Material 04
Natural Stone & Specialty
From $14/sf→
Overview
The difference is under the tile
Anyone can spread thinset. A tile floor that’s still tight and level in ten years comes from what happens before the tile goes down: a flat, sound substrate, the right membrane, and layout that puts full tiles where your eye lands.
We set ceramic and porcelain for floors, entries, and open-plan living. Porcelain is the workhorse — denser, harder, and available in large-format planks and slabs that read like stone with a fraction of the maintenance.
Where moisture is a factor we build in waterproofing and uncoupling membranes so seasonal movement and the occasional spill never telegraph up as cracked grout or lifted tile.
Pricing
Tile, by the square foot
Ceramic tileStandard-format ceramic floor tile, set and grouted
$8.50per sq ft · min $1,200Porcelain tileDenser, harder-wearing porcelain — incl. large-format
$10.50per sq ft · min $1,500Rates cover layout, setting, and grouting over a prepared substrate. Waterproofing membrane, uncoupling membrane, floor leveling, and decorative patterns are common add-ons, quoted up front.
Scope
What's included
- Free measure & substrate checkWe confirm the floor is sound and flat enough to tile.
- Substrate prepLeveling, backer, and membrane appropriate to the room.
- Dry layoutTiles laid out so full pieces land at the focal edges.
- Setting & groutingEven lippage, consistent joints, and a clean grout finish.
- Waterproofing where neededMembrane detailing in wet and moisture-prone areas.
- Trim, transitions & cleanupEdge profiles, thresholds, and a haze-free finished floor.
Questions
Good to know
Ceramic or porcelain?
Porcelain is denser, harder, and more water-resistant — the better pick for high-traffic floors, large-format looks, and anywhere near water. Ceramic can be the smarter value in lower-traffic or wall applications. We’ll match the material to the room at the measure.
Why does tile need a minimum?
Tile is prep-heavy — most of the labor is in the substrate you never see. The $1,200–$1,500 minimum makes it worth setting up for the smaller floors and keeps quality consistent.
Will the grout crack?
Not when the substrate is done right. Cracked grout is almost always a movement problem underneath — which is exactly what our leveling and membrane work is there to prevent.
Can you do a decorative pattern?
Yes — herringbone, basketweave, borders, and inlays. Patterns add cutting and layout time, so they’re priced as an add-on you’ll see clearly on the estimate.