You want to tile your concrete floor. But there's a problem. The concrete has cracks in it. You know that if you tile right over the crack you soon will have a floor tile that's cracked in the exact same spot. So what can you do to keep the tile from cracking? Do Uncoupling Membranes Really … [Read more...] about Do Uncoupling Membranes Really Prevent Cracked Tile Floors?
Prep
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 … [Read more...] about No Waterproofing: Will this cause shower leaks?
Ditra Heat Mat Installation: Ignore these two rules
This post was updated on July 2023. Typically, I encourage people to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Especially when the company has clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions like Schluter does. But when it comes to both Ditra Heat and Ditra Heat TB [edit: now called … [Read more...] about Ditra Heat Mat Installation: Ignore these two rules
Mesh Tape: Don’t skip this step
There are some aspects of tile installation that seem small or insignificant but they aren't. They really have a big impact. The way you treat your backer board seams is one of them. Doing them improperly can lead to big problems down the road. But these problems can be avoided by this … [Read more...] about Mesh Tape: Don’t skip this step
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 backer board should you use in your bathroom? I'm going to break them down by category and cover the finer points of each. We'll start … [Read more...] about Tile Backer Board Breakdown
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 … [Read more...] about Kerdi no longer acceptable for tile steam showers
Why Schluter Ditra is so cool: Uncoupling membranes explained
Update: Schluter has launched Ditra 2.0. More details are below. You're curious about installing Schluter Ditra underlayment. Why not? It's quite a popular product on DIY television. Further, you can identify it instantly with its bright orange, waffled appearance. You may have even wondered … [Read more...] about Why Schluter Ditra is so cool: Uncoupling membranes explained
