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Tile and bathroom guides, in plain English

Plain answers about tile, grout, waterproofing and hiring a tile contractor, from the crew at Bencke’s Tile in Richmond, VA. Pick a guide below.

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Green herringbone tile shower wall with a marble niche

All guides

GuideBathroom Remodel Cost in Richmond, VA Published 2026 bathroom remodel cost ranges, what a Richmond remodel adds or saves, and a checklist for comparing quotes line by line. Read the guide GuideGrout Types: Sanded, Unsanded or Epoxy? Sanded, unsanded and epoxy grout compared: joint widths, where each works best, sealing, and why corners should get caulk instead. Read the guide GuideHow to Choose a Tile Contractor in Richmond Nine checks for hiring a tile contractor in the Richmond area: the Virginia license lookup, insurance, the written contract, the quote, references and red flags. Read the guide GuideLarge Format Tile: What to Know Before You Buy What counts as large format tile, why the surface under it must be flat, how mortar coverage and lippage work, and where big tile does not make sense. Read the guide GuideMarble-Look Porcelain vs Natural Marble Real marble or marble-look porcelain? A plain comparison of looks, stains, etching, scratches, upkeep and where each belongs in a home. Read the guide GuidePorcelain vs Ceramic Tile: Which One Should You Pick? What really separates porcelain from ceramic, and which one fits a shower, a bathroom floor, a kitchen or a backsplash. Read the guide GuideSeats in Showers: Bench and Seat Options The four kinds of shower seat, how each one is built, what changes in the waterproofing, and what to decide before the walls close. Read the guide GuideShower Waterproofing: What Goes Behind the Tile Tile and grout do not stop water. This guide shows the layers behind a tile shower, where leaks start, and how a flood test proves the work. Read the guide GuideSmall Bathroom Remodel Ideas That Use Tile Well Eight small bathroom remodel ideas shown in real tile work, a walk-in shower plan for a tight room, and cost ranges from two published sources. Read the guide GuideTiling a Backsplash With Subway Tile A plain guide to tiling a kitchen backsplash with subway tile: layout, outlets and windows, setting, grout, edges and caulk, with real examples. Read the guide GuideTile Installation Cost per Square Foot Tile installation cost per square foot from two published sources, what the labor range includes, and the extras that raise the bill. Read the guide GuideTile Patterns: Herringbone, Stacked and More The most popular tile layouts compared: herringbone, chevron, running bond, stacked, diagonal and basketweave, with notes on cuts, waste and where each works. Read the guide GuideTub to Shower Conversion: What to Expect, Step by Step The steps of a tub to shower conversion, from demolition to the last bead of caulk, plus the plumbing, permit and hidden-damage questions to settle early. Read the guide GuideWalk-In Shower Ideas and What They Cost Six walk-in shower ideas shown in real tile work, and the 2026 cost ranges by type, tile, glass door and waterproofing. Read the guide
How to use these

General advice first, your house second

These guides explain how tile work is done and what to ask for. Every house is different, so use them to get ready for the estimate, not as a quote.

Spotted something that does not match your bathroom? Call 804-244-6737 and we will talk it through.

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Related pages.

Marble and black porcelain tile shower with a built-in bench and hexagon floor, finished by Bencke's Tile Services Bencke’s Tile takes on bathroom remodels, kitchen backsplashes, showers, tub to shower conversions, tile installation and tile floors around Richmond, VA. Pick the one you need, or call 804-244-6737 if you are not sure which fits. Learn more White subway tile shower with a stone bench and a patterned mosaic floor Process A bathroom remodel starts with a visit and a written price, then moves from demo to waterproofing, tile and the final walkthrough. Here is how it goes with Bencke’s Tile in Richmond, VA. Learn more Green herringbone tile shower wall with a marble niche FAQ Short answers to what Richmond homeowners ask before hiring a bathroom or tile contractor. If yours is not here, call 804-244-6737 or write to contact@benckestile.com. Learn more

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