Epoxy Grout - The ULTIMATE upgrade.

The biggest criticism homeowners have about tile is THE GROUT.

It gets dirty. It loses that "brand new" feeling very quickly.

Well, a lot of the problem is that most of the grout that is being used is from the bottom of the product totem pole.

It's the cheapest stuff that you can get. It's the most available. It's the easiest to work with.

All the major grout brands have their low end grout and that is mostly what gets used.

The solution: EPOXY.

Epoxy is made with two parts and it's the BEST upgrade you can do to your tile project. It's hard as a ROCK, it's color consistent, it's a SERIOUS upgrade.

It's GROUT for the GROUT HATER. It's one and done, it's paying now rather than paying later.

Epoxy puts the grout cleaner/restoration dudes out of business!

Consider EPOXY on your next bathroom remodel for a lasting finish that will look the same 5 years down the road, as the day we left!

Watch the video below for 3 reasons why YOU should use EPOXY GROUT!

💖Your SHOWER CURB needs lovin too! #showercurb #itsthestep💖

When you work with Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA you can expect that WE will install all HARD SURFACES inside your shower.

We spend a lot of time and effort waterproofing and getting things perfect, we don't turn the stone installation over to someone else.

A hard surface stone company fabricates them, we cut them to size and install them.

This is a part of our quest for perfection when we are remodeling your home and you can learn more about our thought process and methods in the video below.

Do you even SILICONE, bro?!🤷‍♂️

SILICONE.

Most tile installers DON’T DO IT.

Look around.

I rarely see tile work in the wild that has silicone. I’ve never seen silicone used on the failed showers we inspect. I’ve never seen silicone used on a builder job, ever.

Silicone is not generally used by most tile installers.

But it is VERY important

Hard grouted corners everywhere, that’s why you see the UNSIGHTLY CRACKS.

Here’s the kicker:

IT’S INDUSTRY STANDARD TO USE SILICONE SEALANT IN ALL WET AREAS!

The TCNA Handbook (Tile Council of North America) Section EJ171:

“All changes of plane to be filled with silicone sealant to allow for movement in the assembly. “

So, if your tile installer doesn’t silicone, THEY ARE DOING IT WRONG!

And it’s not just something we follow because the book told us so. It’s actually the best way! It lasts a long time, it stays clean longer and it is also easier to clean. It’s good stuff!

My installer test question is, “Do you silicone your showers?” It’s the one of the two questions I need to tell immediately if someone is LEGIT.

EVERY WALL MOVES. Because of this we install soft joints to allow for that small amount of movement. When you use grout in corners, between the walls and floor or any change of plane, that leaves a potential for cracks because grout is HARD and doesn’t let the wall move. Two immovable objects. I’m sure you see where I’m going here.

Now, hate to be a stickler but not everything in a tube is SILICONE.

Caulking is not silicone. Caulking is for PAINTING.

A tube of silicone states “100% silicone” not siliconized and it certainly isn’t labeled “latex”.

The great thing, is the grout makers produce a COLOR MATCH silicone. Meaning: your silicone will match the grout.

Try siliconing yourself if you’re a homeowner!

I show anyone I can how to silicone because it’s something good to know.

It’s like tying a bowline knot, once you know, you use it all the time!

Just go to YouTube or Google and type in, “How to silicone your shower”.

Once you get it you won’t go back!

“DO YOU EVEN SILICONE BRO?!”

8 installation details that make our bathrooms BETTER.

Hello! It’s been awhile!

Admittedly, I’ve fallen from posting on my blog regularly. Sometimes I need a break. It’s been 4 years of posting, every two weeks or so and I experienced some burn out. A small break, but the blog was not forgotten!

Today’s post is inspired by the vast pricing difference between Hamilton Tile and many of the other re-modelers/tilers in our area.

Why, Why, Why.

This blog has historically been about helping people to understand and this post is no different.

What are the details that make our bathrooms BETTER, therefore taking more time and also making them more VALUABLE?

Because ultimately, that’s what I am talking about. With Hamilton Tile, our higher price results in more VALUE. A bathroom or shower that looks better, lasts longer, and actually functions the way it should.

Also, our awareness of these details act as an ounce of PREVENTION. We take additional steps, so, (God forbid) when human error occurs out of our control, you as a homeowner can have the situation rectified much easier while minimizing damage and time.

So, what are these details that make us DIFFERENT?

HERE WE GO!

1. No horizontal penetrations for glass panel installation.

   We spend many hours making our showers water proof. Not water resistant, WATERPROOF. Curbs, boxes, floors, walls…If there was a flood, we don’t want wood and water making contact.

   During the building process, everything is water proofed…tile is set, it’s grouted and siliconed, then the glass installation.

   During the glass installation many glass installers will put screw penetrations on horizontal surfaces for clips to hold the glass. Ours DO NOT!

   These clips are generally unnecessary. Silicone holds glass panels just fine. A screw hole on the curb can cause a leak! No amount of silicone will seal the hole.

   In the few scenarios that clips need to be installed to hold larger glass panels, our water proofing is preserved because we use 2” structural foam to build the curbs and not wood.

   Unless the glass installer uses a 6” screw (which he won’t) he will not contact wood because of HOW we build our showers and our expertise with our building system.

   When screws ARE necessary, in the very few situations, we make sure our water proofing is protected.

   No penetrations on a horizontal surface results in a sealed shower area, a sealed curb. A water proof curb.

   Our projects are better because we do not give water a chance to destroy your investment.

   Let’s take a look at what I mean:

Grout that is falling out on a curb is a sign of moisture penetration. The wooden curb is getting wet and is expanding and contracting which is causing the grout to fall out.

Take a look at what our shower glass installation:

No curb penetration for the glass because they are not necessary. No leak potential.

2. Plastic under our tubs is looking ahead to the future!

When installing plastic or fiberglass pans or tubs it is imperative that you set them on a bed of sand mix concrete. This is the support that the tub needs to not crack or move. Improper support under plastic tubs and shower pans is a major culprit for leaks and failures.

An issue arises if you ever have to take the tub out. The sand mix will stick to the bottom of the tub making it impossible to remove. If you are able to remove it, you may damage the tub.

I get it, you should never have to remove the tub. But what happens if you do? Maybe a manufacturer error, etc.

Well, our ounce of prevention is when we set our tub in the concrete, we put plastic between the tub and concrete making it easier to remove if we ever have to.

Our bathrooms are better because we think ahead for our clients.

Take a look:

Plastic between the tub and sand mix concrete will make it possible to take the tub out (without damage) if you ever have to.

3. We use 100% SILICONE in all plane changes inside a bathroom.

We use 100% silicone in all plane changes (like corners) to create a soft joint for movement. Many installers grout their corners tight. This saves time for the installer, making their projects cheaper, but causes big problems for the home owners when their corners CRACK.

Corners CRACK because houses MOVE. A soft joint in the corners and all plane changes account for that movement!

Take a look at what I mean:

And here’s how we do it:

There’s a right way to do things and a wrong way. Many installers do it the wrong way because it is easier. For us to silicone your shower or backsplash takes a lot of extra time, effort and skill. That’s why our projects cost more. Most installers take the easy, lazy way out and you eventually pay the price.

To clarify: 100% silicone is not “SILICONIZED”. Siliconized caulking is not a sealant because it is a latex product.

100% silicone is not water based and is rated for inside a wet area.

Hiring a specialist gets you specialized talents and skills. Like silicone. Give it a try yourself and you’ll understand.

4. We build a removable panel underneath your tub deck.

A removable tile panel under your tub deck makes it possible to repair plumbing leaks or problems underneath the tub. Hopefully this will never happen, but wouldn’t it be awful if your plumbing fixture was built poorly from the factory and ten years after your bathroom was done it starts to leak?

It has happened!

If your panel is not removable someone has to destroy the tile on the front to access the plumbing or cut your ceiling open. Maybe you can’t get the same tile to replace the damaged tile!

A nightmare!

We build removable tile panels, so if you ever have to access under the tub…you cut the silicone perimeter and carefully remove the panel. When you are done. You replace it. EASY!

Here’s what it looks like when it’s done:

Very common sense, but most installers will not leave access for under the tub. It’s faster and easier to just tile it all in and leave the potential problem for the homeowner in the future.

When you put lifetime guarantees on your work, you simply perform your work DIFFERENTLY.

Our bathrooms are better because we have your best interest in mind!

5. We build benches with out penetrations into the waterproofing!

Why is this important?

No penetrations around your shower bench is important because most leaks start around the bench!

Most people build their benches out of wood and they’ll screw and hammer nails all over the place. Any penetration is a leak POTENTIAL.

Check out this bench:

Black mold. Underneath this bench was a pond of filthy stinky water. YUM.

Benches are a source of big problems.

We take the construction of our benches seriously.

We build ours out of 2” structural foam that is bonded to the outer waterproof layer and tiled around.

These benches are extremely strong:

Our bathrooms are better because they are designed to last. We take water very seriously.

6. Our soap niches are WATERPROOF!

Inset boxes/ soap niches are also a source of leaks and mold.

We build ours 100% water proof.

People will build their inset boxes out of wood. They won’t water proof them correctly. This causes failure.

Check out how we do ours:

A foam inset box, coated with Ardex 8+9 water proof cement.

Our bathrooms are better because we will show you what you are going to get.

There’s nothing worse than a leak. Unlike many other remodelers, we can show you how we do our work. Check out what you see above. That is what you’ll receive.

7. We don’t use wood curbs.

Wood and water don’t mix! Yes, you can waterproof the wood or outfit it with cement board that is waterproofed, but we cut to the chase.

We use 2” structural foam to build our curbs and there are no screws, nails or anything else to puncture or pierce the water proof envelope.

Check it out:

The 2” foam gets a waterproof membrane installed on top it with a water proof thin set called Ardex 8+9.

What the other guys doing:

The other guys build with wood curbs, layer it with rubber and then fasten cement board to the top of the rubber and wood using screws that ruins the water proof characteristics of the rubber.

There are correct ways to do this method.

MOST DON’T DO IT CORRECTLY.

Our bathrooms are better because we realize: WOOD AND WATER DON’T MIX!

8. WE FLOOD TEST OUR SHOWERS.

This one is common sense and not that special.

But, you’d be surprised to know that most “professionals” skip this step.

After the shower has been waterproofed, we dump a couple buckets of water in it and wait 24hrs to make sure it’s not leaking.

Most tilers DO NOT do this step.

Why? Because it takes longer and slows down the project.

But wouldn’t you want to know the shower is leaking BEFORE you set tile?

One more time: An ounce of PREVENTION to protect YOUR INVESTMENT.

Check out the video below to learn more:

Bottom line:

We think 10 steps ahead and 20 years in the future.

We take our time on our projects. We take OUR time so you don’t have to use YOUR time in the future to fix a mess!

That is the difference. We want our projects to last so you only have to do your bathroom ONCE. It’s a very simple formula.

You have expectations, we appreciate that and we are not afraid to meet your expectations.

Thanks for reading.

On a side note, look at this blanket my mother in law made. It’s all my tile t-shirts combined into a blanket. What a great gift for a tiler!

Cold feet? Come see how we do a heated floor!

Today, the guys at Hamilton Tile in Woodstock, GA install a heated floor.

Let me walk you through this step by step and if you prefer some ACTION you can check out the accompanying YouTube Video. Find out how our projects go together. These videos offer a ton of insight into who you’re hiring, what you’re getting, and what kind of quality to expect when we show up at YOUR house!

We start out with high quality thin set. This stuff is called Ardex X77 and it’s one of the better “stick-ums” on the market. Very sticky, with a long open time. Open time refers to the amount of time a thin set can stay spread with out skinning over. You want a long open time when installing a membrane, like Flexbone, because we are spreading a lot of thin set at one time.

This is Ardex Flexbone Heat. It’s an uncoupling membrane that allows for wire to be laid out within these plastic protrusions. It also allows for self leveling compound to be applied over top of it instead of spreading thin set to cover the wire. We are liking it better because it protects our wire during the installation process. It’s very hairy installing on top of heated floor wires, because one drop, one oops and you may destroy your wire. This makes a destroyed wire less likely.

The back of this plastic is a micro fiber cloth backing that adheres very well to thin set.

We’ve pre cut all of our Flexbone pieces, we’ve laid out where they go. This floor was considerably out of whack, so we have already used self leveling compound to make it right. Click here to see the video about how we self level. Here in our first step, Jason gives the substrate a drink of water by wiping it with a wet sponge in order to encourage better thin set adhesion and pick up any dust or residue. A very important (and often ignored) first step.

Next step is to take the flat side of the trowel and “burn in” your thin set into the substrate. This is also an often ignored tile technique. What this does is work the thin set into the substrate at a molecular level. Doing this is far superior to starting with the notch side of the trowel, exclusively.

After burning in his thin set, Jason uses a 1/4” notch trowel, and starts evenly spreading his thin set.

Jason then (very carefully as not to create a MESS) places the Flexbone into the bed of thin set. Speaking of messes, notice the lack of mess at the end of this project.

Jason is seen rolling the mat into the thin set, applying all of his weight to ensure proper adhesion.

Through out this process, we are checking for coverage under our mat. Coverage is going to determine how well tile or mat is sticking to whatever you are applying it to.

Once all this mat is down, we leave and let it dry. Putting the mat down is all we do that day. The mat needs to be dry before we can install the heat wire. Wondering where the added expense of a heated floor comes from? There it is. The time it takes to put them in. We don’t move to a different project, because everyone wants you to work for them exclusively. No one wants to be shuffled. So, exclusive treatment come at an added expense. We wouldn’t want to do multiple jobs at the same time any way. Why? Because we put 100% of our focus and passion into each job…we do not spread ourselves thin. That’s what you want out of your bathroom re-modeler. Multi-tasking is a lie in this business!

Jason is testing the wire before we start putting it in. We will test this wire time and time again through out this process. Better to take it back or take it out before tile is on top of it. What do I always say, “An ounce of prevention”? This is the perfect example of us living the saying.

Jason is snapping the wire into place. These kits come according to the amount of square footage you want to cover. Do a little math to figure out your spacing and Bob’s your Uncle. We stay a certain distance away from cabinets, toilets and walls. The blue “sill seal” foam is to create a space for expansion and contraction. A MUST when installing self leveler (or any tile for that matter). The spray foam and blue “sill seal” also prevents the water like self leveler from escaping. This stuff will flow EVERYWHERE if it is not CONTAINED.

Here we test our hole that will have our conduit that will lead to the Thermostat.

Jason uses hot glue to secure his termination point and hot/cold splice.

Once all the wire is down and tested once again, we start mixing our liquid backer board self leveling compound. We are conscientious of dust, because we are in a master bedroom here. We use OSHA approved HEPA vacuum suctions systems and equipment designed to mitigate dust. Floors covered with carpet plastic and an added layer of rubber mat liner. Ask our former customers about dust. I assure you, they speak highly of what we do to minimize it.

The reason this is done inside, close to the work area, is because of the speed that is necessary when putting this stuff down. If it’s not done quickly, the different pours do not meld together as they should.

Self Leveler compound is poured on top of the wire and spread to completely cover it.

Let it all dry and it’s ready for tile. Jason is checking to see how flat we were able to get it with a level! It’s great and ready to go! Quite a process. But if you are over a garage and you have a cold bathroom like this one, it’s money well spent.

Watch the video to see us in action!

9 Essential questions for your potential contractor.

For starters, not one of these 9 essential questions to ask your contractor is a basic one like:

“Do you have a license and insurance?”

or

“What’s your warranty?”

Those type of questions are important, and verification should be attained, but unless you’re hiring someone off of your neighbor’s couch or from your local Home Depot parking lot(that’s on YOU!) every legit company will easily be able to prove they have these prerequisites. Let’s go a little DEEPER with this one!

Those are for an article by another writer who is not in the field every day, observing human short comings and seeing shoddy work. That article is written by people who aren’t fielding the calls about “leaky showers” and “failed floors”.

I am.

I also have been blessed with access to a group of other professional tile installers, through social media. I’m talking about the top guys from throughout the country, and a couple have been kind enough to give me some of their “contractor questions.” They are also in the field every day observing and categorizing the failures, the scams and the cheaters. They too, want to help empower you!

My goal also, (as always) is to help you get an incredible finished remodeling project with the least amount of stress and anxiety.

SO,

Before you hire any re modeler, contractor, builder, tile guy, sheet rocker, ANY ONE who works in your home, ask them these questions and see what their responses are. You’ll get a grand insight into their over all mindset. Their answers will help you determine if they are someone you want to hire.

Also, if you ask these questions, and they answer in a way you desire, YOU CAN HOLD THEM TO IT DURING THE JOB!

HERE WE GO:

1. Who performs the work at my home?

Many companies have sales people or the owner acts as the sales person and they have multiple sub contractors or employees. Those are the people you want to vet. The people who will be performing the work.

Often, someone will come and sell you a job, everything seems great, then they send a bunch of shady characters to do the work.  Yeah, you get a guarantee from the guy selling the job, but if he’s unethical, greedy, or just generally doesn’t have GREAT character, you’re out of luck when something goes south.

The guys on the ground are the front line troops in a construction company. LABOR, much more important then we give it credit for.

To me, compatibility and comfort with the workers is just as important as compatibility with the sales guy or GC.  Ease of communication is just as important with them, as it is with the GC. The GC or sales person might be great, but it’s important to determine if that culture spreads throughout the company, from the top down. Ask if there will be a PERMANENT on site project manager! Someone experienced in leadership, management and communication. Not a person who does the daily “check in” and leaves.

The next question:

2. What accreditation/certifications have you or your company pursued?

This shows that continuing ed and being active and aware within their trade is important to them. How people train their employees is very important. If the labor isn’t on the same page as the management or the owner, you may have problems. What good is it to have an experienced, conscientious owner, with every subordinate doing their own thing? I’ve seen it many times!

When you hire Hamilton Tile, for example, you will get a similar finish whether Jason or I do the work because Jason trained me, I follow his methods and we are both certified installers.

A good answer to this question would be, “We are members of the National Tile Contractors Association, we attend their classes and we are also Certified Tile Installers.” Construction is CONSTANTLY changing, so staying up on the latest trends and procedures is vital. Certifications/accreditation is one way to make sure the company you’re looking to hire is legitimate and professional.

If they work with many subs:

3. How long have you been working with your sub contractors.

I’ve been asked more times then I can count to work short notice by different general contractors. They don’t know me, they didn’t research me, they were looking for a warm body. That type of short notice recruiting is common among “builders”. You want a general contractor that has established relations with their subcontractors. It’s a bad sign if a General contractor can’t keep people around and if he’s constantly recruiting new people! Of course, they can LIE about this question, but you’ll be forming a relationship with the labor, and you’ll inform the contractor of that…so feet will be held to the fire.

4. Do you have a company motto?

This gives a lot of insight into a companies’ culture and belief system. An outfit that has a motto generally tries to live up to that motto. Get the elevator pitch! DEMAND this level of professionalism.

5. How many jobs do you run at the same time?

I’ve seen many people get burnt by a company running many jobs at the same time, and THEIR job is shuffled around and not prioritized. We believe in one job at a time, because that job gets our full undivided attention. If a company is running multiple jobs, there may be periods when nothing gets done at your job and in my opinion, the more spread out a company is, the less attention and precision you will get!

6. Do you have an internet presence? Do you content market?

This is a big one to me. People who take pride in their work, show their work. You want to see evidence of them performing the work and some degree of documentation as to what their day looks like. Your eyes and your ears are the best for detecting legitimacy. The internet is a way for us to verify what we’re going to get before contractors start their work and I recommend you trust your senses.

The internet has opened a world of knowledge and allowed for greater transparency in 2020, it’s your GREATEST resource! REQUIRE CONTENT out of people that work at your house.

Browse the web and look for a history.  Look for interaction with other trades people, like in their comment sections. Are the interactions positive or negative? Do the other trades people praise your potential hire’s work or denigrate it?

Does the tradesman have photos and videos of them PERFORMING the work? Great reviews? Video or audio with them talking about their work and their over all mindset?

7. Who is your ideal customer?

Jason was asked this by an interviewer recently and he came with an answer immediately. “If you care about how your project is built, we want to work for you.” That’s a great answer and is, indeed, our target market. People who think in these terms are serious professionals and not someone that’s just bouncing from job to job, not caring about what they’re doing. THOUGHTFULNESS is a quality you want in a contractor. If they give you an answer that doesn’t fit with how you think, maybe re-evaluate the hire!

8. What do you do to ensure my project is going to last and also function the way it should?

That’s the whole point here. Why have anything done at your house if you have to re-do it in 5 years. Get yourself a PLAN OF ATTACK. Get yourself an explanation about their methodology. Maybe get into some technical details. Have the recruit talk detail.

A good answer:

“We ensure your project is going to last because we follow ANSI standards and also install according the TCNA hand book.”

9. If there is a problem or I have a complaint, how do you handle that? Can you give me an example of a time you had a complaint and what you did to take care of it?

There is going to be problems inevitably on a project. Things can go south quick at that point. Ask for an example of a time the company had an issue. Ask for specifics about how it was resolved.

I always push: COMPATIBILITY OVER PRICE. COMPATIBILITY OVER ALL ELSE.

You want to be on the same page with the people that work in your home, you want to verify that they care, and that they know what they’re talking about. Most of all, you want to make sure you’re going to get something aesthetically pleasing, functional and lasting when they leave your house.

These questions help you determine an OVERALL MINDSET of the person or company you are recruiting. Think CONCEPTUALLY.

If you’re dealing with great men and women of good character who are professional, detail oriented, conscientious, methodical, thorough, ethical, etc. You’ll have nothing to worry about. These questions will help you determine if your potential contractor possesses these essential qualities.

I’d like to thank Alex Bergland at RGC Renovations for his contribution to this article!

If you are in the Atlanta area give him a call and be sure to check out his website.

RGC Renovations is the real deal and they won’t let you down.

https://www.rgcrenos.com/

I’d also like to thank the DIY TILE GUY himself, Jim Upton of TIGER MOUNTAIN TILE: Issaquah, Washington!

Give his site a look!

www.diytileguy.com

I also want to thank EVERY PRO TRADES PERSON online that shares their story! You are an invaluable resource to me and enlighten and inform me everyday! I love the internet because of you men and women!

Why do homeowners get CHEATED during home remodeling?

I started listening to “Handel on the Law” a radio show hosted by a guy named Bill Handel, who takes legal questions from callers. It was recommended to me by one of our customers and it was interesting to hear the show validating my suspicions on a national level. Four calls during the one-and-a-half-hour call in show were from folks getting bamboozled during remodeling projects.

I’m not surprised because I am in the field everyday and I see the low standards out there, but listening to his show simply validates my suspicions and left me wondering:

WHY ARE HOMEOWNERS CONSTANTLY GETTING CHEATED DURING REMODELS?!

Jason and I are constantly talking about this topic, so we’ve hit the question from multiple different angles, and I’ve constructed my position in an environment of scrutiny, so you’re not hearing this from a lightweight! When we’re building a bathroom eight hours a day, this is the kind of stuff we talk about!

In today’s blog post I’m going to give you the low down from the perspective of a tile installer and an active observer of human frailties. I’m not attacking homeowners, you guys pay my salary and I love you! I’m hoping to set you up for success. This is also based on the idea that all “builders” or “contractors” are going to rip you off. This clearly isn’t true, there are great ones out there. But as a homeowner you mine as well assume that they are. No one is looking out for you, EXCEPT YOU.

Maybe you can use these six points to steer you in the right direction during your next home remodel recruiting session.

1.       Homeowners have no knowledge or curiosity of standards and practices.

Customers can’t know everything about bathroom remodeling or construction generally, that’s what you hire “pros” for. But come on now, can you try, A LITTLE?  The old Russian proverb (later credited to President Ronald Reagan) says it best: “Trust but verify!”

How do you go about “verifying”? Well, look for online content. A craftsman that shows his work takes pride in his work. Don’t just look for finished pictures or videos. Look for pictures of the company IN ACTION.

Another way to verify standards and practices is to get into the nitty gritty technical minutia during the interviewing process.

I’ve read many sales books and they say most purchases are made based on emotion. “I like this contractor; I’ll give him my work.” He’s from my church, I’ll give him my work.” NO, NO, NO!

The emotional stuff has got to go!

You want your re modeler to be a technical WHIZ and to speak in that language! Talk of rainbows and fancy pants is not an indicator of someone that will build you a lasting, functional, BEAUTIFUL finished product!

Also, do some research on your own. Put a couple hours into YouTube videos, technical manuals, blogs, social media. You’ll be spending a boat load of money, so do your research! Maybe you have ONE QUESTION that is a benchmark for the builder’s technical prowess and to determine if he’ll meet your needs. For shower building a great one is:

“Do you silicone all plane changes in the shower?”

If they say no or give an excuse as to why they don’t, you don’t hire them because you know (based on your research) that siliconing plane changes in a wet area is nationally STANDARD. So, if your recruit is neglecting that fact, they’re not following standards and practices.

Tell them: BEAT IT!

Most people get duped during a bathroom remodel because: THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE BUYING.

2.       Homeowners fall for the loaded front end, without consideration for the back end.

When I use the term “front end” in the context of construction I’m referring to the owner that sells the job, the salespeople that are doing it for the owner, the brick and mortar store.

When I say “back end” I’m talking about the people who do the work.

It’s important to note, you’re not buying a smile and a store. That, of course, is part of the experience. What you are buying is a finished product within your house and the people who are performing this skilled craft are far more important than a slick sales pitch, a colorful brochure, or a “design consultation.”

If you are hiring a big outfit to build your project, make sure they have project managers that are on site and involved. Make sure the front-end people that sold you the job are truly involved and that they don’t just hand it off to the $20 an hour, mystery men in the white vans. I see more people bamboozled by this scenario than any other.

People are constantly getting cheated during a remodel because, they don’t vet the people who actually do the work!

3.      Homeowners are constantly searching for “the deal”.

Being involved in the construction business for all these years and also talking with other tradesmen, I notice a pattern: There is no higher virtue than getting a deal.

Unfortunately, I find that deals are an illusion of a deal. You’ll have to put up with a lot of undesirable behavior and most likely an undesirable FINISH to get that “DEAL”.

Let’s face it, in order to get something for free, a corner has to be cut or someone else has to lose. This is a fact of life. As a tradesman myself I wonder, what ever happened to paying people what it costs to have something done right. Well, I must attest that there are unscrupulous “builders” out there and the stereotype of the shady builder is well deserved, in many cases. I suppose it’s the point of this article.

But, if you find a great one, pay them!

When I see a bathroom that is lousy, I ask the homeowner, “How much did you pay?”

Invariably, it is a laughably low number and I’m surprised anything got done.

I think, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET?!

In 2020 things are extremely expensive. It’s a fact of life. Buy groceries, a car, college, anything. Construction is no different.

Homeowners regularly get burned on their bathroom remodel because getting a deal is the highest virtue.

4.      Homeowners don’t understand the enormous undertaking of a remodel. Many have a “high time preference.”

Someone with a high time preference is focused substantially on their well being in the present and the immediate future.

So, get it done, yesterday!

Bathroom remodeling is a huge endeavor. I’m not going to sugar coat it, or downplay it as “easy”. Even the smallest construction project can take days to complete, countless trips to the store, and years of accumulated knowledge so, when a person calls and says,

“Oh, it’s just a small back splash, it should be easy.”

Or

My favorite

“A shower takes 11 days to build? That’s ridiculous, it should take 4!”

I cringe!

The worst part is that construction workers have internalized this desire of homeowners to have things done faster, faster, faster. They use guilt on us when they hear how long our projects take. They comment:

“I would have had that done in a week.”

To these guys I respond,

“We don’t have to come back to fix things.”

For many construction guys, the speed in which they complete a project is the highest virtue.

Speed and quality rarely play well together!

A master bathroom can be months of work. Good things come to those who wait. Just be prepared to allow the people who are performing the work in your home the time they need to get it done, with quality and precision.

Homeowners are constantly getting raked over the coals on their remodel because they value SPEED over QUALITY.

5.      Homeowners care more about “LOOKS” than “Longevity and functionality”

With tile, looks are only part of the equation. What gives tile it’s long lasting reputation is mostly the quality of the installation. Therefore, worrying about the looks alone is a brutal mistake.

Obviously, looks are important, but many failures that we see looked great when the installer left, only to mold or rot. I can install beautiful tile that looks incredible in a shower, but it’s installed on sheet rock that will mold in 2 years. Get my point?

Many worry about looks exclusively without worrying about FUNCTION.

If you don’t like heavy maintenance, for example, you don’t buy natural stone. Natural stone LOOKS great but functions poorly without constant upkeep.

The important part of a bathroom remodel or any tile job: WHAT’S UNDERNEATH.

Many homeowners are burned on remodels because there is too much focus on the aesthetics and not much care for the important stuff: What’s underneath and how the project will function during daily use!

6.      Homeowners don’t have high standards during the recruiting process.

I was recently at an interview that our client had with a flooring company. Our client asked the flooring guy for a business card and he said,

“I haven’t had a business card in 40 years, we only have our names on these shirts because my tax person told me I needed a write off.”

That, my friends, is a bad sign!

No business cards, safe to say no website!

I would not be able to personally hire this person because I wouldn’t be able to VERIFY his work. I don’t care how good of friends I was with the person who referred him, I want to see a history of CONSISTENT, high end work, the people he is working with and you should want to see these things too!

You need to have HIGH standards when hiring a re modeler.

If you don’t think of remodeling as a PROFESSION, you’re cruisin’ for a brusin’ and your checking account will be a lot lighter for your trouble.

What’s the person look like when they come for an appointment? Are they professional? Do they dress nicely? Speak in a way that portrays experience and quality? Do the people you are hiring share your culture and values?  Is it someone that you’d trust with your 90-year-old grandmother? You’ll be spending a lot of time and money with the people working in your home, so compatibility is very important.

Standards have waned but reality has not. If you wouldn’t want to give this person the key to your house, they shouldn’t be working at your house.

Many people get gypped during their remodels because they don’t have high standards for construction workers!

I listen to the people that call me with remodeling problems and most of the issues can be avoided with a little bit of foresight and self-awareness.

You see the bullet points above; these are things I see and think about every day. I study “the why” as it relates to remodeling and my hope is that I made you a bit more aware of the mental pitfalls during a home remodel: because awareness is half the battle.

GOOD LUCK

Professional Tile bathroom remodeling services: Cartersville, GA

Bathroom Tile remodel service in Cartersville, GA.

In today's video we are remodeling bathroom tile in Cartersville, GA.

Our target market has always been people who care about how their project is built.

What's behind the wall, the small intangibles that we consistently perform to make for an anxiety free project. It's not hard to do what we do, film and photography technology is ubiquitous and cheaper than ever. Every contractor has the opportunity to have their very own "This Old House" in order to build confidence in their customers.

Why don't they?

It’s simple: They can't.

With content marketing we put ourselves out there in order to show you the most important stuff, what's underneath the tile! Unless you have your t's crossed and your I's dotted this kind of transparency isn't possible. Our goal: To SHOW you what you're going to get with us, who we are, and why we are different.

Thanks for watching and visiting our blog!

Instagram: @HamiltonTileGA

The Hamilton Tile Pro Bathroom Demolition Difference: Woodstock, GA.

Professional, clean, bathroom demolition Woodstock, GA

Here at Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA we are always trying to differentiate ourselves from everyone else in the construction business. It's important for us to create separation from the rest and what that always means is a better service, a better product for our clients.

In this video I talk a bit about our bathroom demolition process. All this goes down on day one of the job and it's critical for us to start strong because it sets the tone for the rest of the job.

If you think a demolition is "just labor" and anyone with a strong body can do it, this video is for you and it will hopefully challenge your existing opinion. The YouTube video below shows you the professional bathroom demolition difference when it’s performed by Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA!

Hamilton Tile: Professional Finish, Tidy Service.

I hope everyone that contacts this video has an excellent day. Let's chase excellence!

A bathroom remodel built to last in Marietta, GA

Bathroom shower remodel located in Marietta, GA.

This is video breakdown of our latest bathroom remodel in Marietta, GA.

In this video we break down everything you might want to know about this bathroom we recently completed. We go over the high quality materials we use as well as our techniques that went into building this lasting bathroom. We also go over the over all cost of this bathroom as well as its individual parts.

It was a very fun bathroom project to take part in and we really feel quite proud of our accomplishments here.

We're losing craftsmanship in a 'Market for Lemons' and a prescription for change.

I have no problem connecting with an informed homeowner. None.

One of the first things I want to know is, “Have you researched my company?”

I ask this because when a homeowner is in the market for remodeling, especially tile remodeling, job number one is to get INFORMED about what you want, what you’re buying and who you’re working with.

In economic terms I’m wanting to reduce ‘information asymmetry.”

Information asymmetry deals with the study of decisions in transactions where one party has more or better information than the other. I strive to level the playing field on this website so that everyone is on the same page.

If you call our company and we are just a number in your pocket, we may not be able to connect. If you want us to do work and you don’t care about HOW your project is built, it will be hard for you to see value in our product.

We have so much success with the folks WE DO work with. Everything goes swimmingly, love all around.

I’ve thought for years about why it’s so difficult to sell a quality product and service in this market.

But finally, I have (A PART) of an explanation, which I’m going to elaborate on today.

The quality of tile work and a craftsman’s ability to make a living has suffered.

For ever one tiler getting into the business, five are leaving.

A term originated by Nobel prize winning economist George Akerlof , “The market for Lemons” describes the source of our adversity very well.

The “market for lemons” according to Wikipedia:

“Examines how the quality of goods traded in a market can degrade in the presence of information asymmetry between buyers and sellers, leaving only "lemons" behind. In American slang, a lemon is a car that is found to be defective only after it has been bought.

 Low prices drive away sellers of high-quality goods, leaving only lemons behind.”

Click here to read Akerlof’s paper.

This paper was written in the 1970’s and the used car market has improved and some solutions have been devised, but it still rings true in many ways in relation to tile installation or residential home remodeling, generally.

When you buy a used car ultimately you have no idea what is going on under the hood. A car can look great, but it could be a ticking time bomb. Used car dealers go through all sorts of contortions to build confidence in their buyers, that they’re buying a reliable car. A buyer is ultimately unable to tell which car is quality and which one is not.

Tile installation is the same way.

When you’re buying a shower, you have no idea what is going on under the tile. Tile may look great, but how your shower or bathroom was put together is the most important part and frankly, most homeowners have no idea about the inner workings of their bathroom remodel.

Unfortunately, used cars and tile work have received awful reputations for quality because of this information asymmetry.

Buyers simply don’t know what they’re buying.

They can’t tell the difference between a lemon and a peach.

This leads to prices getting driven down. Everyone assumes they’re buying lemons. Lemons become the norm.

I often look at tile work that people are perfectly happy with, and I think of all the improvements we could make to it. “Why didn’t they do this like this…Oh, that’s not right….” But because of an over all degradation of the trade, consumers don’t know the difference between great tile work and average.

So, what happens to the guys like us, that are selling ‘peaches’? Guys that over build things and build with quality and precision??

1. We get driven out of the business because we can’t make a living at it.

2. The quality guys adjust how they do things and build things lower quality in order to meet the market’s price point.

Gresham’s law describes tile very well. “The bad drives out the good.” The ‘race to the bottom’ makes it impossible for craftsmen to prosper.

Some say the solution to this problem is government intervention. More laws. The insurance business is an example where the information asymmetry goes in the buyer’s direction. Insurance companies don’t know what is going on with people; their health, their lifestyle, etc. So, there are laws to account for the buyers’ dishonesty.

Electricians and plumbers are licensed, that helps them regulate their market. They are required to have up to date training, but it’s not a magic bullet. This will never happen in tile.

My solution is an informed consumer.

The consumer needs to demand they be able to ‘look under the hood.’

When you’re buying tile ask to see the CARFAX.

The internet is solving the information asymmetry.

A good tile re modeler is going to have content online for people to verify what they’re getting. My website, my blog, has three years of documentation to verify that we are indeed, selling peaches. Credentials and reviews also help push the point home.

My problem is how do you make people curious? How do you convince people that all tile work is not the same? How can I convince people to pay more to get something that will last?

I recommend that folks spend a lot of time online before they buy a bathroom. Your number one tool during a bathroom remodel is your computer and an internet connection.

In tile, like in the used car business, there are ‘peaches’ and there are ‘lemons’.

Find the company that is selling peaches.

Those peaches will be priced much higher than the lemons. The only way you’ll know that you’re getting a peach is by depending on the construction companies’ content marketing and reputation.

Builders have an incredible incentive to cheapen their products and incredible amounts of opportunity to reduce quality by cutting corners in areas that you don’t see.

Just like the CARFAX report has revolutionized used cars, content marketing is revolutionizing remodeling.

Using the internet to find and vet contractors has A LONG way to go, though.

In my time speaking with 100’s of prospects, I find that around 10% will say they “researched” before they called. That number needs to be higher!

Jason thinks if people continue to get ripped off, things will change. I’m a bit more pessimistic on the subject after years of making content, but I suppose every person that decides to use us based on this concept is a person that will remember that this way worked and possibly do it AGAIN or tell a FRIEND!

Hopefully it will proliferate!🤞

Hey all! This is some big brained stuff for me so if anyone makes it this far down, tell me if this all makes sense in the comments! Am I off the mark? Do I not understand “market for lemons” TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Thanks, BEN

The finish of an inset box can change the look of a shower.

In the photo below, we used the same tile, but edged the inset box in a different manner. As the title of this blog post states, it changes the whole look!

My goal here is to let you know you do have options!

On one side of the photo is an inset box ‘picture framed’ with the ‘bull nose’ tile on the outside of the box.

On the other side is an inset box with the ‘bull nose’ on the inside of the box.

Everything else is the same!

What looks better to you?

Shower Repair in Woodstock, GA: Is it worth it?

To get right to the point, No. Shower repair is not worth the money or the hassle. If you have the resources I whole heartedly recommend doing a full replacement of your leaky, toxic shower.

This week I fielded a call from a man that has a shower that is leaking into his house. The corner bench was allowing water to escape and penetrate the sub structure, the pan was also holding water making it into a veritable swamp inside his house. Corner benches are notorious for doing this, simply put, because of improper installation and unscrupulous installers. As always, I told him we only do full replacement because he would be throwing "good money after bad" or my favorite, putting "lipstick on a pig".

There isn't one homeowner out there that wants to hear this diagnosis! A person purchases a home expecting their shower to be functional for the life of the home, It looks good, why wouldn't it? Unfortunately, a shower isn't like a furnace where it has a defined life span. When purchasing a house, the shower can be a mystery, a ticking time bomb, a wallet drainer.

Here in Atlanta, If I see a shower built with a "water in, water out" system (I can tell generally,  by the drain used) I assume it's a potential swamp, ripe for bacteria growth and filth. (Be sure to watch the video at the link above for a full description of a "water in, water out" system.) I make this assumption because of a pattern I've recognized among builders here, especially new home builders, whatever is cheapest, fastest...they will do. Including hiring unskilled, corner cutting tile guys. Ultimately, what does a builder care about the shower? Ten years is all it needs to last! That check will be cashed and there will be nothing the homeowner can do except buy a whole new shower on their own dime, some homeowners aren't prepared for this so they turn to a "shower repair".

Now if I see a Schluter Sytems drain, or a comparable drain, I assume the shower will be functional for life. With a "water in, water out" system, if the tile guy skips or ignores one step it will fail over time. With a Schluter Systems shower, the moisture management technology has a standardized installation process that makes it a fool proof, lasting install. A "water in, water out" shower construction system has proven to have a problem with longevity due to human error, which has been solved by the German engineers at Schluter Systems.

This leads me to the reasons I do not recommend "Repairing" a shower.

1. When repairing a shower you will be taking off the glass structure, the first two rows of the wall tile, the shower base including the curb and in the case of the man that called me this week, the bench. So, that is about two-thirds of the shower or about two-thirds of the cost of a BRAND NEW, MODERN SHOWER with a technologically superior water management system that will last forever. Does it make sense to go back with the same old school, "water in, water out system" and the same old tile and drain you had before? Who's to say the tile guy you hired that still uses the old building methods is going to build the shower correctly, so you don't have the same problem in 10 years again?

2. Tying in the moisture management system with the old tile is always a problem. When you tear out the two bottom rows of wall tile, How do you tie in the water proofing from the "new" tile to the old tile? Ask the tile shower "repair" guy this question, That'll be an interesting answer, I'm sure.

3. Matching the old tile you have currently to the new tile is next to impossible. Yes, you will get the new tile close, but it will never be the same. Even if you do find the same tile, the dye lots will be different. A dye lot number indicates when tile was made, and tile with different dye lots, although they are the same model tile, will be different because they were made at different times. It will only be the SLIGHTEST difference, but they will be different. So, with an investment of time and money of this magnitude, Why not go all the way?

The number one reason Hamilton Tile does not do tile "repairs" is, where do we stop?  Say we agree to tear out your shower and "repair" it. We start the demolition and notice that the rot goes deeper and is more extensive than was originally thought, guess who now owns that shower and is responsible for putting it all back together. We are. So that brings up the question again, where do we stop?  You have a leaky, swamp in your house, we start tearing things out, there is evidence of rot above where we expected, do we keep going? Where do we stop?

It's illogical to build good work on top of bad. It's just a band aid. There are plenty of people who will gladly take your money for a "repair" but you mine as well set your money on fire because your house is not truly being fixed. You still have an antiquated shower but now it's with tile that doesn't exactly match, with water proofing that is incomplete, you've had a crew run rough shod through your life for a week, and your bank account is thousands lighter.

A lot of the issue is that people buy houses with features that they do not expect to fail, so a shower leak is a hugely unexpected bill for people on say, a fixed income. I realize people are inclined to fix a problem just well enough to get them through, but as I always say, If you think we are expensive...Try paying for it twice.

In this photo, the top couple feet have been removed...as well as the pan and the glass doors. This person can expect a hefty bill and the same old shower.