Posted 30 May 2007 - 10:45 PM
on another subject, I need some ceramic tile advice:
I want to replace the old sanded floor tile grout and replace it with new grout on a floor in a house that one of my relatives bought. Reason is the old owner used whatever grout that was on sale, different colors, brand, and then tried to recolor it, twice. looks good after someone smoked 5 joints, and drank a 12-pak, listening to the blues, then they just wouldn't care how it looks. most of the joints are cracked, though some joints are in as good a condition as it gets. I realize the job may be very labor intensive, but the tile looks nice and they would want to keep it. Tearing out the whole floor wouldn't be a walk in the park either, and would probably require 5 mexicans (or something), using quality SHEP tools, about 1-2 weeks to get everything up. I think the previous owner found some NASA-Brand mortar to set the tile. It's tough
(I already worked at redoing the entryway- about 4' x 6', and I don't think nuking it with the bomb would've taken off 5 minutes of demo time, which took me 2 days to get it cleaned up enough to lay the new tile). The old mortar had these little nodules that were nothing short of miraculously difficult, and strategically placed, so as to hinder any sort of level floor work. I would almost think is was an Obama (or is it Osama) plot to keep someone away from the polls, and/or slamming Hillary at one of her rallies. I would've thought that the flushing action on the veins, especially the Carotids, would be keeping me out of the hospital, but maybe I'll end up being there sooner than planned (double-edged knife syndrome). (while we're on that part, if you've had an angiogram, call the hospital and request a copy of the films. They are copied onto a CD, and are completely compatible on a home computer. see what life looks like with shots of Iodine, and piano wire. You don't have to return them, and if you have a cd burner, can make copies of it and send it out. Some portions have a narrative that you can listen to the doctor telling what's going on. The included viewer has 6 different languages, in case you want to play around. Neat, and a sort of family home movie that only cost something like $20,000 to produce...)).
Their options (as I see it): [1] remove enough to regrout a veneer layer; [2] remove all of the grout and replace entirely; [3] sell the house and get another one that has a better flooring situation; or [4] burn the house down and collect the insurance, then start with a new slab.
Tools: I was looking for a diamond cutter to remove the 3/8" joint. maybe a 4-inch grinder. If not that, I have a diamond blade, a skilsaw, and a shop vacuum cleaner to keep the dust and dirt down while using it as a wet saw.
I had tried oxiClean to clean the grout, which did pretty good, but the original color variation, ...well, that was mentioned already. any suggestions? thanks. Hoping that some of the hobbyists out there with a day job in Tile could help me out.
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