Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Archives

Can I install Onyx mosaics in my Shower that don't have grout joints?

Donato Pompo · Jan 26th, 2019

ANSWER - First of all what happen to the the 3rd wall in the shower? I will assume it has a different substrate or you aren't tiling it. Not sure why you are using Schluter…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Standards

What is the proper way to install tile over linoleum?

Donato Pompo · Jan 17th, 2019

ANSWER - As long as the linoleum is well attached to its substrate, and the substrate is structurally sound, then you can install tile over it. The new tile installation will only be as good…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Standards stone

What is the proper Installation Method for Installing Large Format Tiles?

Donato Pompo · Jan 17th, 2019

ANSWER - It is hard to see exactly what they did. Your message says “photo thin set 1/16” is on the floor, 1.5” to 2.5” of mortar mix with less than 90% coverage, and thin-set 1/16”…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Standards Workmanship

What are the standards for the proper alignment for tile installations?

Donato Pompo · Jan 5th, 2019

ANSWER - ANSI A108.02 are the standards for tile installer workmanship. Some of the standards are quantitative, but many are qualitative and subjective. The only reference to alignment is that the tile should be installed…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cleaning Expert Answers Maintenance Optical Haze stone Stone Restoration

How do you remove smudges from floor tiles?

Donato Pompo · Jan 3rd, 2019

ANSWER - First you need to determine what caused the smudges on the tile in order to determine how to remove them. If you have a polished porcelain tile there is a condition known as…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Concrete Substrate Slab Expert Answers Inspections

How can I increase the cure time of concrete?

Donato Pompo · Dec 29th, 2018

ANSWER - There are rapid setting concrete mixes that can be purchased like QUIKRETE® Fast-Setting Concrete Mix. It sets up within an hour, but doesn't stop shrinking right away. If you heat up the area, some…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Installation Guidelines

How do I install Porcelain Tile over an existing Epoxy Floor?

Donato Pompo · Dec 29th, 2018

ANSWER - There are epoxy adhesives that you can use to install the ceramic porcelain tile over a properly prepared epoxy floor. First you have to make sure that the existing epoxy floor is well…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Flood Inspections Insurance Claim Leak Mold

How can you determine if ceramic tile that was in flood has been damaged?

Donato Pompo · Dec 27th, 2018

ANSWER - If the ceramic tile was installed correctly and the water wasn't contaminated, then the tile should not have been damaged from the flood incident. Since the tile is installed over a concrete substrate…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures grout Leak Movement Joints Repairs Sealant Caulk Showers Waterproofing Wet Areas

Is it alright to use Silicone Sealant to fix a Shower Leak?

Donato Pompo · Dec 27th, 2018

Answer: First of all, all of the transition joints in the shower both horizontal and vertical should not have been grouted with a cementitious grout. They should have been filled with an ASTM C920 resilient sealant…

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles installation Repairs

What can I do about my failed tile floor in the home I bought 1 year ago?

Donato Pompo · Dec 26th, 2018

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding. It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed. The substrate may have not been properly prepared. The tile…

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