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Notched Trowel Buyer’s Guide
Notch trowels for tile are one of the tools that generate the most questions. I’m a professional tile installer that started setting tile in 1996. […]
Recent Posts
One Thinset from Home Depot will do 80% of your Tile Installations
"How do non-pros know what Home Depot thinset they should buy?", I wondered to myself as I walked the tile aisle's at my local Home Depot. My local store had 9 different bagged varieties of thinset mortar that cost anywhere from $6/bag to $60! … [Read More...]
Why liquid waterproofing is a bad idea for a shower pan
There's more than one way to waterproof a shower. But liquid waterproofing is an especially enticing method for building a watertight shower pan, particularly with DIYers. So, here's the thing: Why shouldn't you build a shower pan with … [Read More...]
Anti-Fracture vs Crack Isolation vs Uncoupling Membrane: What’s the difference?
You don't want your tile to crack so you're going to put some sort of crack suppressant under your tile. Yet, as you research, you realize all of these products seem to do the same thing. What gives? Why three different names for the same … [Read More...]
7 Compelling Reasons the Noble Freestyle Linear Drain is the Best Drain for Your Shower And 3 Reasons it Isn’t
When it comes to shopping for linear drains, the Noble Freestyle Linear Drain is a stellar choice. I've been installing tile full-time for nearly 30 years and this is my go-to linear drain. It's not perfect but it's very well-engineered. This post … [Read More...]
1/2 x 1/2 inch Square Notch Trowel: The Worst Trowel for Large Format Tile?
The 1/2 x 1/2 inch square notch trowel is one of the most popular notch trowel sizes for large format tiles. The notches are big and deep with this trowel. That's a good thing as you need more mortar for bigger tiles. So, what's the problem with … [Read More...]
Popular Posts
Thinset
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 … [Read More...]
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 … [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: Yes, I've heard every one of those before and it's frustrating. I know … [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. … [Read More...]
Premixed Tile Mastic: Where TO use it and What NOT to use it on
You know how tempting it is to grab that bucket of premixed tile mastic off of the shelf for your tile project. It's premixed, already the proper consistency, and it's really easy to use. But … [Read More...]
Trowels
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 you which size trowel to use with them. Consequently, I get asked about tile trowel sizes quite a bit. It seems as though it’s a big secret. This post will […]
1/2 x 1/2 inch Square Notch Trowel: The Worst Trowel for Large Format Tile?
The 1/2 x 1/2 inch square notch trowel is one of the most popular notch trowel sizes for large format tiles. The notches are big and deep with this trowel. That’s a good thing as you need more mortar for bigger tiles. So, what’s the problem with it? The 1/2-inch square notch trowel has a […]
Notched Trowel Buyer’s Guide
Notch trowels for tile are one of the tools that generate the most questions. I’m a professional tile installer that started setting tile in 1996. These are the trowels that I and other tile installers use. We use different-sized trowels for different purposes. Down below, you’ll see what the trowels are used for and most […]
Mortar Coverage Basics: “What size Trowel…?” is the Wrong Question
You’re asking a very simple question: “What size trowel do I need for my tile project?” The reply should be very simple. However, the correct answer is “It depends.” The problem is that it’s not the right question to ask. Here’s what you should be asking: First, a refresher on why notch trowels for tile […]
Showers & Bathtubs
Is the Schluter Kerdi Shower System Failure-prone?
Do Kerdi Showers fail? If you listen to some Youtubers you very well may come to that conclusion ‘The Kerdi System wicks water and can’t pass a flood test‘ is what they are claiming. However, I can prove the Schluter Kerdi Shower System works. Why can I be so confident? I, personally, have built an […]
Is Hardibacker and Durock cement board waterproof?
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 nothing about waterproofing being […]
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 with Sheetrock/Greenboard Sheetrock in a […]
Recessed Shampoo Niches
How to Design a Preformed Foam Recessed Shower Niche…
In this post we discuss: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Recessed Shower Niche This is a string of 4 posts that talk about how to build different types of shower niches in a step-by-step fashion. However, you’ll want to read my post on 10 things to consider with your shampoo shower niche before […]
Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch…
This post covers: First, if you haven’t read my post on 10 things to consider before building this shampoo shower niche, please do so before moving forward. The Ultimate Guide to Building a Preformed Custom Recessed Shower Niche Other niche building posts: Part 4: Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch Sometimes there’s no good […]
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 is no good place to put one. There are either wires and pipes in the way or the stud bay is too narrow. The only good place to install one would be on an exterior wall which […]
Top Shared Posts
Building a Custom Shower Niche from Scratch
This post covers: Cement board, foam board, and Hardibacker Cutting into wall framing Waterproofing LOTS of photos! First, if you haven't read my post on 10 things to consider before
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 2024, 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 is no good place to put one. There are either wires and
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
