Pro Resources
Install guides, tool recommendations, and tricks from the trade to save you time on the jobsite.
All Guides
How to Choose the Right Trowel Size
Match your trowel notch size to your tile format for full coverage and a solid bond.
Thinset vs Mastic: How to Choose for Your Tile Job
Compare thinset mortar and mastic by tile, substrate, setting, and the current manufacturer instructions for the products in your assembly.
5 Common LVP Installation Mistakes
Avoid these costly mistakes when installing luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Surface Prep Checklist for Tile
A complete pre-installation checklist to ensure your tile job starts right.
Moisture Testing: Screening vs Accepted Test Methods
Handheld meters screen. Accepted RH and calcium chloride methods decide. Know which one governs your install.
Flooring Installation Tools: A Contractor's Selection Guide
Choose flooring installation tools by job phase and floor type — layout, substrate prep, LVP, hardwood, tile, and carpet — and know what to own versus rent.
Schluter-KERDI Membrane Installation: Step-by-Step Pro Guide
Step-by-step guide for installing Schluter-KERDI waterproofing membrane in showers and wet areas.
Self-Leveling Compound: Selection & Application
How to choose, mix, and pour self-leveling compound for perfectly flat floors.
LVP Transition Strips: Types & Installation
Choose and install the right transition strip for every LVP flooring scenario.
Heated Floor Installation: SunTouch Systems
Complete guide to installing SunTouch radiant floor heating under tile and stone.
Epoxy Grout Application: A Complete Pro Guide
Master epoxy grout mixing, application, and cleanup for stain-proof, chemical-resistant joints.
Moisture Barrier Installation: Protecting Your Flooring Investment
Learn when and how to install moisture barriers for concrete slabs, crawl spaces, and below-grade installations.
Tile Leveling Systems: Comparison & Best Practices
Compare clip-and-wedge, spin cap, and strap systems to eliminate lippage on large format tile installations.
Carpet Stretching Techniques: Tools, Methods & Common Fixes
Professional carpet stretching methods using power stretchers and knee kickers to eliminate wrinkles and extend carpet life.
LVP Over Concrete: Moisture Testing & Prep
Concrete moisture kills LVP installs. Here's how to test, prep, and pick the right moisture barrier.
Best Thinset for Shower Walls and Floors
Not all thinset is rated for wet areas. Compare catalog products and current manufacturer instructions for shower installations.
Schluter DITRA Installation: Cost, Materials, and Common Mistakes
What DITRA really costs to install, the materials you'll need, and the mistakes that void the warranty.
Heated Floor Cost & Install: SunTouch vs DITRA-HEAT vs WarmlyYours
Which radiant floor heating system fits your bathroom remodel — and what it really costs to install.
KERDI Shower System: Step-by-Step Waterproofing Guide
How to install a Schluter KERDI shower from substrate to grout — and the failures that kill it.
Epoxy Grout vs Cement Grout: Which Should You Use?
Epoxy grout costs 4× more — and is worth every penny in the right job. Here's when to use each.
Modified vs Unmodified Thinset: When Each Is Required
Modified thinset bonds better on most substrates. Unmodified is required with impermeable membranes. Pick the wrong one and the bond fails.
How Much Thinset Per Square Foot: Coverage by Trowel Size
A 50 lb bag of thinset covers 40–95 sq ft depending on your trowel notch. Undersize the estimate and you're back on the road at 2pm — here's the real math.
Installing DITRA Over Plywood: A Step-by-Step Guide
Setting tile over a wood subfloor without DITRA is asking for cracked grout in 18 months. Here's how to install DITRA over plywood correctly.
Laticrete Spectralock vs Permacolor: Which Grout to Use
Epoxy vs cement grout compared for stain resistance, workability, cost, and jobsite fit.
Small Repair Job Restock List
A project-first restock list for small flooring repairs: prep, patch, adhesive, tools, PPE, and quantities.
LVP & SPC Tool Checklist: Rigid-Core and Vinyl Plank Installs
The tool list for rigid-core SPC, WPC, and flexible vinyl plank installs, plus what the manufacturer decides.
Downloadable Checklists
Print these out and keep them in your job folder.
Get the Contractor Job Day Kit Checklist
Free PDF — everything to load in the truck before you roll out.