Expert Answers in Repairs

Answer: First of all, all of the transition joints in the shower both horizontal and vertical should not have been grouted with a cementitious grout.  They should have been filled with an ASTM C920 resilient sealant…

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…

ANSWER - First of all the data sheet for Mapei Ultracare says not to install it on the surface of the tile.  It sounds like that is what you did. I'm not sure why it…

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…

ANSWER -  First of all having tiles that sound hollow is not a defect in itself.  Normally when tiles are installed over a membrane of some sort; like Ditra it will cause hollow sounds because…

ANSWER - The trade-off of etching a tile floor to make it more slip resistant is that it will alter the appearance of the tile and the tile can be come more difficult to clean…

ANSWER - If the water is consistently coming up through the tile grout joints when the washing machine drains, and you don't see any water in the wall at the drain pipe, then the water…

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…

ANSWER -  Travertine naturally has large voids/pores in it  and it can be purchased either filled or unfilled.  If the travertine is filled, it is filled with a blending color to the travertine.  Some people…

ANSWER - If the original tile installation was installed with a particular Thin-set mortar, then the repair should have been made with the same mortar or a rapid version of the same thin-set mortar. Mastic…