Expert Answers in

ANSWER - The white material on the back of the tile is called engobe.  It is a ceramic pasted that is applied to the back of the tile for the firing process so the tiles do…

ANSWER -  It sounds like a real mystery.   The only time you get a puddle of water on your bathroom floor near your toilet is when you shut off the water supply to the house…

ANSWER -  The Daltile Avondale West Tower product looks to be an unglazed/through-body porcelain tile.  It comes in polished and unpolished.  I am assuming you have the unpolished material.  Porcelain tile is very durable.  Unglazed…

ANSWER - Generally speaking, cement based mortars should be fully cured within 28 days assuming it isn't raining or is in cold temperatures. I would expect that an interior installation of a cementitious grout should…

ANSWER -  If the tile was installed correctly, it should not be harmed by a flood caused by a water heater failure.  There is no way the water could have migrated 10-15 feet below the…

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…

ANSWER -  It isn't clear from your description  exactly what the  conditions are, but generally speaking, if you have a countertop that is book-matched or if the veining is contiguous, and one of the slabs…

ANSWER - I am guessing that you had a through-body/unglazed porcelain tile since you said it was a matte finished porcelain tile and you said that the installers were able to grind the surface to…

ANSWER - When there is a problem it normally is not due to one deficiency, but due to multiple compounding deficiencies. You state that the peel and stick moisture barrier was properly installed.  If if…