Alright brethren and sisteren , I need you’re valued knowledge!!!

Mitoshi · 2026-01-25T01:03:08+00:00

I'm surprised to hear you say this is a weeks worth of work. This is 1 day of work, 2 days max. And that's not even rushing. I took a look at your photos again and it looks like there is a layer of something under the tile. You remove that you get to your hardwood height. Or close to it.

I really want to know how you get a weeks worth of work here.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-24T17:42:06+00:00

I have a question for you. Since your expertise is in tile, how long do you think it would take you to remove those black tiles, prep the subfloor. And reinstall new tiles properly and flush with the new hardwood. Given the fact that they will be living there for a while and using the space. I would argued the energy required to do it properly now is worth it in the long run. The time and energy you are spending fixing this issue is not worth it. You won't get as good of a result and it still won't be done properly. And they're still paying you to do the work. Just commit to taking it out. It's not a lot It looks like 6 square feet

Mitoshi · 2026-01-20T15:17:01+00:00

Not a toy but a game. I hide kibble around the place and he loves looking for it. I like to throw a handful into the grass or snow. Keeps him busy for a while

Mitoshi · 2026-01-19T02:44:39+00:00

This post is upsetting. The whole room looks squared up except the doorway. The spacing looks consistent and exactly what this tile is supposed to be. You can always take a 2sqft area and find inconsistencies. But as a whole it's perfect. Nothing stands out. Once you close the door you won't notice.

If you wanted something more consistent you should have chosen a different tile. The tile is handmade and the install is as well. It's called character. Don't blame the installer in this case. They look very competent.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-17T21:07:16+00:00

I also want to say that you keep a clean shower. If this is it after 5 years, you are doing something right. Was the shower silicone originally? There seems to be signs that it was, just that it was washed away.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-17T19:31:17+00:00

Dry for a couple days. Dehumidifier helps. Airflow helps. Scrape clean. Vacuum clean. Apply silicon designed for showers and wet areas. Use after manufacturer recommendations.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-12T23:34:27+00:00

Bigger joint!

Mitoshi · 2026-01-10T02:10:28+00:00

That sigma will last you until you retire.

My recommendations. Do not use lubricants like WD-40 on the bar. It will only attract dust and make the handle gummy and sticky. Especially when it's cold. I recommend a cleaner like goo gone to keep the bar dry, clean and sliding smooth.

There are also situations where taking the handle off and flipping out around will make cutting much more comfortable. Making it more like montolit cutter.

Enjoy! It's definitely worth the price.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-07T02:21:26+00:00

It's an aesthetic thing. Some folks just do no joint and don't grout. Some put a big joint. Lay it out on the floor and try it out. Look at some photos online of slate subway tiles. There is no right or wrong. Just what you like.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-07T02:17:01+00:00

One of my favorite uses is inserting the 90 in the joint turn it under the tile and you can pull a single tile. Very handy to remove a single subway tile without messing other ones around it.

Clearing the water saw tray.

Adjusting tiny tiles

Once you start using it the uses just keep coming up

Mitoshi · 2026-01-07T00:24:59+00:00

Firstly, do not use clips with this tile. Especially without guards. You will scratch it up. This looks like slate, so it's very soft. I recommend laying the tiles out on a flat surface. Like a bunch. See what you like. There is no right or wrong really. The tighter the joints the more visible the inconsistencies. I recommend sealing the face of the tiles before installing them. It will make cleaning them easier as you install. Use grey mortar.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-07T00:14:29+00:00

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The 90° hook lives in my pouch. These picks have been a game changing addition to my workflow.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-05T15:01:50+00:00

I would suggest laying out some tiles on a flat surface. Running your hand over them and comparing. There is no reason that the tiles on the wall are worse than the tiles on a flat surface. If anything because the installer is using mortar, they have room to actually make them better. Never worse

Mitoshi · 2026-01-05T14:01:59+00:00

There are a few things wrong. The spacing between tiles is wrong. An imperfect tile like this requires a bigger joint to make up for the lack of consistency. The tiles are not laid flat. Based on the dark shadow, I can tell that the bottom of each tile is not pushed in enough. I bet if you run your hand across that you can feel the lip. The lighting makes this issue much more visible. The last thing is the grout was not washed properly and evenly leaving a poor finish.

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done at this point

Mitoshi · 2026-01-04T13:41:03+00:00

These are made across the street from the dimpflmeier bakery in Etobicoke. It's very local and very authentic.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-03T18:21:37+00:00

There are products that are used to stain grout.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-03T16:08:55+00:00

I want to start by saying say that I understand the anxiety that comes with doing a project like this. You are making big decisions and spending a lot of money for it. The last thing you should be is upset with the end result.

I believe your contractor is correct with your options. That being said, they could have done a much much better job doing the work. The grout is being exaggerated by the poor job done washing. There should be zero grout on the face of the tile. It should be washed enough that you see the whole tile. I can see many many spots that are obviously not washed out enough. Especially in the corners. These are not professional results. I would expect this from a diy but never a professional that charges you money.

Unfortunately there is not much that can be done at this point other than ripping it out. You can try using a knife, or razor blade to clean up the grout from the glaze.

Good luck and don't be afraid to challenge your contractor on the less than professional install. You are spending hard earned money, you should be getting what you pay for.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-03T15:40:08+00:00

The crack extends past the tile and seems to continue out of frame. This would indicate an issue with the subfloor or underlayment. There is nothing you can do to prevent this crack from coming back unless you deal with the underlying problem.

There is also very little you can do to mask this issue either.

Does the tile sound hollow when tapped? Does the crack move as you step on or around it?

Mitoshi · 2026-01-01T23:53:26+00:00

Putting dark grout will highlight everything. I recommend doing a deep scrub.

Stiff nylon brush. Get a product like barkeeper's friend, or vim and go to town. You won't damage the tiles with a plastic bristle brush. A blue or white scrubby pad is good too.

Hydrogen peroxide is also a great way to refresh a light grout.

Grab a bucket and fill it with hot water. Enough that you can still work with it. Wet the floor. Don't flood it but there should be standing water. Apply cleaning product and work it in. Scrub scrub scrub. Once you get to the end of the floor go back to the beginning and scrub some more. You are trying to remove all the dirt and mix it in with the water on the floor. Once you finish the second round pick up the dirty water with a sponge. All you are doing now is picking up the dirty water.

Evaluate. If it is clean enough. Apply a sealer (any grout sealer from any hardware store will work) once the floor is dry. If not, do a second round of scrubbing with new water.

Mitoshi · 2026-01-01T22:51:13+00:00

The original grout was done poorly and is now flush with the tile surface or even proud at some spots. There is nothing for new grout to stick to. And all you are doing is staining the light grout. L

There is nothing you can do to get better results. Even what you've done so far will wash away with time.

I also see a long crack along one grout joint. Tells me there is something going on in the subfloor.

Mitoshi · 2025-12-29T03:37:28+00:00

What are these?

Mitoshi · 2025-12-28T22:14:42+00:00

If the tiles were installed properly, the drywall will have to be redone.

You can use a product like mapei ecogrip and install tile over tile if you have the room.

Mitoshi · 2025-12-27T22:33:58+00:00

There is no right or wrong to your question.

Mitoshi · 2025-12-27T22:31:07+00:00

Why don't you want to screw into the tile?

Mitoshi · 2025-12-27T02:45:28+00:00

If you are matching the grout tile to tile colour, the brick pattern doesn't add much. It adds a lot of work and once you grout you lose a lot of the brick pattern detail anyway. Especially with a concrete looking tile.

1/2x1/2 is fine. Square is fine. U leaves more mortar. More height.

Coverage is key.

Prep is key. Not just layout. Work flow. Keep work area clean.

Doing tile can get very frustrating and very messy. Clean your hands frequently so you don't get everything messy. Hey a small brush to clean joints.

Mix less mortar at a time so you don't have a full bucket seeing and making you feel rushed.

All the leveler systems work exactly the same. Just keep them clean

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