In this issue: Uneven Floor Transitions Grocery store grout cleaners Tile Backer Board [updated] Should You Use Grocery Store Grout Cleaners on Your Tile? This is an example of a pH-neutral cleaner found on the shelf at Lowes Most products advertised as 'grout cleaners' and available at the grocery store are not typically recommended by grout and tile companies. Why? Typically, grout manufacturers recommend using a neutral cleaner on the pH scale. However, most of what you will find in the...
11 months ago • 2 min read
In this issue: Mixing small batches of Prism grout Shower pans with liquid waterproofing I mixed Prism according to the instructions and it didn't go well The back of a box of Prism grout Recently, I mixed a bag* of Prism grout to what I thought was the water ratio allowed by instructions and the grout was so stiff it was unusable. Further, they have a certain amount they will allow as additional water. Again, my batch wasn't turning out. I only tried this once, so maybe I did something...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
I'm working on a small batch mixture for Prism grout but wasn't able to perfect it before this email went out. Look for it in next month's email. In this issue: Uncoupling vs Crack Isolation vs Anti-fracture What are single component grouts? The Worst named grouts- Single Component Grout Fusion grout is an example of single component grout Fusion Pro, Flexcolor CQ, Spectralock1, TruColor are all examples of a category of grout the industry has deemed 'single component' grout. In other words,...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
In this issue: Epoxy Grout Is this the best linear drain? regretful trends Epoxy Grout: The best grout? Epoxy grout has some real advantages over other types of grout. So, why don't more people use it? Well, along with its upsides, it has some notable downsides also. Consequently, this article discusses both the good and the bad of epoxy grout. The good I would consider epoxy grout to have 3 notable positive traits: stain resistance no sealing durability Stain Resistance The stain resistance...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read
In this issue: New technology in cement grout 1/2 x 1/2 inch square notch trowel Cement grout ain't what it used to be Prism Grout from Custom Building Products For years, the most common question asked with grout was "sanded or non?" Further, grout has always been sort of a necessary evil with homeowners. It gets dirty and when it's cleaned it turns to some sort of dingy version of the original color. New Grout Technology But there's new technology in cement grout and the industry calls this...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
In this issue: A start to clearing up grout confusion More on notch trowels Who is spying on your home with a drone Your Myriad of Options in the Grout Aisle I think people are confused nowadays when it comes to selecting a grout for their project. It used to be that your choice (besides color) was sanded or unsanded. However, advancement in grout has resulted in several different products and I don't think DIY'ers are having an easy time figuring out which grout is the best choice for their...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
A lot of trowel size info this month and next. Have a great 4th and I hope you can take a little time off. In this issue: A popular trowel size may no longer be recommended Mortar Coverage > Trowel size Joanna Gaines has some bathroom design tips The Popular 1/2 x 1/2 inch notch trowel may be going away This trowel size has fallen out of favor in the tile industry The popular 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch square notch trowel has been in demand since the explosion of large format tile like the very...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Thank you for opening this email. I wish you the best 3-day weekend and please take a bit of time to appreciate the meaning of Memorial Day. Until next month... In this issue: wood plank subfloors minimum structural requirements for floor construction marble flooring and a second layer of plywood A Disappointing Detail about Natural Stone Floors Photo by erica indriana on Unsplash I wrote about floor structure this month but neither article deals with how to handle a natural stone floor like...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
In this issue: An 'update' to Schluter All-Set mixing instructions Highlights from the Coverings 2024 in Atlanta A personal story This email is a week late and I didn't have a lot of tile content this month. Here's what I did instead: I attended the big annual tile trade show held in Atlanta. Then, I extended my stay by a few days and drove up to the northern part of the state and visited my 90 year old Aunt Jean (technically my mother's aunt, so my great aunt). Before this took place, I...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read