Is there a way to replace a toothbrush holder tile? This is ceramic or porcelain crica 1948.
The attempt to glue made the situation worse.
Best Answer
Yes, but it will require a hammer, chisel and a grinder. Expect a lot of dust. The brush holder is still available, so you will be able to get a replacement. Once the old one is out, it is held in place with grout.
You will need to start with a grout saw to remove the grout in the joint between the holder and surrounding tile, it will lessen the chance of chipping the neighboring tile.
In the to-do section of the care instructions you posted, it suggests "Use an all-purpose, non-oil based household or commercial cleaner." OR, it says, you can use vinegar/water.
I think you are over-analyzing. The normal floor mopping solutions like Pine-Sol or a Swiffer will work fine. Just don't use anything abrasive that will scratch the tile or an aggressive bathroom "tile/grout cleaner" that is meant to bleach and renew grout that is stained.
If you're concerned about a particular cleaner, you could always test a small section that is out of sight. You can also apply a "grout sealer" solution over the grout lines. This is tedious, but can help slow down staining of the grout.
Is the glue residue hard and rough or soft and gummy? If it's hard, a 6" floor scraper should break it loose, maybe with a heat gun or some boiling water to loosen it a bit. If it's soft and gummy, the scraper should get it by itself, or you can try some acetone or mineral spirits to dissolve it (make sure you ventilate the area well, and take frequent breaks).
Either way, tiling directly over a vinyl floor is not going to be ideal. The thinset will not key well to the smooth vinyl (and trying to rough it up will basically just get you to the point where you might as well scrape it all off anyway). Vinyl floor should NOT be considered a "floating underlayment", either, as a few posts I've seen have indicated. It's too thin, and actually MORE likely to result in cracking as tiles break loose and try to shift.
You really need to get that stuff off. It will not be an easy job, and if he's not paying you for the time he should be.
Best Answer
Yes, but it will require a hammer, chisel and a grinder. Expect a lot of dust. The brush holder is still available, so you will be able to get a replacement. Once the old one is out, it is held in place with grout.
You will need to start with a grout saw to remove the grout in the joint between the holder and surrounding tile, it will lessen the chance of chipping the neighboring tile.