How to replace a tile

 How to replace a tile

 

Many of us have a cracked or chipped tile that we would really like to have repaired but are afraid of tackling it for fear of damaging the other tiles around it. If you were wise enough to keep a few leftover tiles, the job may be easier than you believe.
 
If you have patience, are reasonably handy and have the right tools - a grout scraper, pry bar, hammer, and safety glasses – you could consider doing it yourself.

Firstly, be sure to wear safety goggles or glasses to protect your eyes from the tiny bits of grout and tile, then use the grout rake remove the grout around the four edges of the damaged tile. Be sure to remove all the grout down to the mortar bed.

Now you need to remove the tile itself. If you have a tile saw or grinder you can cut the tile in an X pattern down about ¼” deep, or use a hammer to smash the centre of the tile. Remove the tile using a chisel or pry bar and hammer from the centre out toward the edges. Break off small pieces at a time and carefully and slowly remove the tile shards. Once you have the tile removed, you will need to use a floor scraper to remove the adhesive under the tile down to the concrete or plywood substrate.

Now it’s time to install the replacement tile. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix the floor mortar, comb it into place using a ¼ square notched trowel. Set the new tile making sure it is level with the surrounding tiles. Let it set overnight then mix grout to match your existing, and apply to the joints.

Eh voila another job well done! If you do not have the time or do not feel you are up to the challenge of tackling it yourself, generally it takes an hour or so to replace each damaged tile, so you can hire a skilled tradesman to do the work for you. Here at Star Tile, we have a dozen full time tile setters, available to complete the work for you. 

Give us a call 905-892-5756 and we’ll assess your situation and provide a free estimate for the repairs.  

Gayle Baltjes-Chataway

Cleaning your carpets -

Cleaning your carpets -
 

If you’re like me, this time of year seems to be especially challenging trying to grab my four legged friends for feet washing after a long walk, before they hit any of the carpets! Best of intentions but not always possible!

Thankfully with the quality of fibre going into carpets today, most times we can breath easily and know that it is just going to take some patience and a little effort to get them looking good as new again.

First thing to remember is to relax …never rub a stained area aggressively (carpets are heat set, the friction you create by your efforts may get the stain out but leave the carpet ‘fuzzy’ afterwards), simply blot the area first to absorb as much as possible, working from the outside in, then rinse thoroughly with clean water and  blot again. With most of today’s fibres, stains will not penetrate the actual yarn of the carpet, so all we are doing is blotting up the liquid that is surrounding the fibres, gently blot down into the carpet removing the spill from the carpet, rinsing the individual fibres free of their undesirable stain coating.
 
Most stains will remove this way, a small drop of laundry detergent (no bleach) in your water will help dissolve some more difficult stains or visit our website www.startilecentre.com for specific advice many common household stains.

To address one of the most common questions, should your four legged friend  have an accident, blot and rinse as above, then rinse with vinegar to neutralize the stain and deodorize the area without hurting your carpet.

Gayle Baltjes-Chataway