• Before the advent of grouts, cement used as grout will normally crack.
• Poor tile installation, i.e., tiles are not properly set.
• Floor or structural movements
• Grout joint is too wide. Use of correct grout for specific widths is important. Use sanded grouts for joint width of 7 - 19 mm and regular grouts for joints between 3 - 6 mm.
• Lack of expansion joints. Provide polyurethane expansion joints 6mm apart or at corners between the wall and floor.

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Most often, powdering is caused by premature drying of grout during installation. One reason is that the grout was mixed on an absorptive surface such as wood or plywood. Grouts should be mixed on plastic pails or galvanized iron containers.

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Definitely not, grouts are blended and mixed using highly sophisticated factory mixing and dispersing equipment. To manually mix grouts will not disperse pigments properly and will just result in inconsistent shades and color migration.

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Apply grout after newly installed tiles have set overnight.

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• Discoloration could be caused by improper mixing; the use of contaminated water, tools or containers. To ensure proper mixing, mix in a plastic and allow to stand about 10-15 minutes, remix and then apply.
• Discoloration may also be caused by the contaminants coming from the painting works.

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Not in terms of floors being horizontal and walls vertical but more in exposure to pedestrian traffic, wear and tear. Normally, ABC recommends the use of dark colored grouts as black, gray or brown for floors - regardless of tile color and design. Light colored grouts are recommended for walls. The main reason is aesthetics and maintenance. No matter how a floor is maintained, dirt and stains will show in a floor with light grouts.

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ABC offers a free pre-inspection service to contractors and homeowners to ensure proper advice on tile installation requirements.

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Ideally, it is best to wait till the substrate has fully cured (28 days) prior to tile installation.In practice, contractors just wait at least seven (7) . Use a thin-set tile adhesive to ensure proper curing and installation.

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Flexible floors, improper bonding, structural movements. These are just some reasons. Another common cause is the failure to notice the formation of film on the tile adhesive bed (meaning the adhesive is past its open time).
To fully address this issue, it is best to consult the experts in tile installation so that all factors are considered.

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ABC has a grade of tile adhesive called ABC Heavy Duty Tile Adhesive which would enable you to install tiles over existing tiles. For even heavier traffic and extreme conditions, the use of a latex admixture such as ABC Redifix is recommended to be used in conjunction with ABC Tile Adhesive.

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This has been the subject of debate since the thin-set method of tile installation was introduced decades ago. In the Philippines setting, the use of tile adhesive is relatively new (less than 25 years) hence the degree of resistance among masons and contractors is even greater. As a general observation, large scale installations such as shopping malls, factory floors, commercial buildings and condominiums have discovered the economy, beauty and practicality in the use of pre-packed tile adhesive versus on-site sand and cement mortar mixing. The sieving of sand along with its attendant wastages and problem of waste disposal is enough to discourage contractors from using the traditional method. Moreover, advanced construction techniques have resulted in better prepared and level floors that thin-set is the only way to go.

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