Q:I am installing 4.5 x 4.5 porcelain tiles on a drywall kitchen backsplash. Applying Omnigrip mastic using a 1/4 x 3/16 vnotch trowel. The tiles have a waffle grid pattern on the back which is about 1/16 deep. I tested the application of one tile and noticed that the mastic did not fill all the waffle depressions. Are they supposed to be all filled? DO I have to backbutter the tiles? Am I using the correct trowel size? Please help!P.S. What is the purpose of the waffle pattern in the first place?

you must change your space for your kitchen space first

Q:while laying new floor of tiles, i‘m confused above, which tiles are more durable for floor: homogenized floor tiles or glazed floor tiles, or granite floor tiles

In a home setting it rally doesn t matter what you use. They ll all out last us if they are properly set. And setting is the key from the floor prep to the glueing of the tile with thin set. Two basic type of porcelains, full bodied porcelains where the color goes through out. The backing is basically the same colored as the front. Then you have glazed porcelains where the tile body is porcelain , the porcelain is baked, there is a color or pattern on the surface and then a glaze is applied. Then there is the standard clay bodied tile where the clay is baked , a color on the surface and a glaze and its refired again. Homogenized tiles, and I m not over familiar with them is a very hard tile that has a very low water absorption rate. All are good products but clay tiles are not as true in sizing as most ( not all) porcelains . Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

Q:2nd bathroom, rarely used. Not sure if I want to spend the time to remove the tile (200 sq ft) or just put a think underlayment over it and then laminate.Anything that I should be concerned with doing it this way?

Yes! You would be raising the floor by the thickness of the under layment and the laminate. Your flooring would end up against the side of your tub not to mention raising your toilet which may result in the need for longer bolts and may not be able to make a seal because of the distance between toilet and drain. You are asking for problems.. At the very least it would throw your baseboards off and they wouldn't match the ones in the hallway where they meet at the door!

Q:What is the basic role of tile glue?

1 to improve the working time and adjustable time; 2, to improve water retention to ensure that the cement hydration; 3, to improve the anti-vertical; 4, to improve workability (easy to build on the substrate, easy to push the tile into the adhesive ), 5, with a variety of substrates have a good adhesion, including concrete, plaster, stone, old tiles, PVC; 6, are in all types of climate conditions, have good deformability.

Q:I am looking at replacing my kitchen floor, which currently has carpeting. (Bought the house like that.) And now I am looking to do either vinyl or tile. I understand tile is good for a lifetime, where as vinyl is good for 15-20 years for the heavier kind, but tile is double the cost. We plan on staying in our house a long time, if not forever, but in the case we would decide to sell, would tile or vinyl give us more value?

I could write a book on how to lose money in real estate, so listen up! Tile will NOT increase the value of your home. Value is based upon an old formula that counts Square Feet, and that's all! Whatever you put on the floor today will be outdated in 15-20 years and the new buyer will want to replace it. Tile can crack when you drop a heavy pan or pot on it. Expensive repair. Tile is not as comfortable to walk on. Tile will feel cold in the winter. And when wet, tile will be super slippery. Plus, tile needs a Perfectly Flat base- most homes don't have that and require extra sub-flooring or leveling compound if you're on a slab. Now-a-days the vinyl flooring is Excellent. You can get vinyl that Looks like tile, is a little cushioned and comfy to walk on and has an expected life of 20+ years! When you sell, there is NO difference in what your house will appraise. Save the extra money and get a Better floor, more livable and half the expense of tile and go with a high quality vinyl.

Q:is it better to rent a wet saw, or will a tile cutter be less expensive and less messy

Nothing like good old hand tools a good tile cutter is not expencive just be sure to buy a couple of extra cutting wheels,and a cutter that will cut your size of tile, Use the saw for your fancy cuts, Now you have most of the tools for a tile job , all your friends and family will be knocking @your door Have Fun

Q:All together, which one is more expensive to install and buying the tile or wood? Thanks!!! And if you can, leave site names.

it probably depends on wat type but i think wood floors are more expensive.

Q:Can you put ceramic tile over the commercial grade hard plastic vinyl tile? It would be really hard to break up off the floor. It is stuck on there really good.

No. Unless you put concrete backer board over the vinyl first, then the tiles onto the backer board. The only problem with this is that you would be raising your floor by an inch or so, and could run into problems with door jambs, molding, transitions, etc.

Q:Installing support bars on bathtub ceramic tile

Put a piece of masking tape over the area to be drilled. Drill hole where desired with a masonry drill bit. Don't worry this is a simple operation. Just go slow with the drilling and the tape should keep the tile from cracking.

Q:for diferent size tiles are there standard grout joint sizes

Tile Spacer Sizes