How the Ping Test Reveals Structural Failures in Shower Tile Installations The sound of a hollow tile in your shower is the acoustic signature of a bond failure that threatens the structural integrity of your wall. Most homeowners assume that if a tile is still on the wall, it is doing its job. This is…
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound because they think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I have seen countless shower floors fail because an installer thought they could compensate for a bad subfloor…
The physics of the failing grout joint Grout cracks at the shower floor joint because of structural deflection, improper thin-set coverage, and the lack of a movement joint at the change of plane. Movement in the subfloor or the wall studs creates stress that rigid cementitious grout cannot absorb. To prevent this, installers must use…
The hidden physics of grout failure Grout pinholes are small voids caused by air bubbles or excess water during the mixing process that compromise the structural integrity of your shower. These tiny craters represent a failure in the cementitious matrix of the grout. I once walked into a job where a shower pan was leaking…
I have spent twenty five years on my knees with a moisture meter and a magnesium float. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That job…
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I have seen thousand dollar tile jobs ruined by a single sixteenth of an inch. When you have spent…
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. When I walk into a bathroom where the homeowner is complaining about grout lines crumbling in the corners of…
The Flashlight Test for Finding Grout Pinholes in Your Shower Floor I once spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. People think floor leveling is a suggestion, but when you are dealing with a shower, that level of precision becomes a matter of…
How to Fix a Crack in Your Shower Grout Before it Causes a Leak I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor would not click like a castanet. Most guys skip the leveling compound because they think the underlayment will hide the dip. It will not. This same…
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That same level of neglect happens in showers. I have walked into hundreds of bathrooms where a high-end marble…
