Q: I’m putting ceramic tile flooring in my kitchen and live on a 10-year-old, ground-level concrete slab. Do I need to put any type of underlayment or vapor barrier underneath it? A: It’s perfectly ...

Janine asks: I’m putting up a ceramic tile backsplash in my kitchen. Can I put the tile directly on the drywall, or do I have to tear it out and use a cement board? Danny Lipford: If you’re talking ...

Q: I have 200 square feet of ceramic tile in a room in my house. Is there anything I can put over that? I want to cover it up instead of replacing it. Can I put tile over tile? A: Yes, that’s usually ...

The residents: Hallie Yacknin and Mark Maier of San Rafael. The goal: To cover the construction gravel that was left in their formerly all-concrete-slab backyard after a drainage problem was repaired ...

Q: I have a problem with flooring. I bought a condo built in 1979 with concrete floors. I want the floor to be easy as I have a bad back and walking on concrete is not the best thing for me. I ...