Tile Basics FAQs

What is the difference between ceramic tile and porcelain tile?

Porcelain goes through an added process, grinding the clay to make it very fine. When the clay is compressed, it becomes very dense and has very little moisture absorption making it ideal for outdoors.

Can I butt my tiles close together on the floor?

In a word, no. Stones that are mud set can be butted. Tiles, because they are fired, will have some size variation depending upon the amount of moisture in the clay at the time of firing. 3/16” grout joint is the smallest we would recommend. Tiles that are truly rectified can be set closer, however some of the larger tiles will naturally have a slight warp. Rectified tiles are tiles that have been cut after firing to insure uniformity in size

What is the difference between sanded and un-sanded grout?

What determines whether you use sanded or non-sanded is dependent on the size of the grout space. 1/8” or larger use must use sanded grout. Under a 1/8”, usually 1/16 or smaller, you have to use non-sanded in order for the grout to properly pack into the joint. Non-sanded grout is also recommended for installation of glass, metals, or other materials that can easily scratch.

Does it matter if I use gray or white mortar?

Only when setting stone. Stones are porous and the color of the mortar will influence the tile. Black or green stones should use gray mortar. All others should use white. When installing tile, some installers prefer white mortar when they are going to use a light colored grout.

Can I use mastic to set my floor tile?

Mastic is meant mainly for wall tile. The rule of thumb is to mortar the floors and mastic the wall. Mortar can be used to set wall tile; however, it is not very sticky and holding the tiles in place until they dry can be challenging unless you use a light weight flexible thinset.

an stone be set the same as ceramic on the floor?

Stones set on the floor require “mud-setting”. There are different methods to doing a “mud-set”. The most common is to use a ¾” square notch to trowel the floor, then trowel the back of the stone or butter the back with mortar.

Can I go over vinyl flooring with my tile?

Using a multi-purpose mortar, tile can be bonded to vinyl flooring.  Two things to be careful of:

1. Is the vinyl coming loose?

2. Is the vinyl flooring spongy?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then going over the vinyl is not recommended. It is always better to adhere the tile directly to the substrate. The multipurpose mortar will bond the tile to the vinyl, but it will not prevent the vinyl from coming loose. In essence you are putting good money over bad. Direct bonding to the substrate is best.

When do I need to use crack suppression?

Crack suppression is used to minimize the tile’s exposure to stress from the slab. Before setting the tile, you should walk the slab and look for cracks. If you only have a few cracks then you can use a crack suppression kit. If the slab is new or under three years old then crack suppression should be used on the entire area to be tiled.