installation Movement Joints

How do I cut the tile where the bottom of the cabinet touches the floor?

ANSWER - You don't need to remove your cabinets. You should use a wet saw with a diamond blade to cut to the cabinets, but leave a 1/4" wide open joint between the tile and…

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installation Standards

How do I make sure Ceramic Tile, Natural Stone gets installed correctly by my tile installer?

ANSWER - Hiring the right installer is the difference between a delightful result and a nightmare.  Most installers don’t go to school to learn the trade, so even with good intentions, more often than not…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile installation

Recommendations on installing ceramic tiles on staircase risers?

ANSWER:   I assume this is an interior application. There are products that will allow you to bond ceramic tile to exterior grade plywood, but it is not considered the best substrate to bond to.  It…

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installation

Do we need Special Thinset for Cold Weather?

ANSWER - Beware of exterior decks and particularly when they are over a wood substrate.  There are many exterior deck failures that become very expensive to replace. The TCNA handbook does not show an exterior…

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installation stone

Worried about the weight of Travertine Natural Stone on raised wooden subfloor

ANSWER - I can’t really determine if your floor is sturdy enough for the Travertine tiles by your description.  If your floor isn’t sturdy enough it can be adjusted to be sturdier. The concern on…

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installation Movement Joints Standards

Do Wall tiles need to sit on top of floor tiles in wet areas?

ANSWER - The lower course tile in a vertical wet area should be above the floor tile and there should be a joint there of 1/4" that is properly treated as a movement joint per…

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installation Standards

Can I secure tiles directly onto formica counter top?

ANSWERS - There are epoxy adhesives that will allow you to bond ceramic tile directly to Formica, but that application is not recommended by industry standards. Of course if the Formica ever comes loose so…

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installation

Is it critical to remove (scarify) old thinset on the floor prior to installing travertine?

ANSWER - There is much to consider in preparation when installing stone or ceramic tile, and during the installation process.  I will only respond to your specific question, so my answer in itself will not…

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installation Removal

Suggestions on equipment to remove ceramic tiles and adhesive (thinset)?

ANSWER - What to use to remove a lot of ceramic tile depends on how well it is bonded to the substrate.  If it is…

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Glass Tile installation

Using GE Silicon to glue a piece of glass mosaic to Formica

ANSWER - What you are suggesting doesn’t meet any industry standards, so if something goes wrong you buy it.   In theory the silicone will bond the glass…

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