Repairing tile floor (without re-doing it)

[NetWareHead]

Have a bathroom floor in one of my rental properties that is failing. Tiles are popping and the grout is turning to dust. It was obviously put down wrong and needs to be re-done along with the rest of the bathroom. I don't have the funds at this moment to undertake another bathroom remodel but would like to repair (if possible).

Regarding the grout, I imagine I need to sand down the grout so I can re-apply more. I have a grout tool I can attach to my oscillating tool that can get down to the tile substrate. I imagine at that point after vacuuming up the dust i can mix up some more and reapply grout.

Regarding the popping tiles, I have to remove the tiles that are loose, sand away the mortar to get back down to a flat surface and either re-mortar or use some sort of adhesive (was thinking of liquid nails) to reinstall the tile.

I know the obvious choice would be to re-do the tile floor but budget cant allow that now. Im envisioning this fix I just described would need to last perhaps 2-4 years more until I get ready for another project.

What do you guys think? Does my plan sound good or do you have an alternative method?

 

[paperfist]

How many tiles are popping? What size are they and how big is the total area?

Really sounds like a big undertaking, removing mortar isn't going to be easy depending on how it was originally laid and to what sub surface.

I was going to suggest going over it with sheet vinyl, but with it needed to be down 2-4 years all the grout lines will show through and I think you do higher end work.

 

[NetWareHead]

A small full bathroom. Maybe 5 x 4 feet room. In that space is a vanity for a sink, a tub and toilet so it is not a very big floor. I have a tenant not renewing and need to get the place rented ASAP so the work has to get done quickly.

I never considered laying another floor over it and if it can stay waterproof enough I'll consider it. Perhaps the adhesive used to install a vinyl floor would have the effect of filling in the grout gaps and stopping them from showing. I normally scoff at vinyl flooring but the easy of install is going to have me reconsider...

 

[paperfist]

A small full bathroom. Maybe 5 x 4 feet room. In that space is a vanity for a sink, a tub and toilet so it is not a very big floor. I have a tenant not renewing and need to get the place rented ASAP so the work has to get done quickly.

I never considered laying another floor over it and if it can stay waterproof enough I'll consider it. Perhaps the adhesive used to install a vinyl floor would have the effect of filling in the grout gaps and stopping them from showing. I normally scoff at vinyl flooring but the easy of install is going to have me reconsider...

Sheet vinyl is definitely water proof, but difficult to cut when there's not a square/rectangular layout. I'd almost consider building up the existing grout so it's flush with the top of the tile, but I'd be wary of it bonding well if you're already having problems.

What about just throwing down a sheet of lauan with some construction adhesive and then vinyl on top?

There are those newer vinyl plank/floating floors that claim to be water proof. They have a pretty thick pad layer, not sure if that's enough to keep the grout lines below from showing through.

Almost seems without seeing it for such a small area and a day's work you could rip up the existing floor, throw down some cement board, new ceramic tile and be done for $150 and not have to look back for decades. RoI

 

[NetWareHead]

I mentioned the idea of vinyl flooring to my fiance and it went over like a fart in church. Back to the drawing board.

 

[paperfist]

Oh dang I hate when that happens

What happened to Dr Pizza and that Greenman guy? They always had some excellent answers to these types of questions.

 

[Sukhoi]

Oh dang I hate when that happens

What happened to Dr Pizza and that Greenman guy? They always had some excellent answers to these types of questions.

Greenman got banned (not sure if permanent) and didn't come back. He actually renovated my house heh. First contractor matchup via AT?

 

[paperfist]

Greenman got banned (not sure if permanent) and didn't come back. He actually renovated my house heh. First contractor matchup via AT?

Wow that's pretty cool he did your house. It really is a small world after all

I've only seen him post here. Seemed to be pretty tame, couldn't imagine how he got banned. I just assumed those 2 guys said screw it after the forum changed over cause that's when it seemed like they disappeared.

 

[emperus]

For that small a bathroom, re-tiling is probably the best option. I don't think it'd be that much. Else, I would consider the vinyl flooring. Some of it is not bad and that would probably be the easiest solution. Take your fiance out to look at some. It may change her mind. You can use thin-set to fill in the grout lines before the adhesive for the vinyl flooring. For that small a bathroom you can also make a template with some paper. Then use that template to cut the vinyl sheet, Honestly, if some tiles are popping. that means that more tiles will probably pop sooner than later. Not sure it will last 2 years without more work.

 

[NetWareHead]

I realized I never updated this thread. Hired a guy who installs vinyl floors and he agreed to do the job. I had to speak to about 5-6 different guys and some of them wanted nothing to do with it since they acknowledged it was not a standard install and told me it would not last more than a few years. Even though I said I was fine with this temp flooring, it was a job they did not want to sign their name to.

The one guy that did it ended up pulling all of the loose tiles and vacuuming all of the dusty grout. He used a chisel and oscillating tool to sand down all the mortar under the popped tiles to level and then used adhesive to attach to the floor. Filled the grout lines with adhesive too so there would not be any gaps and create mini-sags in the vinyl floor. Then we laid the floor down over the tiles, the vinyl adhesive stuck perfectly to the tile underneath. Installed new baseboard molding and all set. Cost me about $400 total for labor and parts. Unit rented less than 2 weeks later. Its almost a year later on this floor and it looks pretty decent for vinyl and no issues.

Im not normally a guy who takes shortcuts but the financial situation at the time did not permit a bathroom remodel nor did I have time/money for the unit to sit unrented. We were planning & paying for a wedding and just finished renovating another 2 units; our finances were stretched razor thin. Hopefully, these tenants stay for a while and maybe in a few years the bathroom will get the renovation it deserves.