Expert Answers in

ANSWER – I understand that you have a townhome where you replaced your kitchen floor with ceramic tile in August 2010.  The tile was installed over hardibacker board that was applied over a wood subfloor over…

ANSWER – Absolutely you cannot avoid properly preparing the substrate regardless if you use a polymer modified thin-set mortar or a standard thin-set mortar or even an epoxy.  The installation is only as good as…

ANSWER – There isn’t a clear standard for what is allowable maximum lippage between a 13 x13 inch tile and mosaics, but I would expect it to be 1/16″. For 1×1 inch tiles it is…

ANSWER – This suggests that the tile was not bonded well to its substrate for some reason. So when they started grinding the floor it caused the tiles to debond. There are many potential reasons why…

ANSWER – I assume the dots and veins within the porcelain tile surface are probably low spots that are collecting dirt.  Too often I see nice porcelain tiles that look very dirty caused from the accumulation…

ANSWER – Cleaning natural stone after normal use should normally be done with a neutral base cleaner, assuming the stone was originally properly cleaned prior to being put into service.  Assuming you don’t have any cement…

ANSWER – If you know the brand of the coating then call them to find out what to use to strip it without harming your stone.  If you don’t know what the coating is that is…

ANSWER – I understand that the glossy porcelain tiles you had installed in your home isn’t as reflective of a surface as you expected and you haven’t been successful at treating it to achieve this…

ANSWER – The best method of cleaning a porcelain tile floor, whether it is glazed or unglazed, is to add a detergent in a bucket of water, preferably one that is supplied by a company…

ANSWER – Definitely do not install green board in a shower or wet area. Although it is technically moisture resistant, it is not recommended for showers per the building code and industry standards, because when…