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Q. I have a 2nd floor shower with moisture resistant sheetrock. I want to put 18" travertine tile on the walls above the pan. Using modified mortar, can these tiles be put on the wall with mortar blobs leaving an air space behind tile or do the tiles... Read More

Q. I recently laid out 30 sq feet of marble tile in an entry way. The tile originally was of a high gloss polished look. After the grouting I had a persistent grout haze that would not go away. The instructions on the grout said to use vinegar and... Read More

Q. I recently installed new tile and mosaic glass tile around my bathtub encloser. should this new installation be sealed. A. Typically glass does not need to be sealed since it is not porous. However if you used cementious grout you may want to... Read More

There are several grout paints and dies on the market. But be aware that coloring grout can be a tedious task requiring great patience and a steady hand. It is also extremely important that the grout be thoroughly cleaned; otherwise the color will... Read More

Many brands of grout sealer are available for this purpose; most are easy to apply, but make sure the grout is first cleaned thoroughly. Grout sealers are available at most hardware and home supply centers. TIP Most of the silicone impregnators sold... Read More

To repair chips in marble tiles use a polyester resin and color match to the existing material. If the chip is shallow the polyester may not stick. It may be necessary to make the chip bigger. Read More

Pine-type cleaners are not recommended for polished stone surfaces . They contain harsh chemicals that can etch the stone. However, they work well, and are safe to use, on ceramic tile. TIP Let your customers know that few grocery stores carry... Read More

Some agglomerate tiles are poorly manufactured and will have tiny air holes which open up when ground. This most likely what happened in this case. These tiny holes are so small that it is difficult to get grout and polyester to flow into them. To... Read More

Q: I bought a glass shower door. The opening is approx. 1/8" to small. I am checking on having the glass door reduced by that amount. Or is there a way I can sand the travertine tile so the door will close.A: No, you do not want to sand the... Read More

Yes, it is possible to recolor the grout, but it needs to be thoroughly cleaned before re-coloring. If possible, find out what brand and type of coloring was used, and re-apply the same brand or type. TIP Before attempting to recolor the grout make... Read More