Beginning right is the key to keeping clean grout lines. A room that is a standard rectangle or square serves as a good example on how to lay out tiles and have a good looking finished product.

Practical Tips for Preparing and Setting Tiles

1. Measure the room at each end and place a mark on the floor in the center of all four sides. Use a chalk line to make a mark from the center to the opposite center in both directions so that the room is marked off into four quadrants. The idea is to have the same amount of tile showing on the last run at one wall as on the floor at the opposite wall.
2. Tiles should be placed beginning at the cross section in the center of the room and continuing until reaching a wall. This is a single line of tiles to begin with, which keep their edge on the straight line. Once the initial line is in place, tiles should be laid back from the line to complete the first quadrant.
3. Moving to the opposite side of the first run of tiles and completing the second quadrant finishes half the room, and if tiles were place properly, they should have clean grout lines.
4. Beginning at the center of the room and following the chalk line in the opposite direction should result is a near perfect line of tiles down the center of the room, and then the two remaining quadrants can be completed.

It may sound rather simple to set tiles so that they look uniform, but clean grout lines are often hard to accomplish because one tile may be off just enough to cause difficulty in staying straight with the line.

Tips For Setting Tile for the First Time

• Rooms may not be completely square, and it is never completely possible to follow the initial line and the crossing line for that reason. Whichever line you follow first is the most important one. The crossing line is more to give you a starting point for the first tile, and if you cannot follow it, don’t worry as long as you end up with clean grout lines.
• Guessing at the width of the grout line is a good way to make a mistake. It is best always to use spacers between tiles so the gap remains the same from start to finish. The hard plastic type of spacers are best because they don’t compress the way the softer types do.
• Clean grout lines are also dependent upon tiles matching up at each corner. Using a straight edge to make certain that the tiles are flush will also make the floor feel more uniform under foot and prevent tripping problems caused by high corners.
• Cleaning the edges of tiles as you go prevents remnants of adhesive from drying on tiles and their edges. Grout lines won’t be clean if adhesive is left protruding from the grout.

As you can see, getting the first line of tiles set properly makes all the difference between a good tile job and a poor one. Following the few steps here will give the tile job a professional appearance.

More commonly, replacing tile grout is a bigger maintenance procedure because grout lines are anywhere from 3/16″ to as much as 5/8″ wide. The trick in replacing tile grout is to get the grout out without damaging the tiles, and you will need a special tool to do the job right.

Tile Grout Saw

This tool is a very inexpensive one, and not very large. Anyone who expects to use an electrical contraption for grout removal will be disappointed with the grout saw. It is a simple wooden handle that has a straight piece of metal attached to the bottom and facing in the same direction as the handle.

The process of cleaning out the grout consists of applying downward pressure on the metal cutter and pushing and pulling it back and forth in the gap between the tiles. The metal cuts out most of the grout and doesn’t damage the tiles as long as the operator is careful to keep the saw from jumping out of the grout joint.

A large area can take some time to complete with this simple tool, but it is important to have patience and not make mistakes trying to finish quickly. A slip causing a tile to be scratched only adds more work to the process.

It is not necessary to get all the old grout from between tiles, as long as none remains stuck to the edges of tiles and enough new grout can be placed in the space to hide whatever remains.

Installing New Grout

When all the grout has been removed that is necessary for the replacement, the dust should be carefully removed and the tiles cleaned. A close examination should be made to be certain that no part of the initial grout will be seen before mixing the replacement grout.

Replacing tile grout is a messy job, and you will need a rubber grout trowel, a firm sponge, buckets with clean water, cleanup rags, and paper towels. There is no need to attempt to place the grout in the grooves if you are using a standard mortar type material; just drop a glob on the surface and begin working it into the joints with the rubber or foam bottom trowel.

It takes some practice to get the knack for replacing tile grout. First, the trowel should be cocked to make about a 45 degree angle with the surface of the tile. The grout should be pulled across the surface at diagonals to the grout lines, and the direction the trowel travels should be alternated.

For instance, if looking down on the tile, one pass of the trowel would be from the top right corner to the bottom left, and the next would be from the top left to the bottom right.

Several passes are necessary to push the grout entirely into the void.

Once the grout is installed, it is necessary to wait for around fifteen minutes before beginning the cleaning process. A damp cloth used for this purpose should be rinsed often and the water should be replaced as necessary to get as much of the residue off the tiles as possible. At the same time, pressure has to be light so grout won’t be pulled out of the joint.

Once the tile looks relatively clean, it should be allowed to dry before buffing with the paper towels to remove any residue.

This is an expensive repair that most homeowners just don’t want to consider, but compared to the cost of demolition and replacement, it can sometimes be a practical solution.

Why Refinish Ceramic Tile?

Not so many years ago, you wouldn’t have considered attempting to refinish ceramic tile because there were no proven products that would adhere to the tile or hold up for very long. Epoxy finishes have addressed both of those factors and provide a great alternative to replacement.

If your first choice is replacement, consider the expense. Since you can’t just add more ceramic tile to an existing floor without creating a raised area, you must first remove the old tile before installing new. Demolition is an expensive process on its own, and it makes a great deal of mess. The labor for floor demolition can be more expensive than installing the floor originally, after taking into consideration hauling and disposing of waste materials.

Depending on the tile used to replace what is removed, the reinstallation can cost in the double digits per square foot. Of course, a good installer can make a floor look very nice, but the cost is not going to be cheap.

Cost-Effective Tile Refinishing

The basic process involved to refinish ceramic tile is painting, which most people can do themselves with a little direction. The finishing materials are more expensive than standard paint, but nothing in comparison with removal and replacement of tile. However, it is important to note a couple of facts about refinishing ceramic tile.

1. Refinishing doesn’t last forever. Surfaces that are used a great deal will wear and require new finishes over time. If you refinish ceramic tile on a wall, it will remain attractive for much longer than floor tiles will that have the same refinishing materials. Manufacturer’s suggestions may vary, but applying a new finish every two or three years is probably best for floor applications.
2. Tile will not look the same after refinishing. A clear epoxy finish can be installed as a protection on a good floor, but if the tiles are in poor condition, a clear finish is probably not going to make much improvement. Applying a colored finish is going to hide imperfections, but it will also change the look of the tile and the grout joints won’t be visible anymore.

The Process of Tile Refinishing

Cleaning is one of the most important parts of refinishing. Trying to cut corners on cleaning will only shorten the life of the application and cause some areas of the cover to fail. Any paint drops, oil spots, or accumulations of other foreign materials will cause a weak area in the tile refinishing.

After cleaning and patching any holes or pockets in the tiles, the floor, wall, or counter should be allowed to completely dry before applying any finishes.

Epoxy paints come in both high gloss and matte finishes, and most epoxy coatings are a two step process. The primer coat is designed to create an adhesive layer that will bond the finish coat. The application of both coats can be done with a short nap paint roller or with special paint spraying equipment. One finish coat is usually all that is necessary.

It is important to use all of the epoxy coating that you have for the floor because there is a short shelf life for the materials. When the epoxy is a two part mix, all the material must be applied within a short time after it is mixed.

Removing Tile Adhesive

A tile that has come loose so that it can be removed without applying pressure is the easier situation when fixing loose tiles. If the tile is to be reused, any adhesive must be removed from the back before attempting to reseat it. Depending on the type of adhesive used during installation, heat may cause it to soften and liquefy enough to be wiped off. This can be accomplished with a clothing iron used to heat the face side of the tile.

If the adhesive does not contain polymers, heating may not have much effect. In that case, it is a meticulous job to chisel the mortar off the tile without breaking it. Fixing loose tiles is less work if new tiles are used for replacement. When heating works to loosen the adhesive, it is best to apply the iron to the tile while it is in place. That will loosen the adhesive on the floor or wall so that the tile can be removed easily.

It is important to have all adhesive removed from the old tile and the floor or wall behind it. The grout that goes around the tile should also be removed so that nothing interferes with reseating the removed tile. Mineral spirits on a rag will clean adhesive with polymers quite well.

It is very easy to damage tiles around the removed one when attempting to take out the grout. The best way to reduce chipping or breaking tiles is to move the chisel along the side of the tile. Do not hammer a chisel back toward tiles that remain in place.

Reinstalling the Tile

Once tile grout and adhesive have been cleaned away, new adhesive should be installed on both the back of the tile and the surface where it is to be attached using a small toothed trowel. After the tile is set into the opening, a roller that is long enough to overlap on each side onto the tiles around it can be used to roll across and make certain that the tile is flush with the tiles around it.

Once the tile is pressed into place, any excess tile adhesive should be cleaned out of the space around the tile and off of all tiles before it sets. A damp cloth or one with mineral spirits will remove it. The tile may move out of line with the other tiles, so the last step in fixing loose tiles is to use tile spacers in the grout joints while the adhesive sets.

Based on the location of the replaced tile, it might be very easy for someone to step on it while it is resetting. Always put something around the replaced tile as a warning for people to stay away. It is best to wait twenty-four hours for the adhesive to set even though it generally doesn’t take that long to dry.

Installing Grout

It is always best to use the same brand and color of grout to get the closest match possible to the existing materials. If the grout is sanded, you will need to seal it about seven days after it is placed.

Each step in the process of fixing loose tiles is important if the job is to be performed properly.

Not every tile chip repair should be attempted in the same way as another, and in some cases, the trial and error method might be your best course of action. Remember anything you do that can be undone is perfectly fine to try, but if you mess up a tile, you increase the amount of work necessary for the tile repair job. It might even cost more money for materials, plus more time to perform the work.

Tile Repair – Establishing a Course of Action

Anytime you deal with existing tile work, the least amount of change required, generally the better the outcome will be. If the damaged tile has only a hairline crack, you should consider if a repair will even be an improvement.

If the grout is not cracked also, using a resin product that is a match in color to fill the crack is one option to consider. With a hairline crack, the problem is in getting anything into the tiny crevice. A surface application will usually be very obvious and won’t stay in place for long.

If you cannot find anything that will work as a filler for tile chip repair, you may have to replace the tile. This is the most drastic action to take, but often the only one that will offer a suitable solution. If there are no tiles that will match the existing, you may have to rethink any type of repair.

Replacing a Tile

If you have some extra tiles left that match those on the floor, counter, or other surface, there should be no problem in making a replacement that blends with the existing. Tiles do not usually fade over the years like some materials do. The harder part to match may be the grout around the replaced tile because it will fade, stain, and age making it look different than when it was first installed.

The removal of a tile must be accomplished without damaging others around it, and the surrounding grout and thin set mix beneath the old tile have to be completely removed, too. The entire area should be cleaned thoroughly so no grit remains that can interfere with setting the new tile.

When placing the new tile in a bed of thin set, a straight edge should be used to make sure that the new tile is flush with all other tiles at each corner. Once the tile is seated properly, it should be left to set without being disturbed for about 24 hours to assure that the mortar is dry. Then the grout is applied.

Sanded grout can be very difficult to match because you won’t know how it will look until it dries. Even if you have some saved grout from the original tile job, you can’t really expect it to match if it has been a year or more since the installation.

Sanded grout should be sealed about a week after it is installed. This helps prevent staining, and if sealing is performed each year, it may help to prevent a change in color over time. Sanded grout that is taken care of properly should be easier to match when a tile chip repair is performed.

If the grout is an epoxy or other type of hybrid, matching to the existing is much easier because these materials retain color better than sanded grout. In some cases, it is almost impossible to tell when a tile chip repair has been performed when epoxy grout is used.

Again, every repair of a chipped ceramic tile is different based on several variables. A repair job usually requires more skill than installation of new ceramic tile because it has to be handled carefully so a repair is not so visually obvious.

Tile Manufacturer:

Florida Tile, Inc.

Tile Manufacturer:

Florida Tile, Inc.

Due to the very high amount of moisture, only certain tiles can work in the shower.  Couple that with the need for skid resistance (for the shower floor pan) and you’ve got a number of factors to satisfy before you can find the right type of shower tile.

Best Shower Tile Material

For showers, you’re looking for any type of glazed ceramic or porcelain tile.  “Vitreous” means that water absorbs into the surface of the tile very relucatantly–if at all.  So, with truly glazed, vitreous tile, the surface is completely waterproof, and the grout seams are the only potentially non-vitreous area you will need to worry about.  Not to worry, though, grout lines can be sealed.

What About Slate For the Shower Floor?

Slate looks great, and can be used to some degree on shower walls.  But slate and other non-vitreous natural stones will need to be sealed.  Never use these materials for shower floor pans.

But if you’re dead-set on slate in your shower, use tile that looks like slate.  These are regular waterproof porcelain or ceramic tiles that tile manufacturers have mimicked to look just like slate.

The Best Size of Shower Floor Tile

In addition to the composition noted above, shower floor tile works best in smaller sizes.

• Large Tiles – Large tiles such as 12″x12″ or even larger (16″x16″) are the absolute worst for shower floor tile.  They are slippery and, to put it frankly, they look weird on shower pans.  That’s because you will only be able to fit 4-8 of these large tiles on the shower pan, and this causes the eye to note the grid pattern.  Not only that, this necessitates lots of cutting of tiles.
• Medium Tiles - Medium tiles such as 4″x4″ or 6″x8″ can be used.  As noted above, the smaller the better.  But the best of all are…
• Mosaic Tiles – Mosaic tiles are excellent on shower floors for two reasons.  First, they create lots of grouted seams, which provide great slip resistance under your bare feet.  Second, these smaller tiles allow you to better form the tiles to the slope in the shower pan, needed to drain water.

Pictured Above: Slate shower from CJ’s Custom Tile, a company owned by Damon Johnson servicing the Oklahoma City/Edmond areas.

Why Do We Like This Luxury Kitchen?

• Dover in maple kitchen cabinets.
• Highly sophisticated kitchen design with stainless steel appliances and pendant lights.
• Mosaic 2″ x 2″ tile.
• Rimless sink.
• Undercabinet lighting.

Featured Company

Canyon Creek Cabinets

Next Luxury Kitchen Photo

Why Do We Like This Luxury Kitchen?

• Copenhagen maple kitchen cabinets.
• Unified one-wall kitchen layout.
• Wall oven neatly tucked away within cabinets.

Featured Company

Canyon Creek Cabinets