Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Expert Answers failures Leak Repairs Waterproofing Wet Areas

Was the Shower Leak Repair done Correctly?

ANSWER - When there are tile failures generally it is never due to one deficiency, but rather due to multiple compounding deficiencies. First of all your grout should not crack.  If water that goes into…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Expert Answers failures Wet Areas

Can Hurricane Winds cause a Crack in a Tile Floor?

ANSWER - When there is failure in a tile installation it is generally not due to one condition or deficiency, but rather due to several compounding deficiencies. There are a number of different reasons of…

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Balcony Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Exterior Exterior Decks & Balconies failures installation Leak Moisture Problems Waterproofing

Why is my exterior tile deck leaking?

ANSWER - Exterior decks are one of the most common failures in building construction because they are normally constructed incorrectly. When there is a failure it is normally due to compounding deficiencies rather than only one…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Glass Tile Hollow Sounding Tiles stone

Is it normal for ceramic porcelain tiles or stone tiles to sound hollow?

ANSWER - First of all, hollow sounding tiles is not considered a defect.  There are no standards addressing hollow sounds, other to say that hollow sounds don’t necessary mean it is a problem. Hollow sounds…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Leak Moisture Problems

Does Saltillo Mexican Pavers Crack from Moisture Intrusion?

ANSWER -  All clay based materials can expand and contract to some degree from being subjected to moisture and drying cycles or being subjected to heating and cooling cycles. Authentic Mexican Saltillo tiles contain clay from…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Movement Joints stone Tenting

Does lack of expansion joints cause tiles to debond or tent?

ANSWER - Expansion joints are a type of movement joint.  Movement joints are meant to mitigate expected expansion and contraction movements within the tile assembly cased by temperature variations, moisture variations or from dynamic structural movements.…

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Balcony Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cracks Expert Answers Exterior Exterior Decks & Balconies failures Grout installation Leak Moisture Problems Sealant Caulk stone

How do I stop our Exterior Tile Deck from leaking?

ANSWER - The leaking of deck causing damages in the ceiling below is the symptom of the cause of the problem.  Treating the symptom will not remediate the cause of the problem. If the deck…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Standards

Why is our porcelain tile debonding?

ANSWER - Considering it is a porcelain tile, I would think that the warped corners were that way when they were installed.   Porcelain tiles are not moisture sensitive and they would not be expected to…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Installation Guidelines Moisture Problems Waterproofing Wet Areas

What are the standards for properly installing tile in a shower?

ANSWER - There are a number of shower configurations that are considered acceptable shower assemblies depending on the substrate conditions you have and the materials that were selected for the substrates and other components of the…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Movement Joints Tenting

Can porcelain tiles warp after they are installed?

ANSWER -  All tiles have some inherent warpage from the manufacturing process and the ANSI A137.1 is the standard that states what is allowable. Some natural stones and some quartz stones, and some concrete tiles…

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