Expert Answers in Expert Answers

ANSWER - It depends on whether the water from the commode was contaminated or not.  Category 1 water is sanitary water.  Category 2 water is contaminated water to some degree. Category 3 water is grossly…

ANSWER - Cementitious grout is porous and more susceptible to staining and shade variation than an epoxy or urethane grout. It is possible that the difference in grout color could be just shade variation from…

ANSWER - It is not clear what kind of sealer you used.  Normally sealers are not mixed into the grout when you install the grout, so that may be part of the problem? Grout turning…

ANSWER - First of all there is nothing wrong with using sanded grout as long as the grout joint width is 1/8" or wider.  There are some benefits to using an epoxy grout in terms…

ANSWER - If your travertine was dark and rich before it was grouted and sealed, then it should be able to be returned to that condition since it is a natural stone the surface can be…

ANSWER - You are correct to install caulked movement joints at the perimeters and inside vertical corners of the tile installation.  Caulk should be an ASTM C920 silicone sealant per TCNA EJ171 standards.

The ceramic…

ANSWER - When there is a white haze on a shower floor it is normally either efflorescence precipitation or you have trapped moisture in the tile assembly by applying a non-breathable sealer over the floor.…

ANSWER -  There are many variables to consider.  First you have to know what type of tile was installed.  Whether it is a glazed tile (impervious glass-like surface) or unglazed tile (same clay material form…

ANSWER - If water from your shower is leaking into a crawl space the problem is not the cementitious grout joints.  There has to be an underlying problem with the shower pan's waterproof membrane.  It…

ANSWER - The black stain in the water has to be coming from somewhere and caused by something.  The question is where and what? The question is what type of tile do you have?  There…