two different tile adhesive manufacturers for about eight years combined. In my experience, without extensive testing and the subsequent expense, it is difficult to determine the exact nature of the problem. Rather than drag the problem out any further by waiting for a field rep to tell me what I think I already know I offered to regrout any area where the grout was was comming out for a period of two years. I figured if it was going to be a wholesale failure it would show up in that frame and if there were a few bad areas they would also show up by then and I will have corrected the matter. The homeowner agreed. Another 5 months went by and the homeowner called me back to fix some more spots. The homeowner was besides herself. I suggested that the only alternative would be to take all the grout and replace it with epoxy grout. There is an area of the house that may have some movement in the structure that adjoins the tiled area. She agreed to replace the grout. The grout in nearly all areas was very difficult to remove. This is a smooth light colored glazed tile on a red body. You can read the rest on the October 2 inquiry. The homeowner is now sueing me for the total cost of replacement plus her lawyer fee. Prior to this notification the retail owner who we did this job floor inspected the work after the epoxy and the touch-up. I asked him what he thought it looked like. He said "Great". I understand this practice may not be ideal. I sent you the original letter under an assumed name and from the customer's perspective so that I could get a truely unbiased opinion. I am still hoping you could provide that for me. Thank you.

Dear HERSHIE: It is common to damage a few tiles when removing grout but the damaged tile needs to be replaced. Gerald Sloan NTCA

viorelcris 

Oct-30-2007 14:47

My question is regarding steam showers. Do I need to use a specific brand or type of insulation when building a steam shower? Somebody told me that I have to use a certain insulation 1" thick with foil on both sides. Can i just use the common 1" insulation that is used in exterior stucco?

Dear VIORELCRIS: There are a lot of new products available that can be used in a steam shower but not all work well with other new and old products, may even cause a failure if two or more products do not complement each other. You may want to purchase a TCNA handbook (www.tileusa.com) or look at some of the complete steam systems available from some of the advertisers on this site. Gerald Sloan NTCA

gabo 

Oct-29-2007 16:01

Is there any way possible to bend or stretch ceramic or procalein tile?

Dear GABO: None

gabo 

Oct-29-2007 16:01

Is there any way possible to bend or stretch ceramic or procalein tile?

Dear GABO: Not that I'm aware of? Gerald Sloan NTCA

Bob 

Oct-29-2007 15:27

Any problems applying 13"x13"x330mm porcelain tile over existing ceramic tile on a wall ? What sort of preparation is required ? What type of adhesive should be used ?

Dear BOB: This is becoming common to bond new tile over old tile. You should choose a thin set manufacture and call their tech hot line to get their recommendations on which one of their thinsets they recommend and follow their directions. Gerald Sloan NTCA

carolj 

Oct-29-2007 12:28

What is the best adhesive to use on ceramic tile on the kitchen floor?

Dear CAROLJ: You should purchase a TCNA hand book first to see the different installation methods and determine the best for your application. Then look at the setting material that is recommended. It is common to use a backer board and a modified portland cement based thinset to bond the tile. Gerald Sloan NTCA

bgriz 

Oct-29-2007 11:33

Instaling ceramic 12x12 tile in a 16x16 kitchen. the floor joist are 16 on center and 1 1/2 inch sub floor extior grade plywood. can i use a motor bed with a cleaage membrane with a electic heated floor, ian using the true comfort system.Or just a thin set over plywood.

Dear BGRIZ: I highly recommend that you look into the manufacture that has an advertisement here on this site and be sure to follow their installation instructions closely. Gerald Sloan NTCA

zeke31719 

Oct-29-2007 10:12

I have a transition in a comercial kitchen that I need to make. The material is Quarry tile to VCT. Does anyone know where I can get a metal or vinyl reducer for a tile this thick. Also I need to cut out a round drain. What is the best way to get a round cut in this tile? Thank you for your help. I am always learning from you.

Dear ZEKE31719: There are several company's that offer this transition strip such as schluter. You can find them on this site at the beginning on the shower installation just under the (ask the tile man) logo. On making round cuts in tile, look in the tool section to order any one of several tools that can do this. Gerald Sloan NTCA

crafty4 

Oct-28-2007 23:16

we have just layed saltillo tile and I have been told to seal it before we grout it. My questions is this what sealer do you recommend? does it have to be a floor sealer? alaso I have been told to look for an oil base becasue it would bring out the color more and get youa high gloss. Please help! to many suggestions not enough info

Dear CRAFTY4: Look into the tile maintenance section of this website and go to sealers to find the appropriate information and products that are available. Gerald Sloan NTCA

BULDOZER222 

Oct-28-2007 22:10

If one asks one to ask a question, can it be presumed one will receive an answer to the asked question regarding tile and such

Dear BULDOZER222: Yes, as soon as possible. Gerald Sloan NTCA

Peggya 

Oct-28-2007 20:29

Please post the answer to 10585

Dear PEGGYA: This sounds like a foundation problem. It may be necessary to have an engineer to look at this to determine the best solution. Gerald Sloan NTCA

waltn 

Oct-28-2007 15:39

I want to install one foot square ceramic tile on the stoop outside the front door on wood that has been varnished. Is there an adhesive that would work without totally removing the varnish?

Dear WALTN: There are some very good adhesives available from all the thinset manufactures but it is not a good idea to bond tile directly to a wood product in exterior applications. You may want to look into some of the new products that are available in this area such as www.nattco.com Gerald Sloan NTCA

spscotpiper 

Oct-28-2007 14:53

I am looking for Venetian Stone Rialto Tile. I have only seen it in Lowe's and cannot find anything on the 'net referencing anywhere to buy it except Lowe's. Do you know if it's exclusive to them or can I buy it somewhere else? I can't afford to do my kitchen in it at Lowe's price but I love the tile. Please help me. Thanks

Dear SPSCOTPIPER: I'm sorry I can't help with this. Just keep searching

sarita 

Oct-28-2007 03:18

i have a ceramic tile countertop that was edged with a field tile and it didn't look right, so I removed the edging and purchased a bullnose tile. I am now in the process of installing the new tile, but have stopped after just a few tiles because I noticed that only the top half of the edging is supported by a backing and the bottom half is just hanging there. Is this ok - will it be strong enough with just the mastic and the grout or do I need to build out a little of the cabinet edging to assure that the bottom half of the tile is supported as well. Please help - I have looked everywhere and can't find out the answer to my question. Thanks.

Dear SARITA: It's common to have this condition at the edge but it can be damaged easily if there is nothing to support the backside of the cap. I recommend installing a strip of backer board to the underside of the edge to support the full back of the trim tile. Gerald Sloan NTCA

shannon 

Oct-27-2007 20:40

We just laid 16" ceramic tile with a beveled edge that is a lighter color all around the edge of thetile. We used a 1/8" spacer and the grout is the same color as the bevelled edge which will hopefully give it the appearance of a wider grout line without it looking too big, but looking at it now prior to being grouted I am flipping out at how close the tiles look now! Did we make a major mistake?

Dear SHANNON: It's becoming more common to use a small grout joint in large format tile. 1/8" grout joint is considered the smallest size to use a sanded portland cement based grout, any smaller and you would need to consider an unsanded grout . Gerald Sloan NTCA

Herman 

Oct-27-2007 20:21

I live in an area where the summer temperature gets into the 90’s and winter the teens. I am planning on building a screened porch with a roof off of the back of my house. I would like to build the deck of wood and cover it with quarry tile. I understand that the issues with tile over wood are deflection and movement, (expansion and contraction), of the wood deck. The porch would be 7 ½ feet x 17 ½ feet with the long dimension attached to the house. Joists would be 2x6’s 12 inches on center with the free ends on top of a doubled 2x8 beam supported by concrete posts with footers below the frost line. The decking would be two layers of ½ inch plywood fastened with construction adhesive and screws with a 1/8 inch gap between butting edges. Over that I would screw ½ inch tile backer board. Will it work? Is there a better way or no way?

Dear HERMAN: There are some new products available to install tile on exterior decks that you may want to look into. Go to www.nattco.com Gerald Sloan NTCA

rose 

Oct-27-2007 16:28

I spilled some CLR on a marble tile in our bathroom, it took the finish off the tile, how do I clean or refinish surface of tile?

Dear ROSE: This may be best left to a professional in the stone refinishing business such as stone counter top installation company's. Gerald Sloan NTCA

NicoleK 

Oct-26-2007 22:37

My husband and I are getting ready to tile a few rooms of our home ourselves. Would you recommend the 6x6 or 12x12 through out our kitchen, entryway and bathrooms? Our kitchen is open with an island. Thank you

Dear NICOLEK: This is a personal choice, either size will work fine if the proper method of installation is used. To determine the best installation method, go to www.tileusa.com to get a TCNA hand book. Gerald Sloan NTCA

Carol 

Oct-26-2007 15:56

how do I remoe the grout dust from my new tile floor?

Dear CAROL: See answer 10603

Carol 

Oct-26-2007 15:55

how do I remove the grout dust from my new tile?

Dear CAROL: You may want to look into some of the tile and grout sealer manufactures that advertise on this site to find an appropriate cleaner. Usually a clean soft cloth is all that is needed to remove a slight grout film from a glazed wall tile. Gerald Sloan NTCA

JamieHendrix 

Oct-26-2007 11:44

how long is a flooring contractor liable for workmanship on a floor. I am doing a repair on a travertine floor laid about a year and a half ago that has cracks in it. The homeowner wants to charge the guys that laid it originally but I don't know if they can.. it's been over a year and a half.

Dear JAMIEHENDRIX: It's common for 1 year but in some locations it can be longer. Gerald Sloan NTCA

Nik 

Oct-26-2007 08:37

Hi. My contractor is about to lay the new tiles in my kitchen on top of the old tiled floor without removing the old tiles or breaking them. He tried his best to assure me by saying that the procedure would be safe and that it was not necessary to remove the old tiles as he would be putting a layer of sand on top of the (old) tiles before putting the new tiles on. I am really worried about the new tiles cracking under pressure in the long run. Can you tell me what should actually be done or the best and safest way of going about this? Really appreciate your advice and many thanks. Nik

Dear NIK: I'm not sure what type of work is being done here? Is the sand a sand-cement mix or is it just sand?There are several ways to tile over existing tile but using a layer of sand and then laying tile directly to it is not a common practice in the tile industry. I recommend first checking the old tile for loose or hollow sounding tiles by pulling a small piece of chain (2 to 4 feet) across the old tile and listen for a hollow sound that indicates a potential problem. Remove all suspect tiles and clean all tile thoroughly, then using a highly modified portland cement based thinset, bond directly to the old tile. Gerald Sloan NTCA

lynda 

Oct-25-2007 19:50

how much drop should you have in a 3' x 5' shower - to the drain - drain is in the center of the shower floor - and will 6" x 6" tiles look good or do i need to use a smaller size.

Dear LYNDA: You need 1/4" per foot fall in order to get water to drain properly but be careful not to exceed 1/4" per foot or it may cause a slip hazard. The 6x6's are about the largest size tile that can be installed on a common sized shower floor. Gerald Sloan NTCA