Category: Tile & Shower Enclosures
The easiest way to cut a hole in a tile for a pipe
The exact science of cutting holes in tile for plumbing fixtures I once saw a plumber try to punch a hole through a three thousand dollar slab of vein cut travertine using a hammer and a screwdriver. He thought he could just tap it gently enough to create a pilot hole. The entire slab shattered…
The secret to a perfectly level tile floor every time
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I was in a high-rise downtown where the slab was off by nearly an inch over a ten-foot span.…
How to install tile over a plywood subfloor correctly
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. When you’re dealing with plywood, the stakes are even higher. If that wood moves, your tile breaks. It is…
How to fix lippage on large format bathroom floor tiles
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That client had bought the most expensive 24×48 porcelain available, but the slab was a topographical map of the…
The best way to seal a glass mosaic tile backsplash
Why your backsplash fails before you start Sealing a glass mosaic tile backsplash requires a high performance impregnating sealer specifically designed for non-porous surfaces and cementitious grout. The best way to seal the installation involves applying a solvent-based penetrator that bonds with the grout pores while leaving the glass faces untouched by residue. Most guys…
The best way to finish tile edges without bullnose pieces
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I have seen the same laziness applied to tile edges. People think bullnose is the only way to hide…
How to cut hexagon tiles for a perfect shower drain fit
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. When you are dealing with hexagon tiles in a shower, that prep work is the difference between a drain…
Why your new shower floor feels slippery and how to fix it
The death trap under your feet Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That same level of neglect happens in the shower but with deadlier results.…
The best grout color for dark slate bathroom floors
The subfloor secret that ruins slate installations Slate flooring installations fail most often because of subfloor deflection and poor leveling compound application. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the…
The best way to finish a tile corner with Schluter strips
The myth of the easy tile edge Finish a tile corner with Schluter strips by embedding the perforated anchoring leg into a fresh layer of thin-set mortar before pressing the tile into place. This mechanical bond ensures that the aluminum or stainless steel profile becomes a permanent part of the structural assembly, protecting the fragile…