Pitted Tile Floors

 

SUSIE: Yes, we put down some ceramic Italian white slate from Lowe’s; about 1,700 square feet of it. It was supposed to be high-grade – grade four – high-traffic. We have no children. We have no traffic. It is pitting just terrible and when it pits, underneath – evidently because the color doesn’t go all the way through – what I’m seeing is the red clay look underneath.

 

TOM: So this is like a painted kind of a slate?

 

SUSIE: I’m assuming it is.

 

TOM: Yeah. Do you know what the manufacturer was?

 

SUSIE: I don’t. I’ve still got a box of it. I just don’t know what to do.

 

LESLIE: I mean it sounds like whatever surface coating that was baked onto there – because that’s essentially what it must be; it must be some sort of a glazed tile – is not sticking.

 

TOM: (overlapping voices) Is failing.

 

SUSIE: (overlapping voices) Yes. OK.

 

TOM: Right.

 

SUSIE: Right.

 

TOM: And there’s no easy solution there. How long has this floor been down?

 

SUSIE: This floor has been down a total of three years.

 

TOM: Here’s what I would do. I would get out that box of the unused tile.

 

SUSIE: Right.

 

TOM: I would go back to the manufacturer. Right? Contact them directly.

 

LESLIE: If they’re still in business.

 

SUSIE: Pardon?

 

TOM: (chuckles) Let’s hope they are.

 

SUSIE: Yes.

 

TOM: Contact them directly. Find out what the warranty is on there. Perhaps you can get in touch with them, send some photos and see what they have to say about it. Because it sounds like you’ve got a bad finish on that.

 

SUSIE: Possibly. Can I restain the whole floor; the grout and the tile?

 

TOM: Don’t know. Don’t know. Depends on what the material is. There are concrete stains that probably could be used for this but you really have to test it out on something first; and perhaps, if you’ve got some extra tile, you could do that.

 

LESLIE: I wouldn’t do anything before I contacted the manufacturer.

 

TOM: Yeah, I wouldn’t go experimenting.

 

SUSIE: Alright. And my last question for – can I put a wood floor or laminate down on top of this?

 

TOM: Yes. Yes. You would use an engineered hardwood or you could use a laminate floor. Either product would be fine. You don’t have to take up the old tile. It can float right on top of that. Just remember, you’re going to be a little bit higher; you’re going to have to do some trimming where it hits the walls. But that’s a good solution.

 

SUSIE: That’s not a problem. And we had just put in the Rheem tankless and we love it.

 

LESLIE: Yay.

 

TOM: Wow. Fantastic.

 

SUSIE: I am shocked. You know, it’s the size of two shoe boxes.

 

TOM: I know. It’s so tiny, right?

 

LESLIE: They’re little.

 

SUSIE: It’s just incredible.

 

TOM: And have you ever run out of hot water since you put in the Rheem?

 

SUSIE: Only if you run out of cold water. (all laugh) And then you’re really in trouble.

 

TOM: That’s right.

 

SUSIE: Oh, we love it. Thank you. Love your show.

 

TOM: Susie, that’s fantastic. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.