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Tile Backer Board Breakdown
Which Shower Tile Backer board is best? When it comes to installing a tile backer board you typically have the following choice: So which tile […]
Recent Posts
What is Grout? | Grout vs Caulk | Caulk vs Silicone | Which goes where?
Do you mix grout and stick the tiles on with it? What about caulk? Where does that go? DIYers can't be expected to know specific tile industry terms and use them appropriately. The point of this post is to help you understand what the different … [Read More...]
4 of the WORST Tiles for Kitchen Backsplashes (plus what TO choose)
When choosing a tile for a kitchen backsplash, many homeowners pick the wrong thing. I don't think they do it on purpose (most of them, anyway). Rather, they select what they think looks good rather than consider what it will look like 3-5 years … [Read More...]
Quartering: A Little-Known Tile Layout Trick to Avoid Small Cuts
You're installing subway tile, or perhaps 12x24 tiles, and you've put them on a center line and now have small cuts on each side. Further, because it's an offset pattern, there's nothing you can really do, right? Every other row is going to have … [Read More...]
Kitchen Backsplash Tile Layout
A kitchen splash is a great DIY tile project. But backsplash tile layouts can be a challenge. For example: What you are going to find out is that there aren't a lot of rigid, hard-and-fast rules. Instead, there are a lot of principles and … [Read More...]
Ditra-Heat-Duo: The Good, the Bad, and the Warm
Ditra-Heat-Duo is a great product as long as you use it properly. However, it's not unusual for people to expect this product to do more than what it's capable of. Consequently, that's where the disappointment comes in. Let's talk about … [Read More...]
Popular Posts
Thinset
Tile Thinset Mortar: How to Buy the Best Adhesive for YOU!
It's difficult enough just selecting your tile let alone a tile mortar. Now you walk into the thinset aisle at the home improvement store and there are eight different choices of thinset … [Read More...]
Modified vs Unmodified Thinset: Deciphering which you need for Schluter Kerdi & Ditra
Are you wondering about modified vs unmodified thinset mortars? Perhaps, you are thinking of installing a Ditra-Heat floor or a Schluter Kerdi Shower System? The internet is full of information … [Read More...]
How to Mix Thinset Mortar
Mixing thinset. It must be a big secret. Otherwise, why can't you get a straight answer? Perhaps you've heard these: Yes, I've heard every one of those before and it's frustrating. I know … [Read More...]
How to Mix Small Batches of Thinset Mortar
At last, mixing small batches of thinset doesn't have to be a secret! Finally, you too can know the exact amount of water and thinset powder to add together to get the perfect thinset consistency. … [Read More...]
Premixed Tile Mastic: Where TO use it and What NOT to use it on
You know how tempting it is to grab that bucket of premixed tile mastic off of the shelf for your tile project. It's premixed, already the proper consistency, and it's really easy to use. But … [Read More...]
Tips & Tricks
The Little-Known Solution to Your Curbless Shower Problem
Years ago, a customer voiced a concern about the curbless shower I built for them and the issue was perplexing. However, the solution ended up being something that I had never heard of and is still mostly secret today. First, let me tell you what the problem was. The Curbless Shower Problem I went out […]
Silicone Caulk: How to Caulk a Bathtub or a Shower
Silicone Caulk: How to Caulk a Shower or Bathtub The problem: ‘Caulking’ with 100% silicone sealant can be quite frustrating. First of all, it can create a huge mess, be almost impossible to clean up, and make your shower look uglier than before you started. Latex, acrylic, and siliconized caulks aren’t the answer either as they […]
How to Cut Glass Tile- 7 Tips Revealed- video
You want to install glass tile but you know that cutting it can be a challenge. Yes, more of a challenge than cutting regular old ceramic tile. Additionally, the average DIY’er may not have the right equipment and may not know the tricks for how to cut glass tile. But, alas, I’ve assembled some pointers […]
Waterproofing
How to Install GoBoard Tile Backer Board | Video
It’s time to work on DIY’ing your tile shower and you’re not looking forward to working with the dreaded cement board again. It’s dusty, crumbly, and hard to start screws into. Not to mention how heavy it is. Sure, there are waterproof foam backer boards on the market but they are extraordinarily expensive. So what […]
No Waterproofing: Will this cause shower leaks?
A leaking shower. The last thing anyone wants when they build a new shower. Yet I hear the following questions quite often: Isn’t cement board waterproof? The tile and grout will keep the most of the water out, right? My contractor didn’t put any waterproofing in our shower. Will this cause a shower to leak? […]
Is Hardibacker and Durock cement board waterproof?
Reader question: Hi there. I recently finished grouting my tile surround in my shower. I posted photos on Facebook and somebody questioned whether I had waterproofed the Hardiebacker 500 board. Much to my dismay, I had never even heard of this… Anyway, I went to the James Hardie website and see nothing about waterproofing being […]
Recessed Shampoo Niches
Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch…
This post covers: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Custom Recessed Shower Niche Other niche building posts: Part 4: Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch Sometimes there’s no good way around it. Building your own custom recessed shower niche from scratch can be the best way to add much-needed storage in your shower. […]
How to Design a Preformed Foam Recessed Shower Niche…
In this post we discuss: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Recessed Shower Niche Part 1: Planning and Layout Why a recessed shower niche? Recessed shower shelves are more popular than ever. People are tired of wire caddies and shampoo bottles all over the floor. You want a shower that is built for your […]
Installing a Recessed Shampoo Niche in an Exterior Wall of a Shower.…
Here’s the dilemma. The customer wants a recessed shampoo niche. But once the walls were opened up there is no good place to put one. There are either wires and pipes in the way or the stud bay is too narrow. The only good place to install one would be on an exterior wall which […]
Top Shared Posts
Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch
This post covers: Cement board, foam board, and Hardibacker Cutting into wall framing Waterproofing LOTS of photos! The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Custom Recessed Shower Niche Other niche
Subway Tile Installation: Three Basic Tips
Subway Tile Installation: Three Basic Tips Subway tile- what's not to like? It's classic and timeless. Even in 2023, subway tile is a staple in tile design trends. I usually
Installing a Recessed Shampoo Niche in an Exterior Wall of a Shower.
Here's the dilemma. The customer wants a recessed shampoo niche. But once the walls were opened up there is no good place to put one. There are either wires and
5 signs your new tile shower will leak
You've hired someone to build your tile shower in your bathroom, but how do you know he or she's doing it correctly? How do you know that you won't have
