About Ben Mitchell

Welcome to The Grout Nest

Hey, I’m Ben Mitchell. If you’re here because you’re staring at a crooked grout line, a mystery hump in your subfloor, or a pile of tile you swear got heavier the moment you carried it inside, you’re in the right place.

I built The Grout Nest for everyday homeowners who want a floor or backsplash they’re proud of, without needing to take out a second mortgage just to pay someone else to do the work. I’m not anti-contractor. I used to be a flooring contractor. I’m just very pro “know what you’re paying for” and pro “you can absolutely do a lot of this yourself.”

Also, for the record, I love good contractors. The kind who show up when they say they will, protect your house, and do the boring prep right. This site is for the moments you want to DIY, and the moments you want to hire it out and understand what “done right” actually looks like.

My motto is simple: prep work is 90% of the job. The other 10% is not rushing because you’re hungry and tired. Ask me how I know.

How I got into tile and floors

I grew up in a family of tradesmen. Some kids spent summers at the lake. I spent mine hauling boxes of porcelain tile and mixing thinset for my uncle’s remodeling business. It was sweaty, dusty, and honestly kind of miserable until you saw the finished work. There is a special satisfaction in stepping back and realizing you helped turn a pile of materials into a room that finally feels “done.”

That early exposure stuck. I spent about a decade working as a specialized flooring contractor, the guy who shows up with the saws, the spacers, and an unhealthy interest in whether a wall is square. I learned the small things that separate an install that looks good for six months from one that still looks crisp ten years later.

Then my wife and I bought a 1970s fixer-upper. And even with experience, I got a fresh reminder of how overwhelming renovations can feel when you are the one living in the dust, making choices on a budget, and trying to learn as you go. That house is a big reason The Grout Nest exists. Pros forget what “beginner” feels like. I don’t want to.

Why you can trust this site

I have made my living installing floors and tile, and I still approach every project the same way: read the specs, prep the substrate, dry lay the plan, and do not “hope” your way through a permanent finish. You will see me prioritize boring basics like flatness, coverage, movement joints, and cure time, because those are the things that decide whether your work lasts.

Why The Grout Nest exists

There are two things I hate seeing:

• Homeowners overpaying for simple repairs because they do not know what is actually involved.
• Homeowners getting discouraged because they were never shown the right order of operations, the right tools, or the small checks that prevent big mistakes.

The Grout Nest is my way of pulling back the curtain. The goal is not perfection on your first try. The goal is a professional-grade finish achieved the same way the pros do it: solid prep, correct materials, and steady, repeatable steps.

You will also see me admit when I have messed something up, because I have. I have rushed layout and paid for it. I have trusted a “close enough” subfloor and listened to it squeak forever. I have grouted a little too early and spent my evening scrubbing haze like I was trying to erase my own bad decisions. If I can save you one of those weekends, the site is doing its job.

What you will find here

I write like I’m standing next to you in the room, because that is how I learned best. Clear steps. Plain language. No mystery products. No “just float it” advice without explaining what that means.

Step-by-step DIY guides

From tile backsplash installs to luxury vinyl plank flooring, you will find walkthroughs that focus on order, timing, and the small details that keep projects from going sideways.

Tools and materials

I test tools and products the way a contractor does. I care about how a trowel feels after an hour. I care about whether a grout sponge falls apart. I care about what happens after the floor has been mopped fifty times.

Transparency matters: some articles may include affiliate links. If you buy through one, it helps support the site at no extra cost to you. It never changes what I recommend, and I will tell you when something is not worth your money.

Layout help

A clean layout can make an average tile look expensive. A sloppy layout can make premium tile look like a bargain-bin mistake. I will help you plan cuts, pick starting points, and avoid those tiny slivers that haunt your dreams.

Start here: if you are new, begin with my Start Here page, then grab the Subfloor Prep Checklist, and bookmark the Tools for First-Time Tilers guide.

My promise

I am meticulous, but I am not here to gatekeep. If you are willing to take your time, measure twice, and do the unsexy base work, you can do this.

• I will not talk down to you.
• I will not skip steps.
• I will tell you when to stop and fix the base layer instead of covering a problem and hoping it behaves.

And if you ever feel stuck mid-project, I want you to have that calm, steady voice in your ear reminding you: slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Off the job

When I’m not writing tutorials or testing the durability of new luxury vinyl planks, I’m usually restoring vintage hand tools, brewing overly complicated pour-over coffee, or trying to keep my golden retriever, Barnaby, off newly sealed floors. Barnaby is undefeated, by the way.

Come on in

If you are planning your first backsplash, replacing tired bathroom tile, or finally tackling the floors you have been side-eyeing for years, welcome. Start with one small project, get your tools together, and give yourself permission to learn as you go.

And remember: the prettiest tile in the world cannot fix a surface that is not ready. Prep first. Always.