Hi all - new to this forum here, and I have a couple of questions I couldn't find any other info on...
I am in the middle of installing ceramic tile in my house. Actually, I am having it done, and I wanted to check up on my installer - make sure he isn't cutting any corners on me. I know this is a DIY web-site, but I was hoping to get some answers to other questions elsewhere as well...
Project details: house built in 1984, south FL. Tiles are being laid on concrete slab. Previous floor was also ceramic tiles. Reason for replacement is to freshen up the look/general re-modeling. New tiles are 18" square ceramic, with a 0.05% H20 absorption rate and a PEI rating of 5. Thinset is being used between tiles and floor. Presently, 90% of floor is down. Tiles have not been grouted.
Questions:
1. on some of the tiles which have been down for quite a while, I have already noticed that "ding" when my wife walks over them in her heels, indicating a void in the thin-set. This void area is always along the edge of the tile. My installer applied thinset to a clean floor and buttered the bottom of the tile; I think this void area is along the edges where he may have missed with the buttering. He says that the grout will fill in these spaces and I don't have to worry about it - is this correct, or should I have him pull the tiles and re-do them?
2. some of the cuts along the walls are not even. I think that there is no way to make this perfect - you will see variation from tile to tile in depth from wall as well as some cut angles will vary. I am kicking myself for not taking up the baseboards first, so I could put them over the tile. What is the right way to cover this up? quarter round? new, wider base-board?
3. which a SEI 5 rated tile, will sealing be necessary?
I am in the middle of installing ceramic tile in my house. Actually, I am having it done, and I wanted to check up on my installer - make sure he isn't cutting any corners on me. I know this is a DIY web-site, but I was hoping to get some answers to other questions elsewhere as well...
Project details: house built in 1984, south FL. Tiles are being laid on concrete slab. Previous floor was also ceramic tiles. Reason for replacement is to freshen up the look/general re-modeling. New tiles are 18" square ceramic, with a 0.05% H20 absorption rate and a PEI rating of 5. Thinset is being used between tiles and floor. Presently, 90% of floor is down. Tiles have not been grouted.
Questions:
1. on some of the tiles which have been down for quite a while, I have already noticed that "ding" when my wife walks over them in her heels, indicating a void in the thin-set. This void area is always along the edge of the tile. My installer applied thinset to a clean floor and buttered the bottom of the tile; I think this void area is along the edges where he may have missed with the buttering. He says that the grout will fill in these spaces and I don't have to worry about it - is this correct, or should I have him pull the tiles and re-do them?
2. some of the cuts along the walls are not even. I think that there is no way to make this perfect - you will see variation from tile to tile in depth from wall as well as some cut angles will vary. I am kicking myself for not taking up the baseboards first, so I could put them over the tile. What is the right way to cover this up? quarter round? new, wider base-board?
3. which a SEI 5 rated tile, will sealing be necessary?