Frequently Asked Questions

We come to your space, look at the surfaces being tiled, check the substrate condition, measure the area, and talk through your material preferences and timeline. It usually takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on the scope. After that we put together a written estimate and send it to you within one business day.

We handle tile demo as part of the job when it is included in the scope. We will flag this in the estimate. Once old tile is off, we inspect the substrate and address anything that needs fixing before the new tile goes in. Not every job requires demo, so it depends on what you already have.

For most floor tile jobs, we recommend staying off the surface for at least 24 hours after the mortar is set. Grout typically needs 24 to 72 hours before getting wet, depending on the product used. Shower pans with waterproofing membranes need additional cure time before any water exposure. We will walk you through the specific timeline for your job at the end of the install.

Rectified tile is precision-cut to exact dimensions, which allows for very tight grout joints (sometimes as narrow as 1/16 inch) and a cleaner, more contemporary look. Non-rectified tile has slight size variations from the manufacturing process and requires wider grout lines to accommodate them. For large-format floor or wall tile where you want a minimal-grout-line appearance, rectified tile is usually the right choice. We can help you understand what your selected tile requires.

We use a sheet membrane or liquid-applied waterproofing system depending on the substrate and shower configuration. Both are applied to the shower pan and extend up the walls to a height above the water line. We pay particular attention to corners and transitions, which are where waterproofing failures most often start. The specific product depends on the job conditions.

Yes, and in many cases they actually make a small bathroom feel larger because there are fewer grout lines interrupting the visual field. The practical consideration is that large tiles require a very flat, solid substrate. If your subfloor or wall backer has any flex or unevenness, we address that before the tile goes up. We will let you know during the walkthrough if large-format tile is a reasonable choice for your space.

Sometimes, yes. A single tile replacement is possible if we can source a matching tile and the surrounding tiles are well-bonded to the wall. The challenge is usually finding an exact match, especially in older bathrooms. We are happy to look at it and give you an honest assessment of whether a spot repair makes sense or whether a larger area rework would serve you better in the long run.

We typically recommend ordering 10 to 15 percent extra for standard installations to account for cuts, breakage, and future repairs. For diagonal patterns or herringbone layouts, 15 percent is a safer number because the cutting angle wastes more material. We factor this into our material estimates during the walkthrough.

Grout color has a significant visual impact, particularly on larger-format tile or patterned layouts. A contrasting grout emphasizes the tile grid and pattern. A matching grout creates a more seamless, continuous look. We can show you samples before we mix anything so you can see how your specific tile and grout combination will read together.