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 function? As the old saying goes, "the devil is in the … [Read more...] about Anti-Fracture vs Crack Isolation vs Uncoupling Membrane: What’s the difference?
Floor Prep
Here is how you can lay tile over an old wood plank subfloor
You're renovating your home and found weird planks over the floor joists instead of plywood. What do you do now? Are your hopes of installing tile floors now shattered? Are you going to have to settle for *gasp!* LVP flooring? Take a deep breath. Here are some ways you can prepare your floor … [Read more...] about Here is how you can lay tile over an old wood plank subfloor
Does your floor meet minimum structural requirements for tile?
You want to install new tile on your floor but you're not sure if your floor is rated for it. Maybe you had tile previously and they were cracked and coming loose? Perhaps, you had a vinyl or carpet floor and wonder if the floor is engineered for tile? This post will help you understand the … [Read more...] about Does your floor meet minimum structural requirements for tile?
Use These 7 Schluter Ditra Installation Tips and Avoid Problems (in 2023)
This post contains 7 real-world tips for installing Ditra. I'm a 25+ year tile installer and I use all of these tips when I install uncoupling membranes. First, let's clear up a couple of things: Here are the 7 installation tips: Ditra Installation Tip 1: Mix Your Thinset … [Read more...] about Use These 7 Schluter Ditra Installation Tips and Avoid Problems (in 2023)
4 Alternatives to Ditra Uncoupling Membrane
I love Schluter Ditra and would recommend it to anyone. However, there are many alternatives to Ditra that have entered the market and they are worthy of consideration. There are many reasons to consider an alternative to Ditra, which could be: This post will examine Schluter Ditra and four … [Read more...] about 4 Alternatives to Ditra Uncoupling Membrane
Cement Board vs Ditra: Which is better?
Cement board or Ditra. Which is better? There are a lot of opinions but I'm going to try to stick to facts. This post compares: Let's get to it! What do Cement Board and Ditra do? The function of both cement board and Ditra is that of a tile underlayment. You install them … [Read more...] about Cement Board vs Ditra: Which is better?
Tile Underlayment: The Complete Guide for Beginners
Tile underlayment. There are a lot of different types of products that you can put under your bathroom floor tile. But it's confusing. Which product solves your problems? Also, do you even need underlayment for your tile in the first place? Let's take a look and examine the situation … [Read more...] about Tile Underlayment: The Complete Guide for Beginners
Self-Leveling Underlayment: The Ultimate Guide
Self-leveling underlayment. It sounds soooooo easy, doesn't it? You simply pour the leveling cement over the floor and the product then just levels itself all on its own. Sort of like...magic, right? Self-leveling underlayment is not what it seems Self-leveling underlayment is, quite … [Read more...] about Self-Leveling Underlayment: The Ultimate Guide
5 Ways to Screw Up your Cement Board Installation on Floors
Cement board installation is not something that is incredibly difficult. I think most people worry about how to cut it and once they have a plan for that then they think it'll be a breeze. But I've seen these screw-ups for several years now. It's the same ones over and over. Which … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Screw Up your Cement Board Installation on Floors
Do Uncoupling Membranes Really Prevent Cracked Tile Floors?
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?