Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Exterior installation Installation Guidelines Installation Products - Adhesives Standards stone Vapor Barrier Waterproofing

What kind of Water Resistant Barrier or Vapor Barrier should be used For Exterior Tile Veneer Installations?

ANSWER  - W244E can be a ceramic or glass tile or a stone application for an exterior framed wall with cement backer board over it.   If it is a cementitious backer board then they would put…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Grout installation stone

Why Sanded Grout versus Unsanded Grout?

ANSWER - Unsanded cementitious grout should only be used in grout joint widths of 1/8 inch or smaller.  If you use it in wider grout joints it will tend to crack. Sanded grout should be…

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Expert Answers installation Stains stone

Should Adhesive Spots show through Marble Tiles?

ANSWER -  We have seen where the installer will cover the entire tile with thin-set adhesive (back buttering) and then use globs or spots of the adhesive to attach the tile.  This is not an…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Exterior installation Moisture Problems Wet Areas

What is causing water to collect on the clubhouse deck that makes it slippery?

ANSWER - A vapor retarder goes under the concrete slab and doesn't have anything to do with water pooling/collecting on the tile surface. Industry standards require that the exterior tile surface that is subjected to…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Deflection Expert Answers installation Standards

What is the allowable deflection of a substrate suitable for a porcelain tile?

ANSWER - The standards for a porcelain tile is that the substrate can not have more deflection than L/360.  For natural stone over a wood subfloor it is L/720.  L stands for…

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Backer Board Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Grout installation Moisture Problems Mold sealers Showers Wet Areas

Can I install Onyx mosaics in my Shower that don't have grout joints?

ANSWER - First of all what happen to the the 3rd wall in the shower?  I will assume it has a different substrate or you aren't tiling it. Not sure why you are using Schluter…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Standards

What is the proper way to install tile over linoleum?

ANSWER - As long as the linoleum is well attached to its substrate, and the substrate is structurally sound, then you can install tile over it.  The new tile installation will only be as good…

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Caulk Expert Answers installation Movement Joints stone

Is it ok to butt a wood floor tight to a marble tile insert?

There should be a 1/8" joint between the wood and marble.  It would be best to caulk that joint as there is likely to be movement.   If you don't have a joint then when the…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Expert Answers installation Installation Guidelines Standards stone

What is the proper Installation Method for Installing Large Format Tiles?

ANSWER - It is hard to see exactly what they did.  Your message says “photo thin set 1/16” is on the floor, 1.5” to 2.5” of mortar mix with less than 90% coverage, and thin-set 1/16”…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Standards Workmanship

What are the standards for the proper alignment for tile installations?

ANSWER - ANSI A108.02 are the standards for tile installer workmanship.  Some of the standards are quantitative, but many are qualitative and subjective. The only reference to alignment is that the tile should be installed…

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