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Q. Refacing a fireplace with 30cm slate tiles. What is the best adhesive to use (only about 25 pieces of tile involved so don't want to have to purchase a 50lb. bag of anything)? Would a premix mastic work? Will I need to provide support for the... Read More

Q: I'm laying "penny" mosaic tile on top of a heating system. I had to use a light amount of thinset in some spots due to leveling issues. As a result I have some tiles that are coming up (I have not yet grouted). I am going to use spectralock... Read More

How to Keep Travertine Floor Grout Lines Clean Professional contractors understand that the cleanliness of travertine grout lines can make or break the overall appearance of a travertine floor. Unfortunately, in many cases, dirty travertine grout... Read More

Several grout cleaners are available at your home center, hardware store or janitorial supply store. These cleaners are acidic, so caution is advised. Once the grout is cleaned I would suggest applying a good grout sealer. You may also want to... Read More

The are many reasons why the grout becomes powdery. If the tile is very absorbent it will soak up most of the moisture from the grout preventing it from curing properly. Too much water added to the grout mix can also make the grout powdery. To repair... Read More

Polyester resins breakdown in the presence of ultra violet(UV) light. For this reason polyesters should never be used outdoors. For outside repairs it is advisable to use an epoxy resin. Epoxy resins are generally more resistant to UV light. Check... Read More

The marble tile was most likely improperly installed. Before you grind a floor you should sound the floor by tapping on each tile with a broom handle. If you hear a hollow thud sound then there is a strong chance that the tile has no setting material... Read More

Yes, there are several fillers that can be used that will take a polish. If the area is small you can use a polyester filler. These polyesters are sold at marble supply houses as Akemi, K-bond, Chemolit, etc. You will only be able to fill several... Read More

Terrazzo is in fact a marble floor. Terrazzo is comprised of marble chips mixed with Portland cement and polishes just like a marble floor. Many terrazzo contractors hone the terrazzo to about a 80 or 120 grit and apply a wax coating. If you continue... Read More

Travertine is a marble that has a lot of holes. These holes are filed at the factory with a colored Portland cement. When you polish the marble the fillers do not take a polish. This is why you get dull spots. The only way to eliminate the dull spots... Read More