Ask Danny | Ep. 7: Talking Tile With ‘That Tile Chick’

On this week’s episode of “Ask Danny,” Schannon Yodice, also called “That Tile Chick” on Instagram, has all of the solutions to your tile questions. 

Schannon is a tile contractor who makes a speciality of tile set up and design. She labored on tile tasks part-time till August 2020, when she took the leap of religion to enter setting tile full-time. Since then, she’s grown her social media into her personal enterprise.

Learn on to be taught extra about all issues tile.

Flooring Issues

Are you able to glue tile straight onto a wooden subfloor?

That Tile Chick: Technically, you are able to do it, however you must have a sure thickness and the joist spacing must be right. It’s not really useful.

All the time use an uncoupling membrane over a wooden subfloor, like one from Schluter Ditra.

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Tiling Over Ceramic

Can you put in tile over present ceramic tile? 

That Tile Chick: It relies upon. That is the place folks can get confused. Some say it’s positive to take action whereas others say no. 

Right here’s a superb rule to comply with: The tile you’re putting in is simply nearly as good as what it’s caught to. 

So, if you’re setting new tile on prime of ceramic tile that’s in unhealthy form, your new tile set up will doubtless fail. 

If the ceramic tile has a strong base, prefer it was set mud mattress, and there aren’t any cracks or unfastened tiles, you’ll be able to in all probability tile over it. However, you must prime it with a product made for tiling over tile. I take advantage of Mapei ECO Prim Grip. Roll on two coats, and all the time comply with the directions. 

Ideas for Out of doors Tiling

What are your ideas for putting in outside tile?

That Tile Chick: All the time use porcelain tile. It’s far more sturdy than ceramic, so it gained’t crack as simply.  

In case you are in an space liable to freeze-thaw, you have to use a thin-set mortar or an adhesive that’s rated for outside. Not all adhesives are rated for outside, so when you use one which isn’t, your tile may pop up from the floor.

Prep the floor effectively. Many outside surfaces, like concrete patios or porches, are sloped away from the home, so that you gained’t get a very degree floor. Fill in any dips or low spots with a concrete patching compound so water doesn’t pool below the tile.

Use an anti-fracture membrane, like RedGard Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane. It’s like liquid plastic that protects the floor from cracking and transferring to tile. 

Cleansing Grout

After grouting tile, what are some ideas for straightforward cleanup? 

That Tile Chick: I like to make use of what I name the two-bucket system. One is the “clear bucket” and the opposite the “soiled bucket.” Right here’s the way it works:

• Fill two buckets with water
• Moist your grout sponge in a single bucket, and wipe up the surplus grout
• Then, wring your soiled sponge into the opposite bucket to rinse away the grout
• Rewet your sponge within the clear water bucket, and repeat

It’s close to not possible to don’t have any grout haze whereas grouting, particularly with acrylic and epoxy grout. Nevertheless, this technique will alleviate that. 

As soon as the grout is dry, use a grout haze remover. I take advantage of Bostik Blaze Urethane Grout Haze Remover. 

Whereas we’re on the subject of cleansing grout, right here’s a tip it is best to know: When cleansing any tile floor, all the time use a pH-neutral cleaner, like ZEP Impartial Flooring Cleaner or Bona Cleaners for Stone, Tile and Laminate Flooring.

As a result of grout is porous, bleach and vinegar will eat away at it over time and likewise go away a movie that can entice grime. 

Most Frequent Mistake

What are the largest errors householders make when putting in tile?

That Tile Chick: Not studying directions. Each product on the market has an information sheet that can let you know its limitations. This provides you factual info, not opinions. 

All the time comply with producer suggestions — they’ve created the product, examined it and know its limitation. 

I’m going to take heed to them over somebody on YouTube. It’s nice to get an opinion however all the time double-check with the producer. 

Watch Out For Pets

That Tile Chick: I work quite a bit in different folks’s houses, and in these houses, folks have pets. I like animals and interacting with them whereas I work, however you might want to keep watch over them. 

We have been engaged on a bathe in a house with a cat. Take note, whenever you’re engaged on a bathe, you’re sometimes opening up a subfloor to take away plumbing. 

After we have been achieved for the day, we put a chunk of plywood over the opening so the house owner’s youngsters wouldn’t by accident fall in. 

The following morning, once we eliminated the plywood, out got here this black blob. The cat was trapped within the subfloor in a single day! 

It was a wake-up name for me as a contractor. As a lot as I like animals, I couldn’t think about being answerable for harming them. 

Be taught extra about Schannon Yodice, “That Tile Chick,” on her web site and see her tasks on YouTube, Instagram, Fb and TikTok.

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