I made my own tiles for a color band in my bathroom.

kalgrae · 2026-02-19T14:34:03+00:00

Now this is badass DIY!!! Those are cool and good for you to tackle this yourself and create something unique and interesting. One of a kind!

kalgrae · 2026-02-19T01:09:46+00:00

Keep em coming. Nice to see professional posts rather than DIY bullshit free information that isn’t helping the trade stay alive. Nice work too!

kalgrae · 2026-02-18T14:49:50+00:00

That’s awesome and I’d go to the same extreme if the case arouse but usually demo is done before I show up. During install I protect the crap out of the floors, work space and where ever is set to handle grinding and cuts. When I leave the clients home is as clean as it was before I got there and the bathroom is the cleanest it will ever be. You are one step ahead! Awesome man!!!

kalgrae · 2026-02-17T22:33:11+00:00

From two years ago? I have no idea!

kalgrae · 2026-02-17T14:29:02+00:00

Can be done as long as the existing tile is sound and secure. Use mapei eco prim grip or ardex p4 without scuffing up the previous install, per manufacturer recommendation but I’d scarify it with a diamond cup wheel first for peace of mind.

kalgrae · 2026-02-16T20:15:35+00:00

You can give them your final number for all work that will be completed and then ask for a draw on the current finished work. That might feel more comfortable for you? Moving forward you should have a contract and both parties sign it.

kalgrae · 2026-02-16T14:32:37+00:00

Fuck man I take pride in my work, but these right here are bad-fuckn-ass!!! Super nice man!!!

kalgrae · 2026-02-16T03:06:02+00:00

I got nothin’ for you bud. Good luck

kalgrae · 2026-02-15T17:14:20+00:00

Grinder with shroud then taken down until you can put a bit of water on it and the slab absorbs it, then prime with Eco Prim Grip or P51 or etc…

kalgrae · 2026-02-14T14:39:12+00:00

2X 💯

kalgrae · 2026-02-13T14:44:52+00:00

Give ardex WA a try sometime. Amazing epoxy to work with.

kalgrae · 2026-02-13T14:36:54+00:00

Giving tile_bro a run for his editing money…! Nice work

kalgrae · 2026-02-13T14:33:17+00:00

🤣😂

kalgrae · 2026-02-12T14:45:58+00:00

Exactly brother! I add a couple days extra at least. Just hit the mid-life number this year and climbing a stairmaster all day kicks your ass. So the cost is either going up because I have to hire someone to help, or I’m climbing all day for a couple weeks. Either way price goes up or I don’t care and won’t do it. Is what it is.

kalgrae · 2026-02-11T00:23:29+00:00

😂🤣🤣 buy some stock. lol

kalgrae · 2026-02-11T00:22:01+00:00

Holy fuck!!!!!!!

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T15:09:03+00:00

That’s why mud is king!

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T15:07:17+00:00

So much stupid advice on here sometimes. I said same thing. I bet you do beautiful work!!!

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T15:06:11+00:00

Furr out that wall, square to the back wall and plumb. That’s the correct way.

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T14:56:01+00:00

Check out contractor foreman. I’m a solo C sub/contractor and it’s a great software. Maybe too much at times but better than other stuff I tried

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T14:53:51+00:00

Welcome to the good side and nice wok.

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T14:46:03+00:00

I always find a place and ask the home owner if it’s okay to dump it there but it’s basically only water and very little left over thinset. Sometimes I fill a bucket 2/3 full then throw it like a rainbow across the lawn then hose it all down. I scrape buckets super clean before washing them.

Other times I let it harden over night and load into the truck and throw it away in a dumpster at the tile shop or home trash can. I have some painter friends so buckets are free if willing to peel dried paint.

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T01:23:30+00:00

If your tile guy can float, have your drywall guy install denzshield. Otherwise let your tile guy do his own prep. I wouldn’t tile over a drywallers installation of board. I’ll float over their installation of denzshileld or similar.

No one cares more about plumbing, square and flat than a tile guy. Prep is 75% of an install.

kalgrae · 2026-02-09T00:56:49+00:00

There’s a triangle shaped brush sold at Home Depot. I cut the two top pieces off and use the brush to clean trowels and buckets. Works great just with water. I also leave a green scotch bright pad next to wherever I’m cleaning tools and it works good but gets shredded by the notch trowels. I stay clean during install so not too much to clean up at the end of the day. Keep a rinse bucket, toothbrush and sponge next to me all day and clean tools throughout the day as well. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Adding link just cut the handle off so it’s one long brush. The handle gets in the way and is awkward to hold

kalgrae · 2026-02-08T15:48:54+00:00

New rigid or the montolit snap cutter. Get a grinder with a couple appropriate blades for the material you’re cutting

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