Main Content
Trowel Size Matters: Which trowel size do I use for …?
You want to know which notched tile trowel size to use for your tile project. The boxes of tile that you buy usually don’t tell […]
Recent Posts
Do You Know the 5 Rules of Random Tile Patterns?
When someone tells you they want a wood-look random tile pattern they are telling you what they want the floor to "look" like. They want a "random look". What they don't want is a truly random manner of installation. To sum up: Random is a … [Read More...]
Installing Wood-Look Tile Flooring: 5 Insider Tips to Knock out your next Floor
It’s 2022, and tile that looks like wood is as popular as ever. In fact, it 'wood' seem that the wood-look tile trend has turned into a staple in people's homes. Really, it makes sense. After all, have hardwood floors ever gone out of … [Read More...]
2022 Tile Trends and Design Ideas
Tile Trends for 2022 and 2023 are continuing to evolve. Personally, I find it fascinating that something- a consciousness?- can invisibly move through society and influence people's thinking. As it turns out, the pandemic of 2020-21 had a … [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. This means: No more wondering what "peanut … [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: "Mix it until it's like peanut butter""thinset consistency should be yogurt-y""Thinset should stay on your trowel when you … [Read More...]
Top Shared Posts
Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch
This post covers: Cement board, foam board, and HardibackerCutting into wall framing WaterproofingLOTS of photos! The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Custom Recessed Shower Niche Other niche building posts: Planning
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 2022, 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's no good place to put one. There are either wires and pipes
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
Popular Posts
Trowel Size Matters: Which trowel size do I use…
You want to know which notched tile trowel size to use for your tile project. The boxes of tile that you buy usually don’t tell you which size trowel to use with them. Consequently, I get asked about tile trowel sizes quite a bit. Finding the … [Read More...]
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: difficult to install and cheapeasy to install and expensive So which tile backer board should you use in your … [Read More...]
Self-Leveling Underlayment: The Ultimate Guide…
Self-leveling underlayment. It sounds soooooo easy, doesn't it? You simply pour the leveling cement over the floor and the product then just levels itself all on its own. Sort of like...magic, right? Self-leveling underlayment is not what it … [Read More...]
5 Ways to Screw Up your Cement Board Installation…
Cement board installation is not something that is incredibly difficult. I think most people worry about how to cut it and once they have a plan for that then they think it'll be a breeze. But I've seen these screw-ups for several years now. … [Read More...]
Tired of Bullnose Tile Trim? Here are 5 Tile Edge…
Here are 5 alternatives to common bullnose tile edge trim. One of the mistakes that I see a lot of homeowners and DIYers make with tile installations is that they sometimes don't use any tile trim on the exposed tile edges. Many times they … [Read More...]
Tips & Tricks
How to Cut Glass Tile- 7 Tips Revealed- video
Cutting glass tile 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 on how to deal with the quirks and challenges […]
Don’t let your tile accent strip look like this
Getting your mosaic and glass tile accent strips to be flush and flat with the surrounding tile can be difficult unless you know a trick for it. Here’s a technique for building up the thinner decorative tile so that it’s even with the thicker tile without creating a huge mess of thinset oozing out of […]
Silicone Caulk: How to Caulk a Bathtub or a Shower
Silicone Caulk: How to Caulk a Shower or Bathtub The problem: If you’ve ever tried caulking with 100% silicone caulk you are well aware of how frustrating it can be. First of all, it can create a huge mess, be almost impossible to clean up, and can make your shower look uglier than before you started. […]
Waterproofing
Flood testing a shower pan: Why it’s done and how to do it
Flood testing a shower pan. I get several calls per year about showers that are leaking. Some of these showers are leaking after just a few years. Some, just a few weeks after they’ve been built. I estimate that those calls could probably be cut in half if this one simple step were done. Doing […]
Kerdi no longer acceptable for tile steam showers
In 2013, the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), the organization that sets the guidelines for tile installations, is rumored to have made a modification to their specifications for constructing tile steam showers. It’s all about perm ratings- and Schluter Kerdi fabric no longer cuts it. (edit: this is now in place and no longer […]
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? […]
Thinset
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 and even misinformation on this very subject. In fact, this debate has stoked many of the conversations and threads on the tile and building forums […]
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 mortar. Suddenly, questions start furiously bouncing into your head: What’s the difference between the $6 bag of thinset and the $40 bag? Do […]
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. This means: No more wondering what “peanut butter consistency” looks like No more struggling to gauge how much a half […]
Recessed Shampoo Niches
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 building posts: Planning and Design Installing a prefab niche Modifying a prefab niche Part 4: Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch Sometimes there’s no […]
How to Modify your Recessed Foam Shower Niche…
In this post we cover: Situations where you would consider modifications A technique to check if your foam niche is still waterproof Method and tools to customize a foam shower niche Staying out of trouble The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Recessed Shower Niche Part 3: How to Modify your Recessed Foam Shower Niche […]
How to Build a Recessed Shampoo Shelf…
In this post we discuss: How to cut an inset niche into the wall What tools to use to build the recessed shampoo shelf Blocking (framing) for a recessed niche How to make sure your niche is waterproof Tile inside and around your shower insert The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Recessed Shower Niche […]
