x-post : floor tile problem?

17 years ago

I posted this in the flooring forum but haven't received any responses so thought I'd try here.

Hi. I don't post here much (usually over in kitchens) but I need some advice. I'm having rectified porcelain tile (7 x 14, running bond) installed in my mudroom and I noticed today that a few of the tiles are as much as 3/16" of an inch higher than others. The tile is being installed on a new concrete slab. The slab surface isn't very smooth and no skim coat or self leveller was used before the tile was installed. About 2/3" of the tiles are in place and it's not grouted.

My question: Should the slab have been evened out with a skim coat first or is it normal to just use mastic to try to even it as you go? And what kind of height differences are considered acceptable? I definitely want the couple of really bad tiles removed and replaced, but do you think I should have the whole floor taken up and start over (it's only 120 sq ft)? Thanks for any advice you can give.

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Comments (8)

bill_vincent
17 years ago
Okay-- a couple of things. First, I'm hoping it's only a case of semantics, and your intallers aren't really using mastic (which comes already mixed in a bucket), but are actually using thinset (which must be mixed either with water or an additive). Secondly, no matter how they do it-- flattening out the floor prior to installing the tile, or flattening it out by adding more thinset AS they set the tile-- Either way, the floor must be flat. And not for nothing, but I wouldn't accept 3/16" lippage from NORMAL tile, much less rectified porcelain!! I'd let them know that if they intend to get paid, they need to do something about the lippage, first, and it should be done before they go any further-- get what's done so far to the point of being acceptable, and THEN proceed however they wish to, so long as they get the floor flat, no quesitons asked.
remodelfla
17 years ago
I was going to relay info that Bill had provided to me awhile back about the installation of rectified porcelain but you heard it directly from the source! And to restate... he told me (as you) that the slab must be totally even for a quality installation. We were going to DIY it but since I'm saving so much money super shopping appliances and other things; I think we'll have to spend on the installation since we only plan on doing this once and the plan is to stay in this house till we're very very old and cranky!
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cheri127
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks so much for the comments. My mistake, Bill, it is thinset. Also, I tried to measure the lippage and it may be more like an eighth but I still don't like it. There aren't too many tiles that are too high so I think it would be pretty easy to fix. However, this may all be meaningless because I'm beginning to think the color is all wrong. Sheeeeeesh! If we do decide to rip them all out, I'll make sure the floor is made smooth before we proceed again.

Elyse, I'm already old and this remodel has me VERY cranky. Seriously, you're the queen of bargains...you deserve to treat yourself to a professional tile installation. I really can't wait to see how your kitchen turns out. Are you in the house yet?
remodelfla
17 years ago
Nope... we wont' move in till we finish it and then we'll rent out my house. I'm very very fortunate that we have the two homes which aside from the financial burden; allows us (me) to use the time to find amazing deals. We've been forced to take time which has allow a very functional layout to emerge out of a small and weird space.
bill_vincent
17 years ago
Also, I tried to measure the lippage and it may be more like an eighth but I still don't like it.

Rule of thumb for lippage with natural stone and rectified porcelain is if you try and slide a credit card from one tile to the next and can't, it's too much.
glenster_jr
17 years ago
I can't help but wonder along which edge of the tile the lippage is occurring, i.e., across the 7" ends or in the middle of the 14" sides? Could it be that the tiles are not very flat, either concave or convex along the long axis? BTW I'm not taking up for the installer. Just curious.
cheri127
Original Author
17 years ago
The lippage is on the long side of the tile. You can't slide your foot over it so you definitely wouldn't be able to slide a credit card. I don't think it's the tiles because I looked through all the scraps and they're very uniform. The floor had bumps in it and I just assumed a skim coat would be applied first to smooth it out. Rule #1-never assume anything! The installer is a really great guy and will make it right. I just have to decide if I want him to just replace the tiles that are too high or replace the whole floor with darker tile.
bill_vincent
17 years ago
I can't help but wonder along which edge of the tile the lippage is occurring, i.e., across the 7" ends or in the middle of the 14" sides? Could it be that the tiles are not very flat, either concave or convex along the long axis?

Doesn't matter. The tiles in the following picture are 12x18 rectified porcelain, and I DID have that problem, where there was a slight curvature to the tile. Even on a tile that big, though, the worst it ever got was a shy 1/16", and in about 1200 feet, with a fussy architect, not one piece had to be replaced, So no, bowed tile isn't an excuse, either.