All About Tile Repair and Tile Installation

TIME TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM TILES

Good morning Saturday, the day you clean your bathroom, right?  Oh well, you should clean the bathroom a least once every week.  But you just hate to clean the three tile walls inside the bath tub area, right?  It just doesn’t clean right, and your sick and tired of smelling the powerful cleaning chemical to clean all around the tub area, right?  Oh what a strong odor early in the morning, right?

SO WHAT IS BEST

What would you think about using clear vinegar, baking soda, and water to clean the tiles, caulk and grout in and around the bath tub area?  Can it work and is it effective?  The answer is yes!  Cleaning sprays contain chemicals that can darken grout and remove grout from the tiles in time.  Once grout is removed from the tiles, water can enter between the tiles causing damage to the backer board and the beginning of mold in time.  Also chemicals can leave a soapy film on the tiles which gives the tiles a dull look to it.  So remember, always wipe off excess water from the tiles after every shower or bath; the water mixed with your body oil and soap can leave a noticeable stain on the tiles.

WHY VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA?

Clear vinegar mixed with baking soda and water will clean your bathroom tiles, caulk and grout better and more effective in time and is safe for you and the environment.  This combination has no harmful chemicals and is cheaper to purchase than any cleaning sprays on the market.  First use a small stainless steel basin (or small plastic bucket) and fill with less than 1/2 water.  Add about a 1/4 cup of clear vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.  You will see the water bubbling up, this is normal when you add baking soda.  Gently use a soft brush with the mixture to clean the heavily stain grout line and discolored caulk around the tile/tub area.  You can use a sponge or cleaning rag with the mixture to clean the tiles and grout in all areas of the bathroom.  Repeat this procedure at least once of week and you will see a big difference in time.  If your bathroom grout and caulk is badly stain or in bad condition, you may have to call a tile-repair specialist to re-grout, re-caulk and clean your bathroom tiles.  If you are located in the New York City area, call me Nick The Tile Man @ 917 865-8693.

Newly installed ceramic floor tile in shower stall.

DO IT YOURSELF SHOWER FLOOR TILE REPAIR

Nick the Tile Man with his assistant Manuel installing porcelain floor tiles.

Choosing The Right Floor Tile

Choosing the right floor tile will make a big difference when you are repairing floor tile or installing floor tile. My favorite is porcelain floor tiles because it has durability, different sizes, different colors, and different texture. Some porcelain tiles have a marble look to it, some have a smooth surface and other tiles have a rough, non-slip finish. Porcelain tiles can be difficult to cut, I would recommend using a wet saw.

Ceramic floor tiles are good tiles for installing on the floor. Ceramic tiles also some in different sizes, colors and texture. Ceramic tiles can have a high glazed finish which will make it easy to clean but can be slippery when wet. Ceramic tiles are easier to install because they are lighter and cut easier on a wet saw or manual tile cutter.

Granite floor tiles are the most durable of all floor tiles. Granite tiles are usually 1/4 inch thick and heavier than most floor tiles. Granite is installed by butting each tile together leaving as little space (no space) as possible. Granite tile can be difficult to install. The surface must be level and you should use thin-set mortar made especially for install granite tiles. If you install granite tiles in the bathroom, I would recommend that you use a sealer on the granite tiles before you grout your granite tiles, always using a non-sanded grout for granite tiles. Granite tiles can be very pricey.

Marble tiles are less durable than granite tiles but the finish product after installation will be a beautiful glass-like finish that you can’t help but notice. Yes marble tile is perhaps the most beautiful of all tiles when installed properly. Like granite, marble tiles should have a sealer applied before you grout the tiles using a non-sanded grout. Marble tiles should be butted together leaving as little space (no space) as possible. Also you should use the thin-set mortar made especially for marble tiles. Like granite tiles, marble can be very pricey.

Preparing The Floor For Tile Installation

I am not a fan for installing tiles onto plywood floor or any wooden floors. It just doesn’t work and in time you always have a problem. Your floor tiles can crack or break as well as your grout cracking and removing from between the tiles. So preparing your floor is the key for successful tile installation. With today’s technology, you do not need a mud job to install floor tiles. Why would you want all that unnecessary weight resting on your house beams? In time all the weight will have some adverse effect on your house settling more than normal.

I like to use a cement board when installing floor tiles. But the foundation that is on the floor should be level. If it isn’t level, you should remove the plywood laying on the house beams and level the beams and re-installing the plywood. You want your foundation as level as possible!

Now you can install the cement boards and secure the boards using the special screws that are made especially for floor installation. Never use sheet rock screws, the heads will break in time which will cause your tiles to crack or break and the same goes with the grout. When done, you will have a good surface that is level for installing any floor tiles.

Repair Broken or Cracked Bathroom Tiles

Broken or cracked bathroom tiles that are set over drywall are difficult to replace because the drywall is usually damaged and is in need of repair. You will have to remove the damage drywall from one stud to another (between studs) so you can install new backer board from one stud to the other stud. I like to use cement board because it protect much better against water leakage and highly resistant in mold build up.

TIP: For cracked or broken tiles set into cement (before 1960) it would be better to have a professional tile man repair the area. You may call me at 917 865-8693, if you run into trouble or need addition help with tile repair.

Before you replace anything, check to see if mold exist. Mold can bleed through you newly installed backer board and grout. Use some bleach to kill the mold that can be located on the wooden studs and surrounding area.

If a single tile has been cracked or chipped, you can usually repair it. To replace the damaged tile, dig out the grout around the tile with a special tool called a grout saw or a utility knife. Shatter the broken tile into small pieces by hitting it with a hammer and a masonry chisel. Wear safety glasses, pieces may go flying. Pry out the pieces and scrape off the grout and adhesive with a scraper or putty knife. If drywall is under the tile, be careful not to dig into it. Clean out all the debris and get the surface as clean as possible.

Dry fit the new tile to be installed. What it doesn’t fit? Very often the new tile will not fit easily even if it is the same tile that was originally installed. If you file down all four sides of the tile, it will fit. You can use a tile setter’s stone or even the cement on your side walk to file-down each side. Install the new tile by applying tile glue. You could buy a small bucket of glue for repair jobs. Place glue in back of tile and install into the area. If tile stick out too much, remove tile and take some glue off and try again. If tile is sunk in too much, remove it and add glue and try again.

When you’re finished, add grout and wait about 4 hours to dry. If the replaced tile is located in the shower or tub area, wait 24 hours before you shower or bathe.

Re-Caulk Techniques

Newly installed and re-caulk ceramic tiles in the bathtub area.

Remove the old caulk that is located around the shower or tub area and in the corners. First use a utility knife with a new blade a try to separate the old caulk from the shower base or tub. After you cut into the old caulk, use a scraper and a hammer to gently remove caulk from shower base or tub.

You can try some bleach to kill mold located on the tiles and shower or tub area. Make sure you clean and remove the bleach from the area before you apply new caulk.

CAUTION: Do not use ammonia on grout, caulk, and with bleach together. The combination of both these chemical will cause toxic fumes which is hazardous to your health.

You should use caulking where the tiles meet the shower base or tub and in all corners of the shower and tub area. Use good caulking that is made for kitchens and baths; not all caulk will apply well in the shower and tub area. Read the application directions for the brand that you use. I like to use caulk that you apply with a caulk gun. Cut the nozzle on an angel but do not cut a big hole. I would cut slightly bigger than the size of a medium long nail so the nail can fit into the nozzle to break the seal.

Place the caulking tip on the area you want to caulk and spread while moving rapidly from one side to the other. Don’t stop your movement even if you skip an area. You can go back and apply. When you’ve completed one side, spread caulk evenly from one side to another. Do not apply too much caulk at one-time, it is easier to add than to remove.

TIP: Depending on the brand of caulk you are using, you may spread the caulk either with your finger (without a glove) or a sponge with water. Check the brand of caulk to see if it is water base or not.  Water base can be spread with your finger or sponge with water, otherwise you would have to use your finger to spread the caulk. And don’t use too much caulk, less is best!

You must wait for grout to completely dry before you apply 100% silicone caulking. Water base caulking can be applied normally in one hour after the grout has been applied and appears to be dry. When you have completed all the areas with the newly applied caulk, make sure you allow at least 24 hours to dry before you shower or bathe.

RE-GROUTING TILES

Tile Repair Specialist Manuel re-grouting ceramic tiles in the bathroom area.

Grout can discolor in time if not maintained properly. When you shower or bathe, water is splashed inside the shower and bath area and is mixed with soap, your body oils and minerals that are found in water itself. When you mix them all together, a dirty film can develop over the tiles, grout and tub. Grout can also diminish and crack in time if you use bleach or ammonia. The best way to maintain tiles and grout in your shower and bath area is to mix water, baking soda and clear vinegar in a pail or basin and wipe your grout and tiles.

TIP: Use a small cloth or sponge daily to remove excess water from tiles, shower glass doors and tub prior to you leaving the bath tub area after you showered or bathe.

Nick the Tile Repair Specialist removing old grout and caulk using one of several tools to accomplish this task.	Tile repair tools includes small scraper, large and small grout saws, utility knife, small gauge grout saw, straight edge razor and large scraper with hook edge.	Large tile grout saw is used to remove grout between ceramic tiles, that has changed color and or has signs of some mold on the grout.

GROUT REMOVAL TECHNIQUES

First remove old grout with a utility knife or a grout saw. This is a hands-on job; do not use a machine to remove grout. Take it slow when using the utility knife or grout saw when removing the old grout, you do not want to extend beyond the grout line and scratch the tile. It is better that you remove as much of the old grout that you can in the shower and tub area. You want to re-grout an entire area so it doesn’t look like a tile repair job.

TIP: If the remaining grout between the tiles is black, this can be a sign of mold. Use some bleach to remove the mold in the remaining grout of the tile before you apply new grout.

I like to use powdered grout because it’s easier to apply and remove. You can use a polymer modified grout (just mix with water) or regular grout which you should mix with an acrylic latex additive. You can purchase a grout floater which will spread the grout onto the tiles. Mix the grout until it’s easy to move but not too watery or dry. Place a small amount of grout on your floater. Work the grout between the tiles not over the entire tile. The object is to fill in the area between the tiles and avoid spreading grout all over the tile.

TIP: Work a small area at a time. Wipe the excess grout off the tiles with a sponge and clean water before grout hardens. Wear plastic gloves when you grout.

Before And After Tile Repair!

These bathroom tiles was repaired once before, very poor job that caused leaks.

Stop looking at your ugly bathroom. I can give you step by step process of removing old grout and mold and re-grout and re-caulk your bathroom tiles to make them look like the day they were installed!.

Why spend $$$$$ big money to remove and install a new bathroom when you can repair your present bathroom to look like new! Just call 918 865-8693 and ask for Nick the Tile Man. I will go to your home to see if we can clean up, re-grout, re-caulk and polish your old tiles to look new! Call me today @ 9 1 7 8 6 5 – 8 6 9 3 for an estimate. I will come to your house and explain in detail what procedure we will use to accomplish our task. You will be amazed how your old run-down bathroom can look almost like the day it was installed 40, 50, 60 years ago.

Damaged backer board was removed and new backer board installed and sealed. We removed the different colored tiles.

Not all bathroom can be clean up, re-grouted, re-caulk and tiles polished due to years of neglect, using bleach on tiles and grout, and tiles that crack or broken. But in many cases, we can removed tiles,clean and polish them, and change the backer board that is mildew, broken or missing. We re-install the tiles to make your bathroom look almost new (an in some cases like new) if the tiles didn’t bleach out, crack, or damaged by other means.

And here is the finished product. Note one color, no more two different color tiles.