Home Remodeling

Part II: Quartz Kitchen Countertops (and cousins)

Quartz Quartz tops are a man made slab consisting of crushed quartz stone bound in a resin.  They are very strong and durable.  They are, generally speaking, more costly than natural stone tops.  One of the reasons for this is that slabs of quartz are produced in smaller sizes than natural stone.  Therefore it can take […]

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Part I: Granite & Stone Kitchen Countertops

Granite, marble, limestone and soapstone are the most common choices in this category.  Granite is an igneous rock (formed by cooling volcanic flows) that is extremely dense.  It is usually polished although some countertop fabricators are offering interesting patterns (like “leather”) that has more of a matte textured finish.  Granite is very resistant to scratches and […]

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Which Countertop Material for my Kitchen Remodeling Project?

Kitchen countertops are always a critical choice for a kitchen remodeling project.  There are many different brands and manufacturers and you might feel a bit overwhelmed with the number of choices. Because of the number of choices available I’m going to break this article down into multiple articles, each one delving more in depth into […]

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Tips for Using Epoxy Tile Grout

As a professional remodeler I’ve struggled with epoxy grout a few times, so it ocurred to me that a DIYer could probably use some tips and suggestions. In preparation for grouting it is an excellent idea to seal your tile with a good quality sealer (we use DuPont StoneTech Bulletproof) before you grout. This is […]

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What Does ‘Quality Material’ Mean?

If we’re asked to explain why the total investment on our proposal is higher than someone else’s price for a project one of the factors I cite is that we only use high quality materials. It’s easy to tell a client something like “we only use high quality materials”, but what does that really mean? […]

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What Type of Grout Should I Use?

In years past there have been two basic types of grout for tile installations: cement grout or epoxy. A few years ago StarQuartz grout emerged on the market, a pre-mixed urethane grout. It largely flew under the radar but urethane grouts are starting to become a commonly used grout material. Traditional cement based grouts are […]

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Understanding Modern Tile Tub Surrounds

Very often when we do a bathroom remodeling project we’re taking out an old 50’s through 70’s era tiled tub surround. Every time we do we find mold behind the tile. I’m a huge fan of tiling tub surrounds and I always try to talk my customers into tile instead of a fiberglass surround. Now, […]

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Building and Remodeling is not a Commodity

I’ve been noticing ads lately regarding “real time price checking” and “price matching”. The culmination of internet shopping and big box stores has created a marketplace where comparitive price shopping is so quick and easy that the giant retailers are actually willing to do it for you. I guess this is a wonderful thing, after […]

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ServiceMagic(tm) Still Stinks

Some of you may have read my previous post concerning ServiceMagic(tm) and other online lead generation companies.  I just ran across a video on YouTube(tm) that really drives this point home. If you are looking for a home improvement contractor please do your homework on how to find a reputable contractor before you begin.  If […]

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New Remodeling Forum Takes Seed

I have spent quite a bit of time in the past few years contributing to and gaining knowledge from an online forum for construction professionals. I have fairly recently switched to a new forum called RemodelCrazy(tm) that was founded by several top notch remodelers I had met.  I would like to invite anyone who reads […]

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