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…

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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…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles Moisture Problems Movement Joints Tenting

Can moisture in a Concrete Floor cause the Thin-set Adhesive to Deteriorate and result in Hollow and Tented Tiles?

ANSWER - Thin-set mortars should not deteriorate from being exposed to moisture.  Most thin-set mortars are used in showers and in pools and fountains. Moisture that migrates into the concrete slab from the ground and…

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Backer Board Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Expert Answers Exterior failures installation Plywood Substrate Standards

Why is by Exterior Covered Deck Tile Backer Board Installation Causing Tile to Crack?

ANSWER - Normally when you get cracking over a suspended floor following the joints of the tile backer board that the tile was bonded to, it is due to a combination of excessive deflection in…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Installation Guidelines Showers Standards Waterproofing Workmanship

How do we determine what caused our Tile Shower to Fail?

ANSWER - You are asking a lot that can't be answered without performing a forensic inspection to determine what is causing the failures.  I can make some general statements that may or may not apply…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Repairs Tile Trim

What would cause Porcelain Tile Bullnose edges to Peel?

ANSWER - Porcelain tiles are not likely to peel considering they are very dense tiles.  Although you say the tile is Carrara Marble look and the edges are white.  Manufacturers use the ink jet technology…

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Expert Answers failures Glass Tile Moisture Problems sealers Showers Stains

Why is my Subway Glass Tiles with Wood Grain Deteriorating?

ANSWER - Regarding whether sealing a cementitious grout makes it waterproof, it doesn't.  Using an appropriate penetrating sealer over grout will make it moisture resistant, it will make it stain resistant, and it normally will…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Deflection Expert Answers failures Grout installation Movement Joints Repairs Sealant Caulk Waterproofing Wet Areas

How do I repair the Horizontal Grout Joint between the Bathtub and the Tile wall?

ANSWER -  The transition joint between the top of the bathtub flange and the wall tile is not supposed to be filled with a cementitious grout.  It should be filled with a resilient ASTM C920…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Concrete Substrate Slab Debonding Tile Efflorescence Staining failures Moisture Problems Testing Vapor Barrier

What is the Acceptable Moisture Content in a Concrete Slab for a Tile Installation?

Answer - The ASTM F1869 Calcium Chloride membrane was the dominate test for years and depending on the tile installation manufacturer they would request a value of anywhere from 3% to 12% per 1,000 sf…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Deflection Expert Answers failures Grout

How do you repair grout that comes loose so it doesn't continue to happen?

ANSWER - Grout joints in a 12x24 inch tile should be at least 1/8" wide otherwise the grout can't fill the joint as it should.  If the grout joint is 1/16" or less then chances…

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