Tile Installation FAQ

Call us at (229) 210-9587 or fill out the form on our contact page. We'll schedule a time to walk through the space, take measurements, and talk through your material choices. We don't quote tile jobs over the phone without seeing the surface first, because conditions vary too much.

Yes. After the walkthrough we provide a written scope of work with pricing. This covers labor, any surface prep materials needed, and notes on what we observed during the visit. If you've already selected tile, we can include a material quantity estimate as well.

Availability varies by season. Spring and fall tend to be busier. Reaching out two to three weeks before your target start date gives us time to schedule a visit and get you on the calendar. Smaller jobs sometimes fit in sooner.

Larger tiles (12x24 or 24x24) can actually make a small bathroom feel bigger because there are fewer grout lines to visually break up the surface. The tradeoff is that large tiles require a very flat substrate, which adds prep time in older homes. Smaller mosaic or subway tiles are more forgiving on uneven surfaces and give you more design flexibility.

Rectified tiles are cut to precise dimensions after firing, so edges are straight and consistent. This allows for very tight grout joints (as narrow as 1/16 inch), which gives a cleaner, more contemporary look. Non-rectified tiles have slight size variations and need wider joints to accommodate them. For most residential projects, either works, but the choice affects the final visual result noticeably.

Grout should be sealed on most installations, especially in wet areas. Unglazed natural stone tile also needs sealing before grouting and again after. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile surfaces don't need sealing, but the grout joints between them do. We apply grout sealer as part of our standard finish process and can advise on resealing schedules for your specific material.

A standard kitchen backsplash, from counter to cabinet, typically takes one to two days. That includes prep, setting, and grouting. The space can usually be used the next day once grout has cured, though we recommend waiting a full 24 hours before exposing the grout to water or heavy cleaning.

For shower and tub surround work, yes. If we're installing a shower pan or working around plumbing fixtures, the water supply to that bathroom will be off during portions of the job. We coordinate this with you at the start so you can plan accordingly. In homes with a single bathroom, we try to schedule the plumbing-adjacent work at the start of the day.

The most common cause is movement in the substrate below. If the subfloor flexes when you walk on it, or if there's any give in a wall, the tile above will eventually crack at the grout line or through the face. This is why subfloor assessment and proper backer board installation matter so much. Tile itself is rigid and will crack before the structure beneath it does. A correctly prepared surface is the main protection against this.