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Bathroom Floor Tiles

Question
I have a grayish color under my bathroom vinyl flooring. It started at the base of the toilet and over the years has spread approximately 18" to 2' around the toilet. It has to be a leak coming from the toilet and I'm sure it's mildew or mold. I had a plumber out years ago and he put in a new "ring." It didn't help and he didn't suggest anything else. It is now in both bathrooms. I plan to replace both toilets & flooring, but before I do, how do I insure that I don't have the same in years to come?
Thank you, Donna Griffin, Ruston, LA
PS: do you know of an experienced plumber that could help me?

Answer
You are right, leaky toilets and a worn out toilet ring can create mildew and mold over a period of time and can cause vinyl tile to discolor. Also if the bathroom is used by a majority of men, the acetone in the urine can also cause the discoloration of the tile. I can't recommend a plumber in your area but I'll give you a helpful tip on fixing a leaky toilet. There is a good chance that your plumber didn't correctly fix the original toilet leak. The key to stopping a toilet leak is that a majority of the plumbers when they sealed the toilet use silicone caulking around the toilet. Tell your plumber to use floor grout when sealing the toilet and you won't have this problem again.

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Question
I am updating a large bathroom, starting by removing ceramic floor tiles that are set in mortar. Is there an easy way other than brute force? I am using a pry bar 12 to 18 inches long.

Answer
I'm afraid not. You can make your work easier by using a longer pry bar, maybe one 24 to 30 inches long, which will give you better leverage. Once you get the tile off, you have to consider the condition of the mortar. If it is intact and smooth, you can put the new tiles on with thin-set mortar. But if the mortar shows indentations where the tiles were embedded, you have to smooth out the mortar or take it out. A horrendous job!

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