LESLIE: Now we’re going to go to Virginia where Kevin listens to The Money Pit on WSVA.
Kevin, how can we help?
KEVIN: Hey, I’m glad I got through. I’ve got a new construction that we’re going to put in a ceramic tile on an outside, screened-in porch. And what I did this afternoon was I powerwashed it and I’ve marked off the lines. I’ve got some – I think the product’s called Bonds-All (ph).
TOM: OK.
KEVIN: An adhesive to glue the tiles down.
TOM: OK.
KEVIN: I’m wondering if I’ve missed anything.
LESLIE: What kind of tile did you buy for out there?
KEVIN: It’s ceramic tile. It’s 12×12.
LESLIE: OK, did you look into it’s PEI rating, which is its wear rating?
KEVIN: Oh Lord, I have no idea what that means.
LESLIE: OK. When you’re buying ceramic tile, before you put it down, make sure that you get something. The PEI number is its wear resistance. You want to make sure that it’s – it goes from one through five with one being a light-traffic area and five being a very heavy traffic area. And if you’re coming in from outside, you’re going to have all sorts of debris on your feet, so you want to make sure you get a fairly resistant tile so that it’s going to stand up to scratching. So go with something that’s like a four or a five for heavy traffic.
And then also make sure that you get one that is recommended for outdoor use so you won’t be slipping and sliding because that could be really dangerous just from moisture and condensation.
KEVIN: I had no idea I had to consider all that.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. Do it. Think about it now while you still can return the tile; before you install it and it’s too late.
KEVIN: Oh, that is great news. Listen, I’m going out there right now to go read that box and see what it is. Because right now all I’ve got invested in it is some hard work carrying it into the house. (Leslie chuckles)
TOM: OK, well that’s easy to get over. Kevin, thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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