Expert Answers Installation Guidelines Standards Tile Over Tile

Is it Ok to Install Tile Over Tile

ANSWER - Per the tile industry standards it is acceptable to install new tile over an existing tile installation.  Of course the new installation is only as good as the underlying installation.  If the only…

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Expansion Joints Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Movement Joints

How Should Movement Joints (expansion joints) be Installed in Tile Installations?

The TCNA EJ171 now allows for zipper or sawtooth generic movement joints in tile installations, where you follow the grout joints within the tile assembly, not into the mortar bed. It is not uncommon for…

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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 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…

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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…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Granite installation Installation Guidelines Pool and Spa stone

How do I replace my Spa Spillway Surface?

ANSWER - I assume you will remove the existing spillway.  Assuming it is bonded to a mortar bed or to the gunite/shotcrete substrate, after removing the existing spillway, make sure you scarify it and it…

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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 Installation Guidelines Installation Products - Adhesives Motor Home - Trailer Home Remodeling

What products do I use to install tile in my Travel Trailer Home - Motor Home?

ANSWER - To determine what adhesive to use to install a time you need to determine what is the substrate.  You need to know what type of tile you are going to install.  In Trailer…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Showers Standards Steam Showers Waterproofing

Is it a problem if Schluter Ditra is installed on the walls of a Steam Shower?

ANSWER - Based on the Schluter literature, although they only show floor applications, they don't say it is only for floors. The Ditra is waterproof if installed correctly for waterproofing.  It does have a key…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Efflorescence Staining Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Moisture Problems Remodeling Vapor Barrier Waterproofing

What should we do if there is evidence that there is high Moisture coming up our Concrete Slabs?

ANSWER - Carpet might be allowing the moisture to evaporate through it, but as dirty as carpets get you could develop some microbial growth in the carpet.  Adding more carpet doesn't solve or prevent problems.…

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