Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Grout Stains

Why did the black grout stain my tile?

ANSWER - Some glazed tiles have micro fracturing or even pin holes from off-gassing during the manufacturing process.   It is always recommended to use a grout release to protect the tile from staining before you…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Flood

Will a Salt Water Flood Damage my Tile?

ANSWER - Porcelain tile is impervious and cannot absorb more than 0.5% to meet the standards for a porcelain body tile.   If the tile was installed correctly and if the substrate is not moisture sensitive,…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Standards Tolerances

What are the Sizing Tolerance Standards for Ceramic Tiles?

ANSWER - The manufacturing standards for ceramic tile (porcelain is a type of ceramic tile) in the USA are stated in ANSI A137.1 and ANSI A137.3 for Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs.  Large Format Tiles are…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Chipping -Pealing Expert Answers Repairs Spalling

Why is my Wood Looking Porcelain Tile Peeling?

ANSWER - I assume that the wood finish ceramic tile is a porcelain tile.   I have seen a couple of cases where it appeared that the thin top layer of the wood looking tile was…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Free Tile and Stone Installation Guidelines installation Installation Guidelines Repairs stone Stone Restoration Workmanship

How do I find a new Tile Installer to Fix or Complete my Tile Installation

ANSWER - It is very difficult to find a qualified tile installer to fix problems caused by another installer or to get them to complete an incomplete tile installation. The qualified installer doesn't want to…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Squeaky Floors

Why is my Tile Floor Making a Cracking Sound and lifting up?

ANSWER - If the tile is making a sound and lifting up or sinking down that would suggest that either there were voids under the tile and the tile was subjected to some sort of…

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

What are the Industry Standards for Installing Tile and Stone?

ANSWER - Too often tile and stone installers don't follow industry standards because they have never been formally trained and don't know what are the standards.  They generally have learn from others and assume those…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers selection

Is it ok to Have Both Hardwood and Tile on the Floors of your House?

ANSWER - There is nothing wrong with having some rooms with hardwood flooring and other rooms with ceramic porcelain tile as I do in my house.  You need to be careful about the transitions from…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Repairs Stairs

What do I do about the Missing Stair Nosing and Short Stair Tread?

ANSWER - There really isn't anything you can do about correcting the short stair treads as there is no stair nosing extending out over the edge of the stair riser.  You really just need to…

Read More
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Free Tile and Stone Installation Guidelines installation Installation Guidelines Showers Slope Percent Standards Wet Areas

How thick should the Mortar Bed for a Shower Pan Floor in a Shower?

ANSWER - First of all, the way you construct a shower pan is to first apply a pre-sloped mortar bed to establish a slope to the drain of 1/4" per foot.  You can float over…

Read More