Showers/Bathtubs

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. … [Read more...] about Flood testing a shower pan: Why it’s done and how to do it

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 … [Read more...] about How to Install GoBoard Tile Backer Board | Video

That pesky tub flange. You have the tile backer board installed and everything is waterproofed. Everything except that gap between the backer board and the tub flange. How do you waterproof that? How to waterproof the tub flange? To begin with, you can try reading the instructions for … [Read more...] about Sealing the tub flange for tile: 3 methods

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 … [Read more...] about Is Hardibacker and Durock cement board waterproof?

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?

  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

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