This post describes how to prevent ugly corner mismatches when installing heavily veined and shaded natural stone marble wall tile. Making a natural stone tile install look random actually takes planning. Read on to discover why! Continue reading How to Match Marble Tile Corner Seams
Here are tips to ensure perfect install results for even especially finicky handmade wall tile. This post might get me in trouble with the tile mafia, but the DIY support is worth it. Read on for some trade secrets! Continue reading Handmade Tile Backsplash: INSTALLATION
Explains how to carefully plan a complicated tile pattern that will look purposeful instead of accidental. Backsplash tile layouts in particular can be difficult to make look balanced. Read on to understand why! Continue reading Handmade Tile Backsplash: PLANNING
Describes the challenges that come with choosing fancy designer handmade tile for even seemingly simple projects like a kitchen backsplash. Unique materials generally require expert experience. Read on for why! Continue reading Handmade Tile Backsplash: CHALLENGES
Explains all the steps necessary for installing a basic tile backsplash. If you want a new kitchen look on a budget, then you need to use a low cost tile. If you try to skimp on labor instead, then you will not be happy with the results. Read on for an explanation of why! Continue reading A Subway Tile Backsplash Install
Describes how to dress up even a basic fireplace insert with a mosaic tile surround that will look anything but basic. Perfect symmetry is key to a perfect-looking result, especially when using a contrasting grout color for extra pop. Read on for some mosaic tile wall install tips! Continue reading Fireplace Tile Surround
Describes the pros and cons of converting a conventional spare bath tub/shower combo to a walk-in tile shower. Has some added design advice and also features a cute pupper! Continue reading WHY Convert a Tub to a Shower?
Explains the whole process of converting a tub/shower combo to a custom walk-in shower. This can be a very helpful and cost-effective way to help your home grow with changing lifestyles. Continue reading Converting a Tub to a Shower: HOW?
Describes the easiest and least invasive way to fix a bad shower floor. If the shower is properly watertight, then you can probably just tile right over the existing shower floor tile to fix any slope or other surface issues. Here is a detailed example! Continue reading How to RE-tile a Shower Floor
This project completely fixed a previously bungled 1930s bungalow bathroom renovation. If you are searching for ways to make reno decisions that will match the overall character of a historic home, then read on! Continue reading How to BRIGHTEN a Bath Reno Plan!
There was a snowpocalypse in Austin in 2021, and it flooded homes all over town as burst pipes thawed out a week later. Here’s what to do if you have an unexpected freeze and then hear the sound of water pipes gushing. Continue reading EMERGENCY burst pipe DIY repair
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Explains who this website is for and how it can help with your home renovation planning. Spoiler Alert: My blog isn’t monetized or commercialized. No ads, popups, or paywalls. Just straight dope advice! Continue reading Home Renovation in Austin, TX!
Describes how to install patio tile for a lifetime crack-free guarantee. Daily heating and cooling combined with moisture and seasonal freezing can result in a cracked tile mess. Read on for perfect outdoor ceramic floor tips! Continue reading How to Tile a Patio
This post describes how to convert a worn out and outdated builder-grade shower and tub into a custom tile and bright practical garden tub master suite spa room. If you’ve got a 1990s master bath in need of a full makeover on a budget, read on for tips! Continue reading A Budget Bathroom Renovation
Describes a full bathroom renovation that took everything to the studs for a full makeover. Replacing a tub surround is an opportunity to make an entire bathroom into a spa for marginally more cost. Here’s a step-by-step example that explains how! Continue reading How to Install a Marble Tile Tub Surround
Describes the tile install and finish work for a custom spa shower renovation. This blog post has some tips and info for making perfect custom tile shower floors and stylish tiled niches with shelving. Seriously, this Michael Mann finish was pretty cool! Continue reading Custom Shower Upgrade: part II
Explains why even expensive previous tile shower installations can leak, and how they can be fixed. This project creatively designed around a glass block wall to bring a dank and leaky but forward-looking 1950s shower truly into the future! Continue reading Custom Shower Upgrade: part I
Explains how a simply inevitable tile tub surround replacement can add real lasting value to even a tiny home in Austin. This project made the most of a single bath bungalow reno by making the bathroom into a space age spa space! Continue reading Space-Age Tub Surround
Sometimes custom tile showers are badly done. Sometimes tile showers are old, musty, and leaky, Sometimes they’re all of these things and need to be completely redone. This was one of those times. Read on for historic home reno tips too! Continue reading Yes, GO to the Light!
This post explains how to waterproof a totally cool James Bond -style dual showerhead custom spa shower. Think your custom shower idea is too decadent to make real? Well, read this before you discount that idea! Continue reading Super Shower TWO: making the shower
Sometimes you can salvage a bathroom with just a makeover. But sometimes you have to nuke everything and start over to make a truly James Bond -worthy custom shower result. This post explains how! Continue reading Super Shower ONE: demo and framing
Describes how to replace a tiled tub surround on a budget but with waterproofing that will last a lifetime. If you don’t want to reno a whole bathroom but also don’t want to ever have a problem with mold, then read on for tips! Continue reading A Basic Tub Surround Redo
Explains how to make a completely waterproof shower that will last a lifetime, even using porous natural stone tile. This post also has some great cost saving tips for re-using custom shower glass. Continue reading Stylish Shower Replacement, part deux!
Explains why improperly waterproofed showers leak, and how to fix them. These clients got a truly custom tile shower redone for a fraction of what starting completely over from scratch would have cost! Continue reading Stylish Shower Replacement, part uno!
Explains how to convert a fiberglass tub surround insert into a custom tile walk-in shower. This project required some advanced jackhammer drain re-plumbing. But a project like this doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Continue reading Another Tub to Shower Conversion
Kitchen renovation projects can be very expensive and take a long time. So plan carefully if you want to work quickly and keep costs low. Here are some tips for kitchen renovations that won’t break the bank. Continue reading How to Save on a Kitchen Reno
Skilled labor is the biggest reno project cost. Here are tips for getting quality bids without inflated labor pricing.
Spoiler alert: Good contractors really like to work for organized clients with clear plans. Continue reading How to Save on a Bathroom Renovation
Stone mosaic tile is a popular choice for shower and bathroom floors nowadays. It’s great for adding flair to a renovation design. Using natural stone mosaics can however result in annoyingly obvious seams. Read on for tips to install seamless tile mosaics! Continue reading The Seamy Side of Mosaic Tile
Tile can be expensive, and finding tile that you like can be hard. There are lots of retail options for buying tile but there are also lots of pros and cons for each option. This post has tips to guide you! Continue reading So, Where to Buy Tile?
Explains the differences between types of grout and the pros/cons of each. This post has all the info you’ll need for a clear and informed discussion with an installation pro about what’s the best specific grout to use for YOUR particular tile reno project! Continue reading Let’s Talk about GROUT!
This post explains why floor tiles installed on a concrete foundation sometimes crack, how to match and replace cracked floor tiles, and how to ensure that they won’t just crack again. Read on for DIY ceramic floor tile repair tips! Continue reading Fixing Cracked Floor Tile
The answer is always YES, definitely add some awesome! Niches are like wonderful stylish showering closets and can be great for leg shaving and foot washing too. Add good looks, value, and usability to your custom tile shower or tub surround install with a niche. Continue reading How to Design a Shower Niche
Explains why tub surround ceramic wall tile can crack and shows how to fix the problem without having to start over from scratch. Want to save some money by repairing your shower instead of having to replace it? Then read on for repair tips! Continue reading Replacing Cracked Wall Tile
Explains how to replace just a shower base to fix a leaky situation. The conventional fix for an improperly waterproofed shower is to nuke everything and start over. Replacing only the leaky parts can save time and money. Continue reading More Leaky Shower Fixing
Describes a creative fix for a bizarrely badly done custom shower install that was leaking water into a first floor livingroom. The best way to fix a bad shower is to nuke it and start over. But if you’re on a budget, sometimes it’s worth taking a chance on getting creative. Continue reading Fixing the WORST, part deux!
Describes the absolutely worst, most bizarre, and just plain weird shower fail I’ve ever seen. This was like a previous contractor malpractice crime scene, and is a real cautionary tale for “cost plus” project pricing. Read on for gory details! Continue reading Fixing the WORST, part uno!
Most homes in Austin are built on concrete slab foundations, and a lot of slab foundations in Austin have cracks. This post describes how to properly install new floor tile on an old cracked slab to ensure that there will be no future problems. The cute client dog? Adorbs clickbait. Continue reading Kitchen Floor Tile Fabu
Explains how ceramic or porcelain tile can be correctly installed on a plywood subfloor for a future lifetime crack-free guarantee. It is easiest to re-tile a floor during a full kitchen makeover. But you can also replace just the floor with some skill and creativity. Continue reading New Tile for a New(ish) Kitchen
This post describes how to properly install a traditional shower “pan” waterproofed with PVC vinyl or fiberglass. You can DIY this yourself, but it’s best to get expert help. Either way, it’s good to know how to make a properly sloped and waterproofed shower base no matter who does the actual hands-on work. Custom tile shower floors must be done perfectly to last a lifetime. Here are tips to ensure that your custom shower floor is done correctly! Continue reading How to Slope a Shower “Pan”
Describes how to transform a standard tub/shower combo into a stunning custom walk-in shower. Converting a bathtub to a shower isn’t as difficult as you might think, even on a concrete slab foundation. Read on for an explanation of why, plus design tips! Continue reading Let’s Make a Shower!
Removing a wall is a major project. It takes experience and skill to tear down a load-bearing wall without risking loads of trouble. But it isn’t rocket science. This post explains how even a first-story wall can be taken down safely with some rule of thumb know-how. Continue reading Tearing Walls DOWN!
Describes how to repair a large custom walk-in shower originally installed without any waterproofing at all. It was possible to replace just the shower base and curb and the first row of wall tile for a fix. Read on to see some pretty super shower floor sloping! Continue reading Shower Repair Rescue, part deux
… is no way to be if you’re a shower floor! This post describes how to fix an incredibly poorly done shower installation without having to tear everything out. It is sometimes possible to replace just the shower base to fix even the worst previous install problems. Continue reading Flat, Pitted, and Leaky …
This post describes how to redo a guest bath on a budget. This renovation project kept everything but the tile. But, replacing all of the tile made the whole room look brand new!
Read on for lots of cost saving tips. Continue reading Classic Tub Surround
There are several different ways to properly waterproof a custom tile shower. Unfortunately there are very many more ways to screw up shower waterproofing. Sometimes, an improperly waterproofed shower will start obviously leaking right away. Most of the time, unfortunately, it takes several years for moisture from a leaky shower to start causing visible symptoms like swelling baseboards or moldy wall cavities. This post describes how to ensure that YOUR custom tile shower waterproofing is done correctly. Continue reading How to Waterproof a Tile Shower
Sometimes, you need to nuke it from space It’s the only way to be sure, after all. This post describes a partial full-nuke shower replacement process. While nuking all the tile turned out to be a necessity, it was still possible to replace basically the entire shower without replacing the existing custom glass enclosure and shower door. This saved several thousand dollars, which was nice. … Continue reading Whole Shower Fixing
The Challenge? How to make an outdated kitchen in a 750ft2 2/1 apartment condo shine without making the rest of the condo look terrible in the process. This is a pretty common problem, especially apparent if you make a habit of looking at rehab house open houses. To save the cost of full remodels, folks focus on renovating just the bathrooms and/or kitchen to focus … Continue reading Kitchen Reno: maximizing condo value
Walk-in Showers — the BEST! Seriously, it’s great to live like Roman nobility. In other words, it’s great to live in the 20/21st century. This client was looking for someone to finish a medium 3’x5′ shower that had a traditional fiberglass waterproofing pan installed but not much else. The space was converted from a former smaller bathroom that had had a large 80s vintage whirlpool … Continue reading Custom Shower Creating
This post describes one way to fix a custom tiled shower floor that’s leaking water through the curb. If you know that the shower pan waterproofing liner is fiberglass, then it can be possible to remove and replace just the shower floor tile and concrete slope to fix a bad slope or even minor waterproofing leaks. Read on for details! Continue reading Fixing a Leaking Shower Curb
The upside of a bad kitchen … … is the low bar for making it better! These folks had a quite outdated 1980s vintage kitchen space that was nicely large and worked okay, but didn’t have much else going for it. Dark, uninspired, and not completely functional for a growing family: A full to-the-studs complete renovation redo for a large ~200ft2 kitchen with lots of … Continue reading Kitchen Reno: the full kind
Don’t date your kitchen! Instead, make sure that your design and materials choices will compliment future upgrades. One way to ensure this is to choose materials to complement the original age and style of the rest of the house. For this project, that meant working with something that would have been right at home in an original 1960s mod home. The stainless appliances and neutral … Continue reading Backsplash With Style
When your kitchen is beyond outdated… …but you have a tight budget, what to do? That’s the problem these folks had, with a great kitchen space but full of kludged-together bits and pieces: The cabinets were solid but not great -looking 1980s particle board veneer with some missing doors and drawers. The cooktop and sink were 70s vintage (in a not charming way). The 20ft2 … Continue reading Kitchen Reno: the partial kind
Describes a bathroom renovation with a kerdi shower waterproofing installation. Read on for full bath renovation tips and money saving tricks! Continue reading Kerdi Shower Bathroom Renovation
Open plan kitchen and living areas have been popular for a long time now, but most homes built before the 1990s were still often designed around closed kitchens and formal dining rooms. So what to do if your home is full of load bearing walls you want to get rid of? Simple, just replace with beams! This post describes the demo, carpentry, and finish for opening up a galley kitchen. In this case a partial wall removal was a super-economical choice for getting an open-feel kitchen on a tight budget. Continue reading Opening Up a Load Bearing Wall!
The problem with original 50s bungalows… … is they often have a long history of bungled reno work. In this case, a tub surround that was last done sometime in the 1970s. Aside from the questionable move of just tiling around the original window, it was made of tile stuck directly to drywall with no waterproofing. It was now literally dissolving after miraculously lasting so … Continue reading Stylish Tub Surrounding
This post describes how to remove and reinstall shower floor tile to correct an improper slope. To drain effectively, shower floor tile needs to be sloped at least 1/8-in per linear foot of run from the walls to the drain. Sometimes installers screw this up. But if there is a properly installed waterproofing liner below the surface floor tile and concrete drypack layer, it can be possible to fix a bad slope without ripping apart the whole shower. Read on to see how! Continue reading How to Fix a Shower Floor Slope
