Flooring Services – 5 Common Tile Installation Problems

Flooring Services – April 27, 2022 – In a place like Pasadena where buildings are a mix of the ancient and the modern, it is more convenient to entrust maintenance of your floors, walls, fences, and the rest to a professionally run service provider, than individual handymen.

Tile installations particularly come with their own challenges. Continue reading to learn what the common ones are, and how best to counter them.

Marred Surfaces

A floor surface is likely to be damaged after removal of an existing floor. Cracks may develop, and in some cases the surface underneath may reveal some unevenness.

With such damage existing or with mold growing within the area, fitting tiles without prior care would not produce the intended look and appeal.

As such, it is crucial that any existing cracks be repaired first and mold thoroughly cleaned out.

Uneven Floor Layout

When the floor is not even, it is impossible to fix tiles in a uniform manner, whether in size or in shape. It is also difficult to assess with accuracy the number of tiles needed for the job. The floor needs to be flattened out first.

For this reason, it is advisable to engage the services of a handyman service provider, whose services go beyond tile installation. With such a professional firm, there is always someone to repair the floor and to make it sufficiently even for the tile installer to work on.

Poorly Done Grouting

Grout, like mortar, needs to be properly mixed and used in the right amount; but some tile installers fail to find the right balance.

The solution here is to ensure the work is done by a skilled handyman, who will ensure the grout used is sufficient, and that removal of excess grout does not interfere with the grout linking individual tiles.

Incorrect Underlayment

If the underlayment does not correspond to the type of local environment, the discrepancy could shorten the life of the tiles.

For example, a wet environment calls for use of grout that is impermeable, and underlayment that is waterproof. That ensures the risk of mold growing on the tiles is minimized, as moisture is prevented from reaching the surface.

Poorly Mixed Mortar

Mortar is the base that holds tiles in place, and when it is poorly mixed it cannot maintain the tiles in their right positions. 

The ratio of cement to sand should be right just like the ratio of mortar to water. Any disproportionate use of ingredients could lead to tiles shifting from their original positions; hence ruining the entire floor layout.

Conclusion

To minimize tile installation problems, it’s better to engage a firm rather than individual handymen. Note that sometimes the tile installer might need to consult a plumber, electrician, painter or such other expert, just to ensure the tiling does not distort anything important.

Go for a service provider with comprehensive home maintenance services, and you won’t need repairs for a very long time.