Help with tile job

Submitted by DotZei t3_y5sqye in DIY

I'm replacing cracked tiles, it's kind of fun tbh.

Is someone able to tell me why I'm supposed to scrape the quickset out of the joints and set it with grout?

The quickset thinset (duh) looks great, even matches the existing grout.

I'm going to skip the grout unless this is a big no no for reasons I haven't considered.

Thank you.

Edit: Thinset

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loganab13 t1_islj06m wrote

The thinset should have been cleaned out of the grout joints before it dried. You now have quite the project on your hands..

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DotZei OP t1_isljf41 wrote

I just set it, it's still wet... but WHY do I need to remove it?

I'm going to let it dry if no one can tell me what's wrong with this

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loganab13 t1_isljyme wrote

Thinset (when mixed properly) is thicker and doesn’t flow nearly as well as grout, meaning the chances of having cracks/voids between tiles is much higher. It’s also made for adhering tiles to the wall or floor, not for filling the joints between the tiles.

How are you applying the thinset before setting the tiles? It sounds like you have way too much thinset on the walls/floor if it’s completely filling the joints.

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DotZei OP t1_islmlvu wrote

Anyways, thanks for giving the reason.

I'm going to leave the thinset on the kitchen tiles I'm replacing because there's literally no room for cracking on these thin lines between the tiles, but I'm glad you told me this and I'll be sure to do it the correct way when I do the entire barroom right now (with spacers)

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DotZei OP t1_islkkwl wrote

I'm applying it with a grooved trow (have no idea how that's spelled, I've only heard it said).

The tile is level, so I'm assuming I did it right?

The tiles are really close together, much closer than if those standard spacers were used.

I don't think there's room for cracking

Edit: trowel 😑

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DotZei OP t1_isn7oh5 wrote

Hey, man.

May I bother you one more time?

It looks like my bathroom is going to come out great, but I don't know how to cut the toilet hole.

I've got that sliding manual cutter and a tile carbide tip blade.

Right now I think I'm going to take a thick piece of cardboard and cut a circle the size I need, then trace around it a bunch with the carbide point, then drill and chip or maybe just punch it with a mallet.

I've got the EXACT number of tiles I need and these things have got to be 20 years old, I doubt I'd ever match them...

... so a mistake literally fugs me. I can't afford to experiment.

Are you able to give me any advice on this?

YouTube seems shady af.

These people give off vibes that they're someone like me doing a job for the first time and decided to get internet points (what a weird culture)... so it would be nice hearing it from someone who I know, knows what they're doing.

Thanks if you see this

Edit: Holy heck... the previous owner left behind a pair if those square head snip things, so I've got that option too... but I have no clue how to use them. Hopefully YouTube can help me with that

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CompetitiveStore7907 t1_islnvvz wrote

Grout just fills voids, it is not an adhesive

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DotZei OP t1_isn7xe8 wrote

I probably wasn't clear, I was asking why thinset couldn't be permanent between the tiles where grout usually goes.

Anyways, that's resolved.

You got any advice for cutting a hole in a tile for the toilet?

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CompetitiveStore7907 t1_isolfif wrote

Right angle grinder and a sharpie. It doesn’t need to be perfect, you have 2” give in all directions for the toilet

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