Tile 

Most common tile problems fall in the following areas.

Cracked Tile

Usually caused by heavy hard object hitting tile but can also result from settling and or movement of walls and floor substrate.

Remedy: In the former simply replacing the tile solves the problem. For wall movement use a flexible latex mastic instead of thinset cement to attach tile to wall.

Loose Tile

Several conditions cause loose tile.

The first is poor tile setting. Some tile setters donít tap the tile down firmly with a rubber mallet. They just place the tile on the thin set cement and hope for the best.

Remedy: Reglue tile with epoxy.

The second is a disintegrating substrate or surface which the tile is attached to.

Remedy: Unfortunately this means ripping out the tile and substrate and replacing both.

The third cause is adhesive failure: Usually an early mastic made of a synthetic or coal tar base.
Remedy: The tiles and substrate can be cleaned of the old adhesive and reglued.

Mold/Mildew

Mildew is common with (A.) Non-vitreous tile (permeability greater than 15%) that is used in a wet surface application like bathroom & kitchen floors, counters and shower stalls. This tile will absorb moisture, bacteria and fungus and will always be a problem.

Remedy: (1.) Use full strength bleach and wear a respirator and scrub affected areas.( 2.) Remove the tile and replace with vitreous (porcelain) tile (permeability less than 0.5%).

(B.)Mold and mildew are also caused by rotten wood substrate and framing in the wall behind the tile. If this is the case, usually the grout falls out followed by the tiles and substrate.

Remedy: Demolish and rebuild tile installation.

C.) On some occasions it is neither A nor B above but poor ventilation causing warm moist air to be trapped thus encouraging mold growth.

Remedy: Increase cross-flow of dry air in and moisture laden air out of the area and scrub with 50/50 water and chlorine bleach.

Disintegrating Grout

This can be caused by some of the aforementioned conditions as well as the mild acids from some foods and cleaning solutions.

Remedy: Combine dry grout mix with latex mortar additive and use a grout float to re-grout affected areas after scrubbing grout with warm water and trisodium phosphate.