Expert Answers in Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

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…

Answer – Unfortunately when you acid etch the surface of a glazed tile it chemically alters the glaze and it can’t be restored.

If the etched area is contrasting in color to the tile color,…

ANSWER –  When tiles tent/buckle up it is normally due to the combination of lack of resilient movement joints and due to the tile not being bonded as well as it should.

Movement joints are…

ANSWER – There is no standard that says whether an entire installation should be replaced versus repaired based on the percentage of deficiencies.

We always provide the option for repairing.  From an installer point of view…

ANSWER – If the ceramic tile was installed correctly over a suitable substrate for a shower application then it will not be harmed from being subjected to prolong hot water, steam, and condensation.

Ceramic tile…

ANSWER –  First of all having tiles that sound hollow is not a defect in itself.  Normally when tiles are installed over a membrane of some sort; like Ditra it will cause hollow sounds because…

ANSWER –  If water squirts out of the removed grout joint 2 feet in the air, then that is an indication that the water is under pressure.  I assume that the water squirting in the…

ANSWER –  Hollow sounds  on a ceramic tile isn’t a defect in itself, but it can be a symptom of a defect depending on the circumstances.   If portions of a tile is hollow sounding or…

ANSWER – You didn’t mention what kind of tile you had.  Natural stone of various types are known to contain ferrous oxide that can lead to staining in the tile or the adjacent grout.

Since…