Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Metal Tiles Standards

Metal Tiles - Does the ceramic tile industry include metal tiles in their classification?

ANSWER - Metal Tile is considered to be in the category of a Specialty Products in the ANSI A137.1 ceramic tile standards.  There is no specific reference to metal tile, but you could apply some…

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installation Slab Standards stone

Strength of Slab Granite countertop with no plywood base

ANSWER - If you ordered 3 cm slab stone and received 2 cm then you didn't get what you paid for and should be reimbursed or have it replaced.  2 cm stone can work fine…

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cleaning failures Slab Stains Standards stone

Our Granite tops are staining quite badly

ANSWER - Chances are the stone that you have may be over-burden granite or a type of metamorphic stone called gneiss, which commonly is sold as granite. Often these types of stones are very colorful…

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installation Standards

How do I make sure Ceramic Tile, Natural Stone gets installed correctly by my tile installer?

ANSWER - Hiring the right installer is the difference between a delightful result and a nightmare.  Most installers don’t go to school to learn the trade, so even with good intentions, more often than not…

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Grout installation Standards stone

Should travertine tile be set with a grout joint or no grout?

ANSWER - All stone or ceramic tile installations should have a grout joint for two basic reasons.  First reason is that tiles will vary in size to some degree and the grout joint allows the…

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Standards stone Testing

Could the quality of granite be tested?

ANSWER - There is a lot of natural stone sold as granite that is not true granite.  Due to the large demand for stone today, stone that would not have been sold or used before is…

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installation Movement Joints Standards

Do Wall tiles need to sit on top of floor tiles in wet areas?

ANSWER - The lower course tile in a vertical wet area should be above the floor tile and there should be a joint there of 1/4" that is properly treated as a movement joint per…

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installation Standards

Can I secure tiles directly onto formica counter top?

ANSWERS - There are epoxy adhesives that will allow you to bond ceramic tile directly to Formica, but that application is not recommended by industry standards. Of course if the Formica ever comes loose so…

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Standards stone Visual

Is there an Industry Standard for Gloss Level on Tile?

ANSWER - If your question is relative to a new stone tile being installed, then it isn't acceptable to have an inconsistent polish/finish.  There is…

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