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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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Hollow Sounding Tiles installation Repairs

What can I do about my failed tile floor in the home I bought 1 year ago?

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding. It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed. The substrate may have not been properly prepared. The tile…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers failures Grout installation Movement Joints Tenting

What can I do about my 2 year old tile installation that is coming loose?

ANSWER - It sounds as though your tile installation has failed and is debonding.  It is likely due to compounding deficiencies in how it was installed.  The substrate may have not been properly prepared.  The…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Lippage Repairs

When is it necessary to replace an entire tile installation versus only make repairs of tile deficiencies?

ANSWER - There is no standard that says whether an entire installation should be replaced versus repaired based on the percentage of deficiencies. We always provide the option for repairing.  From an installer point of view…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers installation Installation Products - Adhesives Showers Wet Areas

Can excessive Steam and Condensation in a Shower caused damage to the Ceramic tiles?

ANSWER - If the ceramic tile was installed correctly over a suitable substrate for a shower application then it will not be harmed from being subjected to prolong hot water, steam, and condensation. Ceramic tile…

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Brick Expert Answers Grout installation stone

Is it better to install Travertine Stone over a Brick substrate instead of a Backer board Substrate?

ANSWER - If the existing brick facade is stable, then it would be better to install the travertine ledger stones over it.  It should be a more structurally stable surface to adhere to.  You will…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Hollow Sounding Tiles installation Repairs

Why do I have loose Grout and Hollow Tiles?

ANSWER - Even though the tile floor was installed 15 years ago, if it was installed correctly it should not have loose grout; unless it was abused in some way.  I am assuming that these…

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installation Lippage stone Workmanship

What is the allowable Lippage for Cleft/Ungauged Natural Stone?

ANSWER:  According to the NSI-MIA Dimension Stone Design Manual VIII, the maximum allowable lippage (the amount of vertical difference between two adjacent tile edges) for a calibrated smooth finished natural stone is 1/32". Although the…

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