The F2 blog
Remodeling guides for local homes
Practical advice on bathrooms, kitchens, tile floors, decks and more, written for houses in Greater Philadelphia, Delaware and Maryland.
Choosing Tile for High-Moisture Rooms: Porcelain, Ceramic, Stone
A plain-language guide to picking tile for bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms and basements, including what water absorption, PEI and DCOF ratings actually tell you.
Shower Niche and Tile Design Ideas That Work in Real Showers
Where to put a shower niche, how big to make it, how to keep it watertight, and tile layouts that look good for years, from people who build them.
Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Wilmington Rowhomes
Rowhome kitchens are narrow, the walls are rarely flat, and the backsplash is on full display. Here's how to pick tile and a layout that suit them.
Planning a Primary Bathroom Remodel in a Bucks County Home
What to decide before remodeling a primary bathroom in a Bucks County home, from the unused corner tub to permits, septic and what hides behind farmhouse walls.
Wood-Look Porcelain Tile: A Practical Homeowner's Guide
Wood-look porcelain gives you the grain of a plank floor with the water resistance of tile. It also has quirks that decide whether the floor looks right.
Stone Veneer Fireplaces for Chester County Homes
Stone veneer can turn a plain brick or drywall fireplace into a room's focal point. Here is how to choose the stone and what the installation requires.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion in King of Prussia: A Planning Guide
What it takes to turn a standard 5-foot tub alcove into a tiled walk-in shower, from the drain and pan to glass, niches and the permit question.
Tile Floors in Philadelphia Rowhomes: Joists, Subfloors and Prep
Old rowhome floors bounce, slope and sit on plank subfloors. Here is what has to happen under a tile floor so it stays flat and uncracked.
Kitchen Flooring Options for Elkton, MD Homes
Comparing porcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank and hardwood for kitchens in Elkton and Cecil County homes, with attention to humidity, subfloors and open floor plans.
Durable Flooring for Rental Homes in Newark, DE
What holds up in a Newark rental between leases: porcelain, luxury vinyl plank and hardwood compared on wear, repairs and turnaround time.
Interior Demolition Before a Remodel in Wilmington
Demolition sets up every step that follows. Here's what to decide, test and protect before the first wall comes down in an older Wilmington home.
Mudroom and Entry Tile Floors That Hold Up to Winter
Tile, grout and layout choices for mudrooms and back entries that take a beating from snow, road salt and wet boots every winter.
Small Bathroom Layout Ideas for Delaware County Twins
The second-floor bathroom in a Delco twin is often five feet wide and fixed in place by its plumbing. Here's how to get more out of it without moving walls.
Remodeling Bathrooms in Older West Chester Homes
Older borough homes hide plaster, notched joists and aging pipes behind their bathroom walls. Here is what to plan for before the tile comes off.
LVP vs. Tile vs. Hardwood: Choosing Floors for a Family Home
How luxury vinyl plank, porcelain tile and hardwood compare on water, wear, comfort and repair, and how to match each one to the rooms in a family home.
Remodeling a Philadelphia Rowhome Bathroom: What to Plan For
Rowhome bathrooms are small, stacked over the kitchen and framed with joists that have been cut before. Here is what to sort out before you pick tile.
Building a Deck Near the Water in Elkton, MD
Humid air and river-valley moisture are hard on decks. Here's how fasteners, ventilation, materials and local rules shape a deck built near the water around Elkton.
Deck Repair vs. Replacement: A Delaware Homeowner's Checklist
Soft boards, a wobbly railing or a nailed-on ledger? How to judge whether an older deck can be repaired or should be torn down and rebuilt.
What Drives Bathroom Remodel Costs in Wilmington, DE
Two bathrooms the same size can be priced very differently. Here is what drives the number in Wilmington homes, from hidden rot to herringbone layouts.
What Drives the Budget of a Bucks County Kitchen Remodel
Scope, layout changes, materials and the condition of the house decide what a kitchen remodel costs. Here's how each one moves the budget in Central Bucks homes.
Shower Waterproofing Explained: Membranes, Pans and Grout
Tile and grout shed water, but they don't stop it. Here's what actually keeps a tiled shower from leaking, and what to ask before yours is built.
Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What to Expect, Step by Step
Most kitchen delays come from sequence and lead times, not the work itself. Here is the usual order of a kitchen remodel and where time goes.
Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Montgomery County Homes
Subway, herringbone, hexagon and slab-look tile, and how to pick a backsplash that suits the kitchens in King of Prussia's colonials, split-levels and townhomes.
Philadelphia Remodeling Permits: A Homeowner's Guide to L&I
Which bathroom and kitchen projects need a permit from Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections, who applies for it, and what inspections to expect.
Bathroom Remodeling in Cecil County Homes: A Practical Guide
What to expect when remodeling a bathroom in an Elkton or Cecil County home, from what's hiding behind the old tile to choices that hold up in a humid, well-water region.
Accessible Showers for Aging in Place in Newark, DE
Curbless entries, linear drains, grab-bar blocking and seats: how to plan a shower you can keep using for decades, in a ranch or a split-level.
Basement Tile Flooring and Moisture in Delaware Homes
Basement slabs in the Wilmington area often carry moisture even when they look dry. Here's how to test, what to fix first, and why porcelain tile holds up.
Exterior Stone Veneer on Bucks County Homes: What to Know
Natural or manufactured stone, the drainage layers behind it, and the details that decide whether exterior veneer on a Bucks County house lasts through freeze-thaw winters.
Composite vs. Pressure-Treated Decks in Pennsylvania
The decking you choose sets how much work the deck needs every year. Here's how composite and pressure-treated wood compare in Pennsylvania's climate.
Heated Tile Floors in Chester County Homes: A Practical Guide
Electric floor heating under tile is a common upgrade in Chester County bathrooms and kitchens. Here is how the systems work and what they need.
Planning a New Deck in Upper Merion Township
Permits, footings, ledger attachment, sloped yards and material choices for homeowners planning a new deck in King of Prussia and Upper Merion.
Demolition in Older Philadelphia Homes: Plaster, Lead and Dust
Before opening walls in an older Philadelphia house, know what is in them: plaster and lath, mud-set tile, lead paint and sometimes asbestos. Here is how to handle it safely.
Free estimate
Get a free estimate
Tell us about the room and what you have in mind. We'll set up a walkthrough, measure, and give you a written estimate.
- Call or text(856) 895-8791
- Service areaGreater Philadelphia · Delaware · Northeastern Maryland