Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Hollow Sounding Tiles Repairs

Is it effective to remove voids under tiles with an Adhesive Injection system

ANSWER -  Spot bonding tiles leaving voids under tiles that produce hollow sounds is not an acceptable tile installation method in the industry. Over the years when I have seen attempts to inject epoxy liquids…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cleaning Expert Answers installation Repairs

Do you have to remove the thin-set adhesive from the previous installation or can you install over it?

ANSWER - The answer is it depends...  The new installation can't be attached to the underlying substrate any better than what the remaining thin-set is attached to it.  So you need to make sure it…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Grout Maintenance Moisture Problems Repairs sealers Wet Areas

Why did my grout Turn White and How can I get back the Original Color?

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…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Debonding Tile Expert Answers Grout installation Repairs Showers Wet Areas

Are my tiles bonded properly in my Steam Shower?

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…

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cleaning Expert Answers Maintenance Polished Repairs Stains stone Stone Restoration

How do I repair my polished granite floor that was stained by my dog's urine?

ANSWER - Urine is acidic.  Even though natural granite is very chemical resistant, if it is subjected to something acidic and it either isn't cleaned timely or properly, then it can etch the surface of…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Concrete Substrate Slab Expert Answers Leak Moisture Problems Repairs

Will French Drains around my house stop Ground Water from Seeping through My Tile Grout?

ANSWER - If in fact you have ground water migrating up through your concrete slab and up through the porous tile grout joints, installing French drains around the perimeter of your house could divert the…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers Flood Repairs

Are my Saltillo Tiles that were submerged in 2 feet of Water Salvageable?

ANSWER - Mexican Saltillo tiles are unglazed tiles that are very porous, although they are normally sealed that will help resist moisture saturation.  Often sealers are not reapplied regularly as they should so the sealer's…

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cracks Expert Answers failures Floor Warming installation Movement Joints Repairs stone

What causes Stress Fractures or Indent Fractures in Natural Stone?

ANSWER - We have seen this condition in marble before.  They are referred to as indent fracturing or stress fracturing veins.

You said that the veins went all the way through the stone, the…

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Expert Answers Repairs selection stone

How can I match my existing Marble Floor?

ANSWER - Your description of the marble sounds like it could be a Perlino Rosato Marble. Depending on the type of natural stone you are trying to match, it can be easy to match or…

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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Expert Answers failures Grout Leak Moisture Problems Repairs Wet Areas

How to stop water leaking through my tile grout joints?

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…

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