BECOME A PRO

Deal of a Lifetime: Outsmart Your Tile Installers!

tile contractor

Deal of a Lifetime: Outsmart Your Tile Installers!

For home and office projects, installation prices have become very high for natural stone and ceramic tiles as they are the best materials to use as well as the most durable. While installing tiles, you should do it right the first time so that the installation will last for long. Carpet, vinyl, and traditional wood installations are simpler as they require less work and expertise.

Measurements

If you have cheap ceramic tiles, do the installation yourself as it is cheaper and will save you a lot of cash. However, if you've got complex materials like granite, travertine or specialty materials like marble, you should hire a professional to complete the work as they are a bit difficult and they would know what to do and do a good job at the same time. Natural stone installation costs around $10 for a square foot and standard tiles cost $3 to $6 per square foot. Square footage should never account for the total price of the tile installation as it is only part of it and not the whole project.

Mortars, Grouts, and Adhesives

You should never skimp adhesives and mortars and should buy special natural stone mortar to work with natural stone tiles. You should use modified mortars which are also known as (fortified mortars) for floors and ceilings as it is the best option. If you're certain there will be a lot of foot movement in the entryway, you should mix liquid latex to the grout thinset to increase elasticity. The higher quality the material, the more it costs per bag so you should order directly from the manufacturer as you get a discount if you buy in large quantities. The elements that tie the tiles to the installation surface are outstanding to the installation's structural integrity.

Ceilings, Floors, Walls, and Extras

Basic floors are the most affordable installations as they demand the lowest amount of labour. They are easy to install and require less time to do it. Projects that need scaffolding are expensive because of the extra materials and safety precautions. Remodelling finished homes need protection and they always cost more. For example, a small bathroom off a central room with very light colored upholstery costs more because the entire room needs to be protected by drop clothes and contractors have to take care to create no dust at all. Likewise, waterproofing, underlayments, and concrete boards cost extra, typically $2 to $4 per square foot. Walls cost more than floors and ceilings cost more than walls.

Pattern Types

The smaller the tile, the less money it costs to install, for example your common straight-lay design with square grout joints and tiles costs the least. This is because of the heavy weight of the material. They need a lot of work and they are fairly big. More intricate mosaic installations that have large cuts cost more as the installer's base rates increases with larger tiles. More difficult patterns require more work, time and money. Diagonal patterns cost $2 to $4 per square foot in addition to a base rate. Other patterns also can add $2 to $4 per square foot, depending on how complex the pattern is.

Overall Costs

There's no universal rate for the tile installations due to many factors the project faces. All installers should come to your home and inspect the installation, figure out what the variables are then quote you a square foot rate depending on what they have seen. They should not give you a price over the phone without first coming to inspect with their own eyes what the installation job looks like. This would be wrong as they would either overcharge you or undercharge you. Qualified installers charge by the hour and you should expect to be charged $75 an hour once they've inspected your project. For a standard project plan on paying between $8 and $10 for a square foot of ceramic tile or $15 to $20 for a square foot natural stone when factoring in the pattern, installation type, complexity and location. If you do the installation yourself, you will save a lot of money and only pay for the tools and materials you need for the project.

Request Free Quotes

© 2024 eHARDHAT - All Rights Reserved.