Q:I am making a unglazed ceramic tile-mosaic table and I know I have to seal the tiles as well as grout and then seal the grout. Can I use a tile-sealer as a grout sealer? Or do I have two use two different products?

as an installer of ceramic tile for 23 years i can feel confident that my answer will best suit you....aqua mix brand of sealers is some of the best and will seal both your UNGLAZED tile and seal your grout as well ....you need to use a penetrating sealer as it will chemically bond to the grout the other responses to your question has sealant problems because they used a silicone based sealant which is only good for 6 months and needs to be redone where the penetrating sealant is good for 15 to 20 years

Q:We laid tile in our shower and I used too much grout. Now I need to know how to get the grout lines even without damaging the tile. Any help would be appreciated.

Kudos to William After installing multiple thousands of sq. ft. of tile, and hundreds of gallons of grout, I so want to not offend you; but the WIPE process probably should have been more resolute on your part. Grout is Mortar/Cement essentially, and when doing tile grouting; the sponging might often be considered as a 3 stage process. Barely moist immediately after application; then as the grout sets, the sponging can increase in how wet you work it. The final result is often just DUST that can easily be wiped away. The issue should have been easy to relate to; as most tile has compressed edges; designed to allow wiping, but not strictly grouting flush with the tile face. In your case, and again; no offense; it seems it's beyond those stages. I guess I'm also curious as to the type of sponge you used. Knowledge is something we so often gain AFTER we NEED it. Certainly you'll have to use abrasives, and possibly a rounded paint knife blade or dinner knife. Nylon/woven scrubbers will likely be ineffective. With care; and if the tile is decent; scraping at the grout shouldn't scratch the tile; to any extreme. The deeper truth however; is that it may never look as it should; and almost as if the grout is squeezed out or bleeding onto the tile face. I do wish you well. Steven Wolf

Q:Our house has the same ceramic tile throughout the house but when we bought it, the owner didn‘t have any extra tiles. We have a crack that has spread through several tiles and needs to be repaired in some way. I haven‘t been able to find these tiles at any store. Any suggestions on how to get matching tiles or how to fix the crack if I can‘t find the matching tiles?

Take a piece of the tile into your local hardware store and tell them that you want to match it. If they don't have it, I would suggest just tiling over it.

Q:How is oriental Paul tiles?

4 test weight The same size of the floor tiles, the greater the weight, the better the quality, which is a relatively simple and rugged and effective selection method. Good quality tiles (800mm * 800mm) a pack of three, not a regular exercise of adult men is difficult to move up alone. (I belong to the type of extreme lack of exercise, two Nobel 800mm * 800mm tiles I can not move a person) Weight reference: a 800mm * 800mm tile about 30 pounds to 40 pounds, a 600mm * 600mm tile about 12 pounds to 18 pounds, a 300mm * 300mm tile about 3 pounds to 5 pounds. 5 listen to the sound With a hard object (such as carrying the key) flick, the sound more crisp, the higher the degree of porcelain, the better the quality. You can also use the fingers to clamp the corner of the tile, so that the tiles hanging down, with the other hand flick the lower tiles, the more clear the sound, the better the quality. This method may be more virtual, we should listen to a few pieces of different price tiles in order to have the ability to accurately determine. 6 to see the water absorption In the back of the tiles, watching the water spread after the speed of water, in general, the slower the water, indicating that the greater the density of tiles, the better the quality. Tiles should not absorb water, if the tiles to absorb water, and from the front to see the water stains, that shows the quality is poor, do not buy. Wall is a certain degree of water absorption, it is difficult to use this method to test, but now the wall and floor tiles are basically supporting the sale of tiles qualified, wall is also no big problem. Poor quality of the tiles on the back of a larger water absorption

Q:I am looking at purchasing a home but on the disclosure form from the seller, it shows that there is asbetos tiles on the basement floor.I know asbetos is a problem but in this case how much would it cost to remove it? should this be a deal breaker?

The disclosure form is making you aware of the problem. You can do one of two things. You can require the tile is removed by THEM before you purchase the home (before closing) or you can get some estimates to have it removed and ask for a reduction in price by at least that amount. Or you could just walk away from the deal. If there's asbestos tile on the floor there is likely to be asbestos in the walls along with lead base paint if the house is old. I would probably walk away unless you can ABSOLUTELY have the rest of the house tested for those qualities. They may exist and that's why the owners are selling. Those are just my thoughts

Q:My foyer and hallway is white tile with white grout. I am more vintage/traditional and was going to be using new grout. Are there any other colors besides white that will look good for the grout?

Depend on the style of house.. example 50s and victorian houses black will look good.Other than that I wouldn t change it. You make much of a dramatic change and eyes will be drawn downward..If your having trouble w/ the white grout staying white try staining it w/ a stain made for grout.. Time consuming and slow but you can do it yourself and it ll last for years.. Digging out grout is a risk of chipping tiles and not digging down deep enough I stained my gout from a lite grey to a dark grey .. GL

Q:We have a hardwood floor in our bathroom, and because it gets too damp, we want to install vinyl tiles on top of the hardwood floor. But I cannot imagine vinyl sticking to wood - can it be done successfully? Any glue tips??

Vinyl tiles may not stick that well to the hardwood. They may also ruin the hardwood. If you aren't concerned with ruining the hardwood, then you should use some sand paper to rough up the surface to help the tiles stick better. I hope this helps!!

Q:Is there a simple way to lay ceramic tile. It is for a small bathroom. Never laid it before but There is a first time for everything. Should I use small tile or large.About 50 sq feet

Before you begin, make sure you have a smooth and rigid sub-floor to support the installation. Ceramic tiles crack easily if installed on an uneven or thin surface. Next, assemble your tools and materials. You will simply need tile adhesive, a tile cutter, and, of course, tiles. Also have a rubber mallet, chalk line, a long board, and level on hand. Plan the layout of your tiles by placing them without adhesive. Using a chalk line, snap a line perpendicular to the door. Lay tiles along this line, using a spacer (such as the side of another tile) between each tile. Start laying out tile from the door-you want a full row of tiles visible upon entry into the room. When you reach the other end of the room, install a long 1 thick piece of wood along the wall, perpendicular to your first row. This temporary installation will help you line tiles across the room.

Q:I want to install Travertine tile to a fireplace surround. This would be travertine tile directly to sheetrock, painted with flat latex paint. This areawould never see moisture other than something the wet grout and sealer. Is this OK? Will the sheetrock hold the weight of the tiles? What prep is needed? Or am I asking for trouble?

Travertine Tile Fireplace

Q:What is the best tiles?

Champion, Dongpeng Tiles, Nobel Tiles, Mona Lisa Tiles, Marco Polo Tiles and other top ten brands Not the best, only the most appropriate, different parts of the selection, the characteristics of different tiles, there is no need to be the best, neither economic nor nicely suitable for paving parts