I'm troubled by something stupid I did - (tile floors)

[JerseygirlCT]

can someone help soothe my guilty conscience a bit?

We had new tile laid a while back. The whole process of having new floors done was exhausting to me, as our house was in an uproar, and I had to keep worrying about workmen understanding what they were supposed to be doing, etc.

Anyway, the day the tile was done, I came home, and forgot. And walked across the area.

Nothing seemed to move. I'd guess I got to it at the very least 4 hours after it was done - possibly more. This was a few months ago, and I don't think I see anything wrong. It certainly didn't feel like anything moved.

So two questions: is it a sure thing I really blew it? And if so, what are the potential consequences, and what would it take to fix them? Does it mean the whole area would have to be redone?

We've been living on it quite well so far, and as I said, I don't see anything amiss...

But for some reason, my stupidity haunts me - maybe more than it should!

TIA

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Stop flogging yourself

If you moved anything, you'd know it.

If the worst happens, you repair it one tile at a time. Which is the same as saying "don't worry. it is an easy fix."

Really, stopping the self flagellation and enjoy your family and your house.

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Thank you! nt

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. What did you forget?

What kind of tile?

Given the workman never returned ,if thats the case,than it was finished.


Were you told not to use te floor at all for a specific amount of time?

Really though if nothing seemed to move,than everything is fine.

Don't over worry yourself.

If something was wrong,everyone would notice,since no one has noticed,nothing is wrong.

Say that to yourself 10 times out loud.
You will than feel better.

If the haunting comes back upon you later in time ,recite the chant and it will go away.

It's a age old fear of something being forever wrong.

The tile setters may have been overly vigilant.
That inturn may have caused post trumatic stress . Some contractors do that. Many do that because they lack people skills.On the other hand some people are a pain in the ass.

Try enjoying your floor, just let yourself see it as finished and new.
Forget about having walked on it before you thought it was OK to do so.
Let that thought fade away into Forgetitville. Think, enjoy my floor!

Find the pretty points ,keep noticing the things that you like about your brand new floor. Tell yourself how much better it is than your old floor was.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Thank you!

I appreciate the kind words...

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. As a contractor

I keep chasing perfect,and there isn't anything in existence man made that is truly perfect.
If it's good I think it must become better, it never ends. To me it's never really quite ready or complete.

If it were not for the very kind words of people I do the work for,. well, I have no idea where I would be in thought along those lines!

Commerical grade is but exceptable, but perfect,ah but to reach perfect!

[JerseygirlCT]

6. Well, that undoubtedly makes you a terrific contractor

or anything else, for that matter. And I'm sure your customers appreciate that.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Thank you and

let us know how it all seems after the floor has weathered in.And if you do have any questions, feel free to ask. I am a full service contractor specializing in home remodel and repair.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. It seems to be ok.

One tile seems slightly higher than the others - you can feel it a bit with bare feet as you walk. But nothing seems loose or anything. And they are nice - feel good underfoot, you know?

I barely saw the tile guys (we were getting hardwood in, too - that was the bigger job) - they were in and out and gone in no time while I was at work. But the general contracter did work for us before and while somewhat pricey, has been good.

It's just one of those things where you want to walk around kicking yourself, you know?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. It's not uncommon

for that slight inconsistency ,(seems) the existing floor or underpayment is most likely not perfectly level. Nothing in a house is. If the tile is not lose, simply look around that tile, by look around it I mean look at all the surrounding tiles , the tile setters floated around the inconsistency.As you look across the floor it should seem fine.

Notice the grout lines , if those grout lines are consistent it was the underpayment. A raised tile sticks out like a sore thumb. From what you describe,that is not the case.

If the tile setters did not leave you extra tiles ,for repairs a long time away, tiles can crack, ask your general contractor about getting you some tiles for that reason. It is common to have at least half a box left over. Tiles can be removed and news ones reset.

But only when necessary.

Funny, I just bought a new tile saw!The last job was too small to use it,the old saw still works.

I gather the impression you are liking your floors. That is good.

Look around the tile in question , look at how it seems as you look across the floor. It should seem fine. The thing about inconsistencies in the underpayment, which can boil down to the floor Joyce's having to do with the house settling in the ground, floating in around inconsistencies means hiding that by making everything seem perfectly level and square,even though nothing really is. That's the craft.

[JerseygirlCT]

10. I see. Thanks

It *looks* just fine - this is only something you can *feel* with your feet, really, IYKWIM. I mean, yes, knowing just where to look now, I could probably spy about 1/8" difference in height or something - but nothing noticeable to the eye. And the grout lines all look pretty straight.

I do like the new floors. We had vinyl in there before - which started out looking nice and pretty, but after a few years, all the little nicks and scrapes caught the dirt, and the stuff never, ever looked clean. The tiles are a medium to dark shade of blue/green, and the grout matches (learned that after light grout in the bathrooms - another thing that never looks clean!) - it's way too easy to care for! The swiffer, she is gone.

Someday, I'd love to replace the carpet upstairs with more wood, but that whole process was so stressful that I'm not ready to deal again! We really should have just moved out for a week. (Besides, with a kid in college, these kind of things will need to wait a few years!)

I wish I was more knowledgeable about all of this. I always feel a bit stupid around the workmen and the general contractor. Trust is important, but a little more knowledge on my part wouldn't hurt, either!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

11. Great, now your seeing it!

Don't sell yourself short. Each experience you have in home remodel/repair adds in or builds within your knowledge. You are becoming seasoned. And this is good.

On the bathroom grout that traps and shows the dirt. I have a surprise for you! Get down to Home Depot or Lowe's, builders hardware or tile store. There is a thing called a grout pen. It is rather like a magic marker. Guess what it does !? You can change the color of the grout to what ever color that suits you. About five bucks. Buy three. Get yourself a little gardening pad and fix the problem, otherwise known as a cure.

And just keep asking questions ,because that's just how we learn.And remember, we basically teach ourselves. If we don't ask, how will we find out? Everything,every little thing we learn all adds up. I tell people all the time, don't sell yourself short, you know more than you think you know. It's just a matter of pulling it all together.

And remember ,it is your ideas behind transforming your house. You therefore are the chief architect.That position holds much responsibility.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Wow, thanks. That's really nice of you.

I'll have to look into that. So that would get the stuff back to the white it started? I keep thinking I need major amounts of bleach or something...

We hadn't a clue about this stuff when we had the house built. Just pretty much went with what the builder was going to do. As you say, live and learn; there would be things I'd do differently now. Luckily, nothing serious!

You've been so nice; I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

13. Have you heard of a place called

Buffalo N.Y.? And on the color pens, I keep a can of laquer thinner and some clean painters rags handy to clean up any areas that get hit other than the groud. The thinner won't hurt the tile. A small bag of painter rags pre cut is less than five bucks. Good to have when using those color pens. Also use latex gloves. You will make those groud lines look like new in no time!


It's like I said ,we learn something new every day!
And what you might do different is a demonstration of the knowledge you have accumulated threw your experiences.
And again we live and learn!

Let me know how it goes with those color pens .


And you are very welcome.

[Warpy]

14. Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you

If at some point in the future part of the floor should fail, then get it repaired.

Until and unless that happens, don't give it another thought.

(as a practical aside, you can't walk on very freshly laid tile because it will shift around in the mud, giving you uneven joints. The mud sets up astonishingly quickly, though)