Tag: tile

The Key to a Long-Lasting Bathroom Renovation: Choosing the Right Tile Backing Material

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At The HandyForce, we’ve seen it all when it comes to bathroom renovations. Our team often gets called in to fix issues like grout cracking or tiles popping off the wall—problems that can turn a beautiful new bathroom into a frustrating headache. While there are many reasons a renovation might fail, one stands out as the #1 culprit: using the wrong backing material behind the tiles in your shower. Too often, we see drywall used in these wet areas, and when it gets damp, it loses its integrity, leaving your stunning tile work vulnerable to damage. That’s why we’re passionate about educating homeowners on the importance of choosing the right backing material—specifically Schluter Kerdi-Board or cement board—to ensure your bathroom stands the test of time.

Why Backing Material Matters

When you’re planning a bathroom renovation, it’s easy to focus on the fun stuff: picking out gorgeous tiles, sleek fixtures, and the perfect vanity. But what’s behind those tiles is just as critical. The backing material serves as the foundation for your shower walls, providing stability and protection against water—the biggest enemy in any bathroom. Showers are wet zones, and even with proper sealing, moisture can seep through grout lines or tiny cracks over time. If the material behind your tiles can’t handle that moisture, you’re setting yourself up for problems like mold growth, structural damage, and those all-too-common issues of grout cracking and tiles popping off.

The Drywall Disaster

Drywall might be a go-to for other areas of your home, but in a shower, it’s a recipe for trouble. Standard drywall (and even moisture-resistant “greenboard”) simply isn’t designed to withstand the constant exposure to water that a shower demands. When drywall gets wet, it softens, swells, and eventually disintegrates, compromising the bond with your tiles. The result? Cracked grout, loose tiles, and, in the worst cases, a full-blown renovation redo. We’ve had countless clients call us in a panic because their “new” bathroom started showing these signs just months after completion—all because the original installer cut corners with drywall.

The Right Choice: Schluter Kerdi-Board or Cement Board

So, what’s the solution? At The HandyForce, we recommend two tried-and-true options for shower backing: Schluter Kerdi-Board and cement board. Both are designed to handle the unique challenges of a wet environment, ensuring your bathroom renovation stays beautiful and functional for years.

  • Schluter Kerdi-Board: This innovative product is a game-changer in the world of bathroom renovations. Made from lightweight, waterproof extruded polystyrene foam with a reinforced surface, Kerdi-Board is a multifunctional tile substrate that doubles as a bonded waterproofing layer. Unlike drywall, it won’t break down when exposed to moisture, and its built-in waterproofing means you don’t need an additional membrane in many cases. It’s easy to cut and install, making it a favorite for both pros and DIYers. Plus, its durability ensures a solid base that keeps tiles firmly in place—no cracking grout or popping tiles here. At The HandyForce, we love using Kerdi-Board for its reliability and the peace of mind it brings to our clients.
  • Cement Board: A classic choice, cement board (like HardieBacker or Durock) is another excellent option for shower walls. Made from a mixture of cement and reinforcing fibers, it’s tough, water-resistant, and provides a stable surface for tile adhesion. While it’s heavier and messier to work with than Kerdi-Board, it’s a cost-effective solution that gets the job done right. When paired with a waterproofing membrane (like Redgard or a Schluter Kerdi membrane), cement board creates a rock-solid barrier against moisture, protecting your investment and preventing those costly callbacks we so often see with drywall.

Why It’s Worth the Investment

Choosing Schluter Kerdi-Board or cement board might cost a bit more upfront than slapping up some drywall, but trust us—it’s an investment that pays off. These materials are purpose-built to handle the damp, humid conditions of a shower, meaning fewer repairs down the road and a bathroom that looks as good as new for decades. When you hire The HandyForce for your premier bathroom renovation, we prioritize quality at every step, from selecting the right backing material to ensuring flawless tile installation. Our goal is to deliver a space you’ll love without the stress of future fixes.

Don’t Let Your Dream Bathroom Fall Apart

Grout cracking and tiles popping off are more than just cosmetic issues—they’re signs of a deeper problem that could have been avoided with the right materials. At The HandyForce, we’ve seen firsthand how cutting corners with drywall leads to disappointment. That’s why we’re committed to using Schluter Kerdi-Board or cement board in our shower installations, giving you a bathroom that’s not only stunning but built to last.

Ready to start your bathroom renovation the right way? Contact The HandyForce today to schedule a consultation. Let’s create a space that’s beautiful, durable, and worry-free—because you deserve nothing less. Visit us at thehandyforce.com to learn more about our premier bathroom renovation services!

The Pros and Cons of Different Flooring Options for Your HomeBlog – Three

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Renovating your home with a new floor can be a great investment when it comes to adding value and functionality at the same time. But there are many options on the market these days, and the prices can range dramatically. There is also the consideration of how to install the new floor.

So choosing the best flooring option for your home is no small feat, but with a few guidelines, you can get the features you need while keeping any potential drawbacks at a minimum. So read on to learn which type of floor best suits your purposes. Enjoy!

Hardwood Flooring

One of the most popular options for homes throughout the ages has been hardwood flooring. This type of floor is known to be durable due to the solid wood, which offers a warm and inviting character to any room it adorns. There are many varieties to pick from, including oak, maple or cherry.

Hardwood floors tend to add value to your property due to the cost, but that also means it requires an expensive upfront investment. While hardwood flooring is considered durable and can also be sanded down for multiple refinishes when needed, this type of floor is susceptible to scratches and water damage if not treated regularly.

Laminate Flooring

Next on our list is the modern alternative to hardwood floors: laminate flooring. This cheaper option aims to mimic the look of real wood but is, in fact, made of synthetic materials such as resin and fiberboard.

Some of the benefits include the ease of installing and cleaning these types of floors, while they are also highly resistant to scratches and water damage. The cons are that these floors rarely increase property value and are not as durable as hardwood, meaning heavy items dropped on them can damage them severely.

Vinyl Flooring

This type of flooring has become popular recently because it is often easier to install than laminate flooring. Vinyl flooring comes in sheets and tiles and sports a wide variety of designs and patterns. It can also mimic wood and even marble or stone and is known to be easy to clean and resistant to water damage.

Vinyl flooring is quite a soft material, meaning that sharp objects can easily damage it. Homeowners have also noticed that the materials used tend to fade or discolor over time, especially when the floor receives a lot of direct sunlight throughout the day. As it is a budget option, it does not tend to increase property values either.

Tile Flooring

Last on our list is tile flooring, which, in the right home, can be a wonderful addition and dramatically enhance the overall aesthetic of the property. Tile flooring is known to be exceptionally durable and has a very long lifespan if treated right. There are many different materials to choose from, allowing ample personalization to suit a variety of different tastes and budgets.

On the other hand, tile flooring tends to be cold for bare feet, leading many homeowners to invest in floor heating. The tiles are installed with grouts, which can be an issue as they accumulate dirt and often get discolored with time. This type of floor also requires a larger investment due to the amount of labor required.

If you need help selecting or installing your new flooring, contact The HandyForce today. Our experienced and dedicated professionals can guide you along the project from start to finish, and ensure the best possible result.

Tile installation

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At HandyForce we have many years of experience with tiling residential homes as well as commercial properties. This has led us to identify some common issues that people tend to have, as well as learn what concerns and questions people typically worry about.

So in order to make your next tiling project as smooth and painless as possible, we have created this short guide to get you up to speed with everything relating to tile installation. Enjoy!

Briefly about tiles

There are many benefits to using tiling in your own home, rental property, or even office  space. Tiles have a relatively long lifespan, and they can easily be cleaned and made to look as if new again.

We use tiles in many places in our homes, from the protective layers of tiles covering the wet areas in the bathroom, used as flooring or on countertops, or for lining our kitchen walls with tiles that provide a great look and even better hygiene.

At the same time, people have a large selection of materials to choose from, allowing everyone to find something that matches their personal tastes perfectly. Some of the most popular types of tiles include:

  • Ceramics
  • Porcelain
  • Glass
  • Steel
  • Mosaics

While there are other types of tiles, like marble, inlaid ones and more, the above are the most common, due to their relatively low cost, ease of installation, and long lasting properties.

How to get the best prices for tile installation contractors

If you are at a point where you know that you need help with your tile installation, then researching a few different companies is a great first step. By looking at what the different companies in your area have to offer, you might be able to limit your options already.

Of course the cost is a major concern that many people have, but it is important to be aware that an incorrectly done job can lead to future damage, and even hide certain structural issues as well.

Therefore, money should only be part of the overall equation when finding your next contractor for tile installation. You should also remember that the types of tiles can have a large impact on the overall cost for the project, so you should always be able to find something that matches your budget, while still looking great.

Arguably more important than the price, is the quality of work the contractors are able to deliver. At HandyForce we are proud to offer some of the best services in our area, due to our skilled and friendly workers that are educated and experienced in all types of tiling needs.

We are also aware that incorrect tiling can lead to health issues in certain areas, lower home valuations and other critical aspects, which is why we only deliver results of the highest quality, no matter the project.

Contacting one or more companies in order to get a quote can be a good next step, allowing you to hear more about what options you have available, as well as get a good feel of the type of people working in a given company.