Cutting Ceramic Tile There are many methods to cut ceramic tile. Some of them are dependent on how hard the tile is. For example, porcelain tile - which is VERY HARD - is best cut with a wet diamond tile saw. Snap tile cutters almost always shatter this brittle tile. Common 1/4-inch tile found in […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Some topics really get a rise out of people. Splitting wood is one. Certain people have a very strong opinion of what’s best. It has to be all the testosterone that’s surging through their veins as they smash the splitting maul down into a log! I’ve split wood using every imaginable tool, […]
Concrete Footer Quick Start Guide DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: I’m embarrassed to say I can’t remember my first footer. Pouring concrete down in a trench or a hole is not quite like your first kiss, that’s for sure! All I can tell you it was many years ago. I do remember many of the footers I […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Snowblower Quick Start Guide For most of my life, I had never used a snowblower. I lived in Cincinnati, OH, and it just didn’t snow much there. Then I moved to New Hampshire. I shared a driveway with a born-and-raised New Englander. Within a month of moving in Dave said, “Go buy […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Thinset is a great waterproof adhesive. Tile setters for over 125 years have been using this material to install ceramic tile PERMANENTLY. Why is thinset so fantastic? It’s simply Portland cement and fine silica sand. Sometimes there might be another additive in the blend to increase strength. Portland cement is the only […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Chainsaws are dangerous. They’re also fantastic tools. It’s absolutely astounding how much wood you can cut in a short time with one. I’ve used chainsaws for over 40 years and never had an accident. I have had two close calls, but that’s because I did something STUPID. There are two categories of […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Think of a trench drain as a long gutter in the ground. Just as a gutter at the bottom of a roof captures water and channels it to a downspout, a trench drain does the same thing at the edge of a driveway or a parking lot. You place the trench drain […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Have you ever used a table saw? I have for over four decades. They’re amazing tools that allow you to make straight and angled cuts. I remember my dad using one as a small child. It had no blade guard, it constantly tripped the circuit breaker in our house and its fierce-looking […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: There are many methods to cut ceramic tile. Some of them are dependent on how hard the tile is. For example, porcelain tile - which is VERY HARD - is best cut with a wet tile saw. Snap tile cutters sometimes shatter this hard tile. Common 1/4-inch tile found in most tile […]
Grouting Quick Start Guide DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: If you’ve not seen tile grout, I’d bet you really did live under a rock. It’s just about everywhere: public bathrooms, kitchens, restaurants, retail stores, etc. Even though you’ve seen the dried concrete powder in between tiles and possibly watched it being installed on a job or on […]
Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Complete the form below and each week you'll get:
Unsubscribe at any time. We respect your email privacy.