Q. I am going to be tiling my deck outside in slate. Can I use any slate?

A. You would think any slate should be able to go outside, why not it's a rock. using slate outside is a wonderful look but there are certain slates that shouldn't go outside in our climate because they are too soft. When they are too soft (the dirt hasn't been compacted enough) therefore the water can get in, freeze, expand and break the tile. There are many slates that are harder and can go outside without problems. An alternate is porcelain tile that hasn't been glazed. Porcelain tile has a very low water absorption rate so again the water can't get in, freeze, expand and break the tile.








Q. What is the difference between , porcelain & ceramic tile?

A. Before porcelain tile became more known in the residential market we mainly had ceramic tile in our homes. More tile factories are making porcelain & recognizing the residential market. We still use ceramic tiles on floors but recommend porcelain tile in high traffic areas like entries & kitchens because porcelain is generally stronger than ceramic.












Q. Do I have to seal my grout?

A. Yes, you should. Grout has come a long way but it still needs to be protected. When using Aquamix's grout sealer, just spray & buff the sealer off the tile for wall tile and for the floor, brush it on the grout joints & buff off the tile. We always recommend doing a test in a inconspicuous place with any sealer you use.








Q. Do I need a sub floor to set tile on?

A. If you have a concrete floor you can tile right on that. If there are any cracks, you will have to address those with an anti-fracture membrane so that the crack does not travel through the tile. The floor should be clean of residue (lino glue) and check to see if the floor is fairly level. If the floor is plywood, an additional sub floor needs to be put down on it. Exterior grade 3/8” fir plywood or hardibacker cement board can be glued and screwed down.














Q. I heard that if I have a small room I should use small tile on the floor.

A. This is a myth. It all depends on your style and the look that you are trying to achieve, so don't limit yourself to this silly rule. Most of the selection is around 12 by 12 and if you limit yourself to an 8 by 8 tile, your options are about one percent of the selection. Try putting tile on a diagonal. This layout tends to open up the space visually.








Q. My grout changed colour since I installed my tile. How can I refresh it?

A. There are two options. Get a good Deep Grout Clean from Aqua Mix and then reseal the grout. You can also apply grout colourant and even change the colour of the grout. It colours and seals at the same time and is available in several different colours.