The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
A tile that falls will usually be completely separated from the cement. In replacing it, there will be no space for a layer of fresh portland cement; it must be attached with a material in the nature of paste or glue. Cements made for this purpose are on general sale, the directions for use being on the label.
Floor tiles are not likely to give trouble through loosening; when they do, they can be replaced in the same manner.
A clear white can be had in only the highest qualities of floor tiles. Other qualities are likely to be grayish, giving an appearance of dirt and soil. To determine whether the effect of soiling is due to dirt or to the color of the tiles, a section of the floor should be rubbed with sandpaper or steel wool, which will remove dirt but will not alter the color of the tiles.
There is no whitening finish that can be applied to a tile floor with success. Paint and enamel, lying on the surface, will scuff off, while the effect of varnish or wax will not be satisfactory. For a floor so defective as to be an eyesore, the only remedies are to take it up and relay with better tile, or to cover the floor with pasted-down linoleum or some similar floor covering.
The effect of graying tiles is made worse by the soiling of the cement in the joints; this, being porous, will catch and hold dirt. The soiled cement can usually be cleaned by wiping with Javelle water or other bleaching liquid containing chlorine. Should this not be enough, the cement can be scraped out with a thin-bladcd tool, such as a screwdriver, and the joints filled with a paste made of powdered zinc white and a little glycerin. Should the cement resist, it can be softened with a mixture of 1 part of muriatic acid in 10 parts of water. Washing with ammonia should follow to neutralize the acid. As the acid is corrosive, rubber gloves should be worn while using it.
An unsatisfactory color in glazed tile cannot be altered, for paint or similar finish will not adhere. Unglazed floor tile can sometimes be changed to black or darker color by staining with aniline dyes; one such dye, called "water-soluble nigrosine," will produce a very dark blue. Tannic chloride in tincture of iron will produce black. Tests to show the effects of these should be made on a tile in an obscure corner before treating the floor.
Shrinkage Cracks With the shrinkage of wood beams and other parts, wall tiling may be drawn away from contact with the rim of a built-in bathtub, and floor tiling, from fixtures.
