The Tile Doctor ceramic tile help forum was designed to give constructive help to individuals with specific problems. Advice given is as constructive as possible even though limited information is usually given when questions are posted. The “Post Replies” I give in return are backed by over 48 years of experience, 43 of which were “hands on” in all phases of ceramic and stone tile installations. “Harder to comprehend “Technical Information” is purposely limited and replaced with easier to understand text. I try to give as much detail as possible without “going overboard” on the forum’s limited space. “NTCA” and “TCNA” (National Tile Contractors Assoc. and Tile Council of North America) guidelines are always respected. In-coming posts by “all” visitors should always be submitted in the form of a “question”.
There is only one “chef” in every kitchen but, “No one knows the answer to everything” and improved techniques and new innovative products appear almost daily, so when I am “stuck” for an answer, I have been, and will continue to be the first to admit I do not know, and I will not hesitate to ask or confer with other experts in our Industry for their input. When appropriate, I will mention other web sites.

DIY’s, and newcomers to our Trade are welcome when they have genuine questions. Seasoned professionals should know what they are doing and “Bickering” back and forth is for other “sites” where it seems to be the “norm”. There are no quick yes or no answers because every installation is different. It is possible for a novice or a beginner to tile their entire home from “the front door to the back door” if they are “mechanically inclined” and can follow directions from “this” or any professional. The project could take a “Month of Sundays”, but that is okay if they are willing to take the time, are devoted to the project, and do not have to make a living at it.

The main thing to remember is that of all the surfaces in a home, the easiest to take care of is long lasting ceramic tile. However, every surface, i.e., walls floors, windows, mirrors, cars, planes, trains, motorcycles, tile, marble, etc., and the human body all need frequent or periodic maintenance. The most common question asked in “tile maintenance” is about “Sealers”. Sealers are the easiest to apply and the most frequently miss-used. The other most “miss-used” products are pre-mixed mortars, tile mastics and trowels used to spread them.

Set aside those ¼” x ¼” x ¼” trowels for mosaic tiles and use no less than 1/4” x 3/8” x 1/4” for floor tiles larger than 4”. All tiles larger than most 12” x 12” should also be skim coated just before installation. All trowels must be held at no less than a 60-degree angle to any substrate not 45. Grout shade variation is preventable if all grout from a single packaged container is “dry mixed” (“boxed”) before any part of it is combined with “potable water”. Excessive water used when mixing and washing is another cause of grout shade variation. Staining of new grout from “green” setting mortar can occur if grouting is not delayed for at least 24 hours after tiles have been installed. To achieve the best bond possible to any substrate before tile installation, I always make it a practice to skim coat, “key in”, every surface with "modified mortar" and wait a bit for it to dry to the touch before proceeding with a fresh skim coat followed by a “full spread" setting bed. Setting beds must always be combed in neat left to right “corn rows”. Tiles must be set, pressed down, pushed forward and then pulled back into position. Spacers can be used to insure perfect alignment, followed by “Lippage” inspection with a TAVY “Tile Puck”.

All visitors who log onto this site would benefit from "Feedback" from those who use the advice given to complete, repair, or improve a tile installation. If a visitor reviews new, as well as older posts, reads that the advice given to others actually aided the recipient/s in the completion of their tile project, everyone benefits. A great deal of time, energy and money can go into an installation, so there is no point in wasting any of them. As they say, “The only stupid question is the question not asked”. Armen Tavy aka “Spacerman”