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?
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No Waterproofing: Will this cause a shower to leak?
A leaking shower. The last thing anyone wants when they build a new shower. Yet I hear the following questions quite often: What inspired this post? A member of the John Bridge forum asking a simple enough question: Is a moisture barrier required? He had hired a contractor to … [Read more...] about No Waterproofing: Will this cause a shower to leak?
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 … [Read more...] about Ditra Heat Mat Installation: Ignore these two rules
The One Thing Every Tile Installation Needs: Movement Joints
If I were to ask “what is one thing that every tile installation needs?” I would get answers like Nobody would answer with “Movement Joints”. Nobody. Most people wouldn’t understand what they are. And installing them sounds like it would be technical and complicated. Good news! … [Read more...] about The One Thing Every Tile Installation Needs: Movement Joints
The Little Known Cause of your Loose Floor Tiles
Loose floor tiles can be very frustrating. Why is it happening? What's the cause? What went wrong? I have a textbook for contractors called the NTCA Reference manual. One of the features of this book is that it has tables and charts that list different tile problems. Then it gives a cause. … [Read more...] about The Little Known Cause of your Loose Floor Tiles
DIY Wet Saw Tent
A wet saw is a nice thing to have when you are installing tile. But one of the problems is the water getting all over. Especially if you have it set up in a house or a sensitive area. Also, if you are installing tile in the winter and you live in a cold climate you may want your saw inside … [Read more...] about DIY Wet Saw Tent
Mesh Tape: Don’t Skip This Step!
I know, thin mesh tape banding doesn't seem like it's going to do anything at all. However, this is a step that may seem trivial but has a significant impact. Let's get into the details. Alkali-Resistant Mesh Tape For tile backer boards such as Durock, Hardiebacker, and Permabase, … [Read more...] about Mesh Tape: Don’t Skip This Step!
Tile Backer Board Breakdown
It's time to redo your old, musty shower. So, you head down to the local box store only to find several different tile backer board options for covering the walls. The following thoughts are going through your head: I'm going to break down each choice by category and cover the finer points … [Read more...] about Tile Backer Board Breakdown
Miserable Pebble Tile Flooring
How can installing pebble tile flooring be a miserable endeavor? After all, when you use words like organic, zen, natural, and feng shui to describe the bathroom that you want aren't pebble tiles always in the scheme somewhere? Well, I have a huge pet peeve when it comes to pebble tiles. A … [Read more...] about Miserable Pebble Tile Flooring
Ceramic Subway Tile: 3 Pro Installation Secrets
Ceramic Subway Tile: 3 Pro Installation Secrets I have 3 tips to share for ceramic subway tile. The first is a lesser-known layout technique for subway tiles. The second is an installation detail and the third is a cutting method done tutorial style. Let's get right into it. Also, don't … [Read more...] about Ceramic Subway Tile: 3 Pro Installation Secrets
