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Fixing sharp edges on installed tile.

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30K views 25 replies 18 participants last post by  AGullion  
#1 ·
A longtime regular elderly customer is in a bind and wants me to help finish a project. They have installed a ceramc tile floor to replace a linoleum and carpet floor on a slab. They went with the tile subcontactors suggeation of 20x20rectified tiles After 2 attempts by two separate tilers, the job still isnt right. The first one tried to install with a seamless look and was unsuccessful, leaving lips and an uneven installation. The 2nd one said he needed to rip up the entire floor and reinstall with a 1/8 inch groutline. They did a much better job comparatively, however there are still lots of sharp lipd edges. They filled the grout to the top and did a nice job smothing it out for the most part.
My question is, is there a tool or method to sand or soften the lip edges without having to rip up the floor again? The tile sub says this is acceptable, but i have never seen this before.
Thanks for any advice.
Ben
 
#7 ·
Anything you do to a finished edge has the potential to create visible lines with the scuffed surface on the edge...

If you're not going to rip it up (and I completely understand why the customer would not want to do it... AGAIN), and the grout is already at it's peak, it's a matter of learning to live with the least inconvenient of issues...

IMHO, the second guy who came in to fix the first one (especially since he ripped it up and was dealing with similar issues) had an obligation to ensure the floor was prepped correctly and use a tile leveling system if they couldn't do it themselves...

How bad exactly was the lippage on the fix this time? Any pics?
 
#8 ·
Under those budget conditions, they can live with it, or at least try to improve any obvious trip hazzards by replacing a few tiles. I don't think grinding lips is going to be a visually-acceptable solution.

Side note: I was chatting with an excellent bathroom remodeler, and he told me that when he hears "large format rectified tile" he just declines those jobs (he can afford to do it). Either he's not into leveling systems, or maybe it's the expectations of those clients.

Then again, maybe the folks hired two duds.
 
#11 ·
Pictures would help, but there isn't much you can do with at this point. Taking any power tool to it will not end well. Rectified tile tends to be a bit chippy. Grinders and rotary tools vibrate too much to give a smooth finish. You could try use a set of polishing wheels on a grinder, but from the sounds of it and the fact that you list your trade as an electrician, I would guess that you don't have the skills or experience to fix this either.
 
#17 ·
MarkJames said:
was chatting with an excellent bathroom remodeler, and he told me that when he hears "large format rectified tile" he just declines those jobs (he can afford to do it). Either he's not into leveling systems, or maybe it's the expectations of those clients.
Or he doesnt know what he is doing when it comes to large format rectified.

Why in the world is everyone so afraid of large rectified tile? I love it!:thumbup:

Its becoming more and more popular so either figure out how to install it or fall by the wayside.

I have 3000' of 24"x24" on concrete coming up and i cant wait.:clap::clap: The prep alone would make someones month.
 
#19 ·
couple of things: have you checked the tile to be sure it's flat? Sight down all the edges to see if it has any dip or curve in the material. What tile pattern did they use? brick pattern (1/2 offset) or normal grid? Brick pattern needs 1/3 offset at the minimum.

There is allowable lippage. For 1/8" joint it is 1/32" or just slightly thicker than a credit card. If they had used 1/4" joint then 1/16' or twice as much difference.
 
#26 ·
First, they probably should have hired you to start with.

Secondly , TNT is right , there is no sane way to fix porcelain lippage, and that tile choice doesn't seem reasonable for an elderly person.

Third, this sounds like taking on someone else's headache to be the hero. I 've done that , and usually ended up sorry I tried .