Is it ok to Install Ceramic Tile or Stone Tile on a Sand Base?
4 thoughts on “Is it ok to Install Ceramic Tile or Stone Tile on a Sand Base?”
Charles Joseph McCollum says:
I have a similar situation. Could I use pure silicone caulk in the joints that have shown erosion and feel hopeful that that might stabilize the tile joints. I know it is not the best but could it help until I am able to have a new floor installed.
Sand-set installation will tend to move to some degree depending on how they were installed and what kind of constraining perimeter is in place to prevent lateral movement.
Using a silicone or other sealant to caulk the joints would not be recommended and would not likely hold up well. Typically a polymeric sand is installed in the joints that has a polymer in the mix. After you vibrate the polymeric sand into the joints you slight wet it down that activates the polymer and helps prevent the sand from getting washed or blown out. It isn’t perfect, so expect there to be some annual maintenance to replace the polymer sand where needed.
Hi, our home tile is white and looks clean (it is mopped regularly). However, I could mop every day and the water would still come out dark grey almost black and there’s always grainy/sand residue. This is not newly installed tile. I am wondering if the tile or the grout itself could be releasing dirt? Any thoughts?
Sounds like it is likely the cementitious grout that is bleeding the color pigment from the grout and the sand aggregate in the grout is degrading. Cementitious grouts should not bleed color, but some manufacturers of grout have this deficiency. The grout might be too soft and subject to degrading. In terms of what can you do about it, there is not absolute solution other than remove and replace the grout. After the grout is clean and dry, you could seal it with a grout sealer that might stabilize it to some degree, but you will have to experiment on small out of the way areas to see what is working before you apply it to the entire area.
I have a similar situation. Could I use pure silicone caulk in the joints that have shown erosion and feel hopeful that that might stabilize the tile joints. I know it is not the best but could it help until I am able to have a new floor installed.
Sand-set installation will tend to move to some degree depending on how they were installed and what kind of constraining perimeter is in place to prevent lateral movement.
Using a silicone or other sealant to caulk the joints would not be recommended and would not likely hold up well. Typically a polymeric sand is installed in the joints that has a polymer in the mix. After you vibrate the polymeric sand into the joints you slight wet it down that activates the polymer and helps prevent the sand from getting washed or blown out. It isn’t perfect, so expect there to be some annual maintenance to replace the polymer sand where needed.
Hi, our home tile is white and looks clean (it is mopped regularly). However, I could mop every day and the water would still come out dark grey almost black and there’s always grainy/sand residue. This is not newly installed tile. I am wondering if the tile or the grout itself could be releasing dirt? Any thoughts?
Sounds like it is likely the cementitious grout that is bleeding the color pigment from the grout and the sand aggregate in the grout is degrading. Cementitious grouts should not bleed color, but some manufacturers of grout have this deficiency. The grout might be too soft and subject to degrading. In terms of what can you do about it, there is not absolute solution other than remove and replace the grout. After the grout is clean and dry, you could seal it with a grout sealer that might stabilize it to some degree, but you will have to experiment on small out of the way areas to see what is working before you apply it to the entire area.