How to Replace Tiles

Customers always ask about replacing broken or cracked tiles. The first thing I always ask is if they have replacement tiles and if they do are they the correct color. Yes, there are times when a customer thinks they have the correct tiles but at a closer look the tiles are for another part of the house. 

If you don't have replacement tiles, don't try going to one of the Big Box stores looking for a match. Chances are they won't carry the style or brand. Tiles houses usually carry a specific brand of tile for a few years then the lot color or style will change

If you do have have a replacement tile and it matches, the first thing you will need to do is cut out the grout along the tile edges. This can be done by a grout saw, but remember you will need to remove a significant amount of depth when taking out the grout. The reason you need to remove the grout is to release the pressure around the other tiles to keep from breaking tiles around from the one you are removing.  Next, with a steel chisel and heavy hammer begin chipping out the center of the tile.

Once you begin chipping out the center, continue to chip under the tile at a slight angle to get under he tiles. Continue in a "T" pattern until you have removed the entire tile. 

Be extremely careful while lifting the broken pieces because they are sharp like razor blades. I suggest using work gloves while lifting the pieces.

Now that the tiles are removed, you will need to remove the thinset that is still on the floor, so the new tile sits leveled to the other tiles.  If you do not remove the thinset from the foundation, your tiles will sit higher and uneven to the tiles around them.

You can use a Scrapper or a chisel to remove the thinset or a chipping hammer with a flat bit.

Once you have the thinset removed, clean the area and lay the new tile down to ensure an even and leveled fit.  Make improvements where needed.

Now use your trawl to place the thinset on to the floor pulling in one direction. Correctly trawling will allow better adhesion to the tile. Once the motor is laid down and ready grab your tile and place it in the empty area. Gently pat the tile down and make sure it's aligned with the grout lines and is leveled.

Now all you needs to do is let it dry for a few hours, about 45 minutes if you use a speed set. Once tiles is set, grout it with your choice of sanded or unsanded grout and you are done.

This tiles removing instruction can be applied for wall tiles as well. The only thing to be aware of is there are no solid concrete walls, so use care when using a chisel and hammer to tap out tile. 

Good luck!

Why Are My Grout Lines Cracking?

I can't tell you how many estimates I do for people that have a serious problem with their grout lines falling out. There are so many different methods tile installers and builders are using in attempts to prevent tiles from cracking do to foundation shifting or for sound proofing. One of the is lining the foundation with a cork board.

This cork board is typically used in Condominiums to absorb the sounds as someone walks on the tile.  In theory it's a great idea but there seems to be problems with the floor over time. The most significant issue is when you use mortar over the cork then lay the tile, the floor now has a slight flexing issue. This is because the cork contracts and expands as pressure is applied to it by walking on the tiles. This flexing causes the floor to move slightly and when that happens, the grout gives way. The cork board is adhered to the floor by a glue type product and can also release itself over time causing more flexing to the floor. 
Below are pictures showing how the cork board is placed under the tile.

Using cork board has become the standard in new condos and is effective with sound proofing, so you will probably have it installed under your floor. What I suggest is asking your flooring company to use a "Epoxy Based" grout. These grouts are extremely hard and will give you the best defense on floor flexing. There are a variety of epoxy grouts you can ask for and your installers should be familiar with the best ones for you. Just a note, epoxy grouts are a lot more expensive so your cost will be much higher than using standard grouts. Trust me it will be worth it in the long run. You don't want to replace an entire floor if you don't have to, it's a mess!

The Best Method to Keep Your Grout Clean

Customers always ask me, "What's the best way to clean my grout after you've cleaned and sealed it?" I always tell them a good old fashion type mop and neutral cleaner.  Most people are familiar with using vinegar and water and that's fine, but if you really want to keep your newly cleaned floors looking their best, using a mop with a water and neutral cleaner solution will give you the best results. Neutral cleaners won't break down the sealers in your grout so quickly and most of them have a built in decreasing agent that will assist in loosening the dirt and oils that are in your grout lines and tile. Most janitorial supply stores carry a brand of Neutral Cleaner, but Home Depot carries a brand by Zep's that is very good.  In the video link I demonstrate why a mop works the best. A Swiffer just doesn't get between the grout lines as well as the strings of a mop.  Even the Shark home steamers aren't as affective with a floor that has a significant amount of dirt build up. Now remember, this cleaning method really works best after your floors have been professionally cleaned and sealed. That's the key!

Sealers and penetrating stains soak into the pours of the grout and create a barrier much like wax on a car's finish. Most people are under the impression that sealers prevent the grout from getting dirty, which is incorrect. Sealers protect against oil and water based stains. In other words for example, if you spill a little wine on the grout line, it will give you some time before it completely soaks into the grout. These are grout joints so in time they will attract a small amount of dirt and oil, but using a mop with a neutral cleaning solution will keep your floors looking good for a much longer period of time.http://youtu.be/ymOlKHmS0fA

How To Remove Sanded Grout From Your Floor (The Grout Pro)

Here is the way we remove sanded grout from a tiled floor. This technique takes a great while of time to perfect, so I wouldn't suggest a beginner trying this at home. We typically remove grout this way a half dozen times per month, so we have a lot of practice at it. The Grout Pro also specializes in keeping the dust in your home to a minimum. We use hepa filters along with a vacuum system to capture about 75% of the dust.

When removing the grout utilizing grinders be sure to use gloves, safety glasses and ear protection at all times. As always, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

What Causes Cracks In Grout Lines?

The main causes for cracks in the grout lines or the grout to be falling out is tile is no longer adhered to the floor. Sometimes the tiles will pop up from the floor and appear to be folding ontop of eachother. This means the only thing holding it down is the grout itself.  Everytime you step on the section of the tile it moves very slightly, causing the grout to give way. The second reason for cracks is the shifting in the floors foundation. To know if this is the cause, you will usually find cracked tiles along the line route. The crack will also travel a distance from one area to another. When this happens the tiles have moved apart from eachother and caused the crackes to appear.  This may also cause a tile to lift itself from the foundation and become hollow as well.

The proper way to repair this is to replace the tile with a new one and have it properly set to the floor. In some cases you can even resuse the exhisting tile becuase it is able to be removed without damaging the tile. This can only be done if the tile has a hollow sound all around it when you tap on it. If the tiles are sound and just a foundation shift, you may be able to fix the crack by removing the damaged line completely and regrouting it. If the crack reappears, than the problem is the tile itself and will need to be replaced.

As always, you can ask any questions you want and we will do our best to answer them for you. http://www.thegroutpro.com/

Why Is My Grout Falling Out?

There are a few people we give estimates for that have spots in there grout that have either worn out, or are spotty with missing grout. When we first go into the house and we see this problem, the first thing I look at is the size of the dogs they have in the home.  Yes, it's your dogs causing the grout to flick out in small pieces all over the floor.  There are a few reasons why this happens so don't start sending your dog away yet.

The main thing that causes your grout to be torn apart easily, is the installation. When mixing grout, sometimes technicians like to mix it with more water, than it's called for. This makes it easier to float (mush into the joints) the grout and stretches the grout so you don't have to use as much. The problem is that it causes the bonding agents that are in the grout to not hold properly and release with time. This makes the grout brittle and easier for it to be scrapped out.  If your grout is in extremely bad shape, the only recourse is to remove the remainder of the grout and regrout the floor with the proper mixture of grout. DO NOT attempt to simply float new grout on top of the old stuff. This is a nightmare you will not want. The grout that is floated on the old stuff will not adhere to the new stuff effectively and will eventually begin to fall out and flake. This will also cause the grout lines to be too high and more even with the tile. This will cause your grout to get dirtier in the higher spots and will make your floor look spotty!.

Once you have removed and regrouted the floor properly, preferably by a professional (hand grout saws to remove grout will not do the job, I assure you), take your dog to the groomers and have their nails trimmed. It's called preventative maintenance.

Well that's it for now. Good luck and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to let us know. http://www.thegroutpro.com/

How to clean your grout & tile

Most people think using bleach to clean your grout is the answer to everything. They even spend countless hours on the Internet trying to discover the secrets of cleaning their grout. The truth is it all depends on the type of grout you are working with. There are two types of grout typically used in homes or businesses. Sanded Grout & Unsanded Grout. Let's start with unsanded grout for today.

Once this grout gets dirty, it's usually from mold from inside of a shower. The grout gets moldy from the rear of the structure moving outward toward the front. So mold, mildew & phosphorus (soap scum) are very difficult to clean. Once the grout has started to show mold, the only course is to regrout the joints. Simple cleaning with a bleach product will only whiten the top layer, which always causes the grout to return the mold.  I recommend The Grout Pro team for that type of job. Although later on in my blog, I will discuss the proper way to regrout a tight unsanded joint. If you are still thinking about cleaning the shower walls find a cleaner with a base citric acid property. The best consumer product I would recommend is Zep's Shower Cleaner found in Home Depot. Spray the product on, let it sit for a few seconds, agitate with a Scotch Brite green pad, grout brush the joints and rinse with warm water. The acid in the cleaner (not pool acid!) is a minor type of acid that shouldn't be harmful to you if used in moderation. The acidic property neutralizes the phosphorus on the tiles and cleans off the layer of mold in the joints. The key is to agitate the cleaner on the walls. There is NO cleaner that we have found that does the work for you. Good old fashion elbow grease is the key.

As always if you live in the Central Florida area from Orlando, Brevard County up to Flagler County, The Grout Pro can help you out! When Dirty Grout Needs To Go....Call The Grout Pro! http://www.thegroutpro.com/