Tools for Laying Ceramic Tile

If you’ve been reading along, you know that I’m renovating my guest bathroom. My daughter is 13 months old and getting too big for the kitchen sink so it’s time to get this bathroom in order. Here’s my progress so far: Dremel Multi-Max for demolition Installed concrete board Planned out my tile layout Before you begin laying tile, you need to make sure you have the right tools... 

Bathroom Tile Preparations | Planning Tile Layout

You can create amazing “artwork” with tile. Just check out this NYC Subway Tile job. Even simple jobs, done well, can enhance the look and feel of a room. For every tile job, it’s important to plan out the location of your tiles well before you begin laying. This preparation will let you know how many tiles the job requires and prevent some common pitfalls. Avoids Problems You want... 

Dremel Multi-Max for Bathroom Demolition

I’ve begun the work on my bathroom and started with removing the toilet, vanity and old floor tile. I plan on reusing the same toilet and only replacing a few shower wall tiles (to cut costs). Demo is always a lot of fun, especially when you have the right tools for the job. Removing the Tile As I wrote before, the previous tile job was in bad shape. Some tiles were cracked while other weren’t... 

Review: Ryobi 7″ Tile Saw

Ryobi is known for affordable power tools paired with professional features. These tools are a great choice for homeowners, hobbyists, and do-it-yourselfers. Plus, all Ryobi power tools are backed by a 30-day guarantee and a 2-year limited warranty. We were pretty excited when they decided to send us their 7″ Tile Saw. It’s packed with great features enabling you to achieve professional... 

Level an Uneven Subfloor for Vinyl Tile

The following question on leveling a subfloor for vinyl tile was sent in by Roman: I want to put vinyl tiles in my living room and bedroom, and this requires that the floor is smooth and horizontal enough. The subfloor is not too bad, I think. It is largely pretty smooth; however, it is too uneven for me to be able to place a chair or table so that they wouldn’t bounce. I hope there is a cheaper... 

Schluter Shower System

Last winter, I finished remodeling my master bathroom. What started out as a plan to replace the vanity quickly became an entirely new bathroom. What happened? One day into the work we discovered mold growing on parts of the drywall behind the sink, and a small leak. But let’s cut to the chase. Once the bathroom had been gutted and we began to prep for the new tile, Jocie and I heard about the... 

Kitchen Countertop Material Comparison

Close your eyes and list as many kitchen countertop options you can. How’d you do? There is a lot to choose from! This post will cover your options and help you make a more informed choice. Laminate Countertops Laminate countertops (often called Formica) are very common. Builders often install laminate to keep costs low. It is one of the cheapest options available with prices range from around... 

Is DuraCeramic better than Ceramic Tile

My brother and his wife are remodeling their kitchen. They’ve taken the time to carefully investigate all the different aspects. And I was really curious when they began talking about DuraCeramic for the kitchen floor. What is DuraCeramic? DuraCeramic basically falls in between laminate floor and ceramic tile. It is manufactured as 16 inch square tiles that can be scored into 8 inch squares.... 

Before and After: Bathroom Ceramic Tile Floor

This week’s Before and After is brought to you from a coworker and friend, Miesha. Miesha recently asked Kim and I for some help installing a new ceramic tile floor in her bathroom (the subject of several later posts). Unfortunately, in prepping the subfloor for tile, she made some beginner mistakes requiring her to rip up some concrete board.  The before picture here shows the bathroom... 

Washington Area Tile Contractor Review (Sita Tile)

Back in February I wrote about my attempt to find a distributor who would sell me Custom Building Product’s LevelQuik ES underlayment. Most suppliers wanted a business license or Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) number to make a deal. As a DIYer, I have neither. Of course, I tried the big box. Big orange wanted $34/bag + delivery charge to get the product for me. Others I contacted...