How to remove and replace a broken tile.

Removing and replacing a single ceramic floor tile is not too hard, depending on how it was installed. The first thing I recommend when removing a floor tile is to carefully remove all the grout around the tile. This can be done with a power tool or by hand. Use safety glasses and good lighting.. Take your time so you do not nick or scratch the tiles adjacent to the cracked tile.

If you’re going to do this by hand, you need to use a hammer and an older beat-up flat-head screwdriver. You slowly and carefully chip away the grout. With the grout out of the way, there’s now less chance that you’ll damage any adjacent tile during the removal process. If the tile you want to remove is touching up against any other tiles in the floor, the initial stress of removing the tile pieces can put pressure against the adjacent tiles and possibly crack or chip them.

If the floor tile is not touching any other tile, you can tap the tile with a dull masonry chisel near a corner and start to crack off small pieces about the size of a dime. After you crack a piece off, do whatever is necessary to get the piece up from the floor.

Once the entire tile is out, now you have to excavate the thinset mortar or organic adhesive that was used to set the tile to the floor. You can do this by hand or with a power tool. If you have to do it by hand, you might discover that a stiff 1 1/2-inch putty knife held at a low angle does a great job.

Once you think you have all the thinset out of the way, test it and see. Drop a replacement tile in place of the cracked one and use a straightedge over the tile to see if you have at least 1/8 inch of space between the entire top of the tile and the bottom of the straightedge. You want the straightedge to be resting on the adjacent tiles on all sides of the replacement tile to check for the air space. Rotate the straightedge at least 90 degrees to check for the needed gap.

I’d recommend using cement-based thinset to stick the tile to the floor. Be sure the substrate is free of all dust and loose material. You can buy small notched hand tools to help put down the correct amount of thinset. The size of the notches depends on the size of the tile you’re installing. Go to a store that sells just tile, and the manager there will make sure you have the correct tool.

When you set the tile in the new thinset, you need to make sure the entire tile is contacting the thinset and there are no gaps. This may mean you have to put the thinset on different thicknesses if the substrate is not in the same plane as the top surface of the finished tile floor. Gently drop the new tile onto the fresh thinset and lightly tap in place so its top surface is flush with all the adjacent tiles. Use the straightedge again to help you here.

Allow the tile to set and cure for at least 48 hours before grouting it. Protect it so no one walks on it. You need to match the grout color as close as possible.  When grouting, do not add too much water to the new grout. You want it the consistency of cake batter. After grout has dried wipe up remaining grout and you are done. If you don’t feel like replacing broken tiles call us at 602-741-4131 or go to azcarpetandtileinstallation.com

How to prevent your floors from getting soiled so quickly

Did you know that up to 80% of soil on your floors comes from outside. One way to prevent your floors from becoming rapidly soiled is to place a door mat inside and outside of your main entrance. Use course textured mats outside for soil and water absorbent mats inside to prevent wet shoes onto your different types of flooring. It usually takes about 4 to 6 footsteps before  your shoes are wiped clean by your own carpet. Placing a door mat will significantly reduce the amount of soil brought into your home or place of business by up to 80%. Remember that carpeting is the #1 filter in your home, so its important to keep them clean. For more tips on keeping your carpet and tile looking its best visit us on the web @ www.azcarpetandtilecleaning.com or call us at 602-354-5223 and we would love to speak to you and put you on the schedule.

WWW.AZCARPETANDTILECLEANING.COM Check out our other services; We also offer air duct cleaning, upholstery cleaning, spot removal, carpet repair, and we do same day service too!!!!

Consider lifestyle when choosing which flooring to install in your home or business.

People have many choices when it comes to flooring, but all to often people choose flooring based strictly by price instead of choosing a floor that is best for there lifestyle. There is different types of flooring that will better cater to a persons lifestyle such as pets or allergies.

I agree that price and look have a big factor in picking out a floor for your home or business. Ultimately a bad decision on your flooring could lead to warranty issues or just plane ware issues of your floors.

Chris from Arizona carpet and tile in Phoenix, Arizona installs a lot of flooring. Home owners must realize that most retail flooring companies have good, better and best lines of flooring. When you are choosing tile , wood or carpet for your home or business. Check with the retailer on there warranties as well as manufacture warranties. Make sure to check out with the retailer that the floor you like will work for the application that you are using it for.

If you are going to try and install yourself make sure you check on proper installation techniques. A bad install job will void manufacture warranties and will also lead to a floor that will be damaged over time.

Some tips that might help you in picking the right floor:

Wood or laminate flooring should never be installed in wet environments or in bathrooms.

Laminate floor are usually a floating floor which will allow the floor to contract and expand when humidity levels change. A good underlayment will help reduce noise when you walk on floor.

Wood floor generally perform better when they get installed on a flat floor and are glued down.

Having thick carpet is not always better , make sure you check the OZ weights and what the carpet fibers are that way you can check the quality by the manufacture.

When installing tile try and pick a darker grout that way when it starts to get dirty it wont show as much and maybe go with a grout line that is 3/16th or smaller. The less grout the better unless the tile is not perfectly straight. If the tile is not perfectly straight you will have to have fatter grout lines to help with installation.

Once you have chosen your flooring make sure that you clean it on a regular basis. It will help with warranties from the manufacture. We recommend using Arizona carpet and tile cleaning in Phoenix, Arizona.
we also own Arizona Construction and Services Group LLC  we are a full service general contractor  in Phoenix Arizona www.azcsg.com

The best steps for a good carpet installation.

CARPET INSTALLATION  PHOENIX ARIZONA

If you have decided to buy new carpet make sure that you go through the installation before you buy.

It is important to understand the type of carpet you will need for your application. Make sure you understand the quality of the carpet as well.

You can start by purchasing your carpet from a reputable retailer such as arizona carpet and tile.

You should work with a carpet installation company that will go out to your home or business to get proper measurements, proper transition placements and proper seam placement

Most carpet rolls are 12 feet wide , so most rooms in your home or business will require seams. You can somewhat hide seams if you run them under furniture or away from doorways.

Make sure you understand the warranties. All carpet manufactures have some sort of warranty on there carpet.

An installer should know what they are doing and the must follow the standards that are set by CRI The carpet and rug institute. Your carpet will need to be power stretched to insure proper installation.

Make sure that you have all paperwork explaining costs of your job. You will want to know who is taking the left over carpet , who will be disposing of the old carpet and padding and who will be moving the furniture.

Most carpet jobs will have 10% or less left over carpet per room after installation from cut pieces. You may want to have small rugs out of the pieces that can be bound on the edges.

You will want to install carpet last if doing a full remodel. You will want to make sure all baseboards are painted and ready to go.

Make sure you have the installation company clean up the floor before laying down new flooring. Make sure you get up all dirt before installing new carpet and padding.

Make sure you walk the job with the installer to make sure everything is done to you needs and that they installed the carpet the same way that was discussed at the beginning of the job.

It can take a while for the odor of new carpet to disappear usually about 48 hours but could take longer depends on the situation of the install.

Make sure that the carpet installation company vacuums when they complete the job to get most of the loose fibers up. There will be times after new carpet is installed that there will be more loose fibers come loose. Just vacuum them up and cut any frayed loops or tuff's with scissors.

Finally make sure the bill is exactly what you discussed at the beginning of your installation. Hope this helps and have a great day. Call Arizona carpet and tile if you have any other questions.