Is it appropriate to install tile backerboard over a laminate countertop?

Q. Instead of tearing off the old laminate kitchen countertop and installing a plywood base and tile backerboard on top, is it appropriate to screw/glue the tile backerboard directly onto the laminate countertop for a tile installation?

A. Of course you can do it and it'll probably last for a long time but I would NOT do it. As another pointed out the material under the laminate is probably flake board. you don't want that under your tile job. Tile, grout, concrete backer board and thinset, not one of these are "waterproof". Water and flake board don't mix. Pulling it and putting down some plywood is the best

Difference in Marble and Ceramic Tile installation?

Q. I am building a new home and being as a new do-it-yourselfer , I want to know the difference in Marble and Ceramic tile installation. Which is easy to install or alternatively i have to hire professionals for this purpose

A. Hi there, in my opinion the most important ingredient to any Marble job will be your 4' level. You see Ray because the average grout joint is either 1/16" for the experienced installer or 1/8" for the not so experienced, every tile will need to be either level or plumb to it's adjacent tile. Thats going to take time and patience as this will involve multiple handling of nearly every tile...either to add setting material or remove setting material because the floor or wall you are covering is seldom perfectly flat. There will always be a hump or bow or a belly that will need attention to make things run straight and true...follow me? I always use a larger notch trowel when doing Stone work. It makes having to deal with challenging substrates alot easier. Combing out more material may cost slightly more but it pays dividends at the point of install. One thing people don't understand about Natural Stone is the nearly all of the lighter colored stones have a degree of transparency to them. If you hold it up to a light you can see the shadow of your hand behind the stone so if you use a darker thinset (grey) then it will darken the shade of the stone, if you use a white thinset it will keep the stone close to the shade you liked when you picked it out in the first place. You should also "back butter" (skim a coat of thinset to the back of every piece of tile) the tile to maintain a uniform moisture level that will show through to the surface of the tile till it all cures out. Some times you can see where the installer used a 5 spot install for the stone because you will be able to "see" 5 circles (usually as round dark spots) right on the surface of the stone until it all dries out...even then, it doesn't necessarily always go completely away so the skim coat will eliminate that happening to any great degree ok? It won't matter whether you are installing the Marble on the wall or floor, or even the tub deck. The running plane must be flat tile to tile so visibly it will all look great, that's where the level will help you keep things running flat course to course both level and plumb. Ok Ray I hope this gives you a means to track your progress as you build or run out the Marble. Bear in mind that you shouldn't run more than 4' of tile "up" the wall as the weight of the stuff will crush down spacers too much as you go. Feel free to return anytime.If you want more information i search a web on net if you were interested visit the website which is given below.

Did anybody else have a bad experience with King Tile Installation, out of NJ?

Q. Nathan King and his Company King Tile Installation from of West Orange NJ did a horrible tile installation job at my home. I was wondering if anybody has bad experiences with this person or his company?
The company I dealt with was NOT Kings Tile out of the Matawan/Old Bridge area

A. I'm from NJ and in the tile business. I've heard of Kings Tile but the owners name isnt Nathan,its Steve,and they are out of the Matawan/Old Bridge area.

Sorry to hear of your poor installation and hope you find some kind of resolution.

Good Luck

Bellzie...

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