Common Floor Tile Installation Costs in Tallahassee

Floor tile installation costs can vary based on a lot fo factors, including the expertise and experience of the installer. If you’re not familiar with the trade industry, it can be hard to know what to expect in terms of costs, and also difficult to know how to find a tradesman you know you can trust.

But we’re here to help! If you’re looking to have tile installed–either as your kitchen backsplash, in a shower or on a floor, read on for the information you need. 

Hiring an inexperienced tile setter or handyman may seem like a way to save money but mistakes when setting tile can be expensive to fix. 

Tile Installation 101 and Contractor Requirements

Tile installation has become a lot more complex and tile installation costs have increased as a result.

20 years ago there were basically a handful options when it came to tile size, shape and material. Today there are thousands, and the installation methods vary depending on tile material, tile size and substrate.

Tile installers need to not only be skilled in setting tile but they have to understand proper surface preparation, crack isolation, grout spacing and waterproofing to properly install tile. 

On top of those skills they also need to run a good business with proper communication and scheduling, employee training and supervision, marketing and admin. 

License and Insurance

There is no professional licensing for floor tile installers in Florida. Beware of installers who tell you they are “Licensed and Insured” without documentation to back it up. 

The very best tile installers will be certified by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), a well respected asscciation who literally wrote the book on tile installation standards. To get certified installers have to pass rigorous written and practical tests.

Certification is not required and there are good installers who are not certified. But a TCNA certification all but guarantees your installer knows his stuff. 

All installers should carry insurance – both general liablity and workers compensation. Have their insurace company email you proof of insurance, a paper copy from teh installer is not good enough.

Permits

Most tile installation projects will not require permits and even on larger projet where permits are needed for other reasons the inspectors are not insterested in inspecting floor tile.

The lack of licensing requirements, inpections and permitting makes floor tile installation a real “buyer beware” marketplace and makes hiring an experienced professional all the more critical.  

Tile size, shape and pattern can all affect installation cost

Should I Use a Handyman? 

In general, handyman services are useful when you have a lot of minor repairs in different trade areas. You can make a list of all the small projects and they can go down the list and get things done.

But for something specific like tile installation, especially if it’s a larger project, hiring a trade specialist is almost always better.

Handymen are very useful for small repairs but because by nature they are a “jack of all trades” they usually are not qualified for larger projects. 

Handyman services are great when you have a lot of little projects that need doing but when you need floor tile installed it pays to hire a pro.

Labor Installation Costs are Just One Part of the Total

Labor costs are a big part of a floor tile installation but there are other costs to consider. 

Demolition and Floor Prep

The costs below do not include floor preparation or removal of the existing flooring and trim.

Some tile installers will do the floor demolition and prep, others will ask for you to have it done in advance. Removal of existing flooring can cost anywhere from $2-$5 / sq ft depending on the type of flooring. 

Floor prep will be minimal on many projects but on others they could range from $2 a sq foot for an isolation membrance to $8/sq ft or more for levelling or wet set applications. 

Material Costs

Most tile installers will not help you choose a tile. You will need to visit a tile showroom for that. Obviously, the thing that will affect your material costs the most is the type of tile you choose. Ceramic tile is generally cheaper than porcelain, for example.

Tile is graded on a scale of 1-3, and the lower the number, the better the tile. Many factors such as thickness and hardness play into this scale.

For more on tile types, see this blog post. Once you know what kind of tile you’re likely to use, you can start to approximate the material costs.

Tile Pattern

Simple patterns like a 50/50 stagger or stacked pattern do not add cost. But other patterns like french lay, penny tiles, herringbone etc… will cost more as they are more time consuming and require a higher level of skill to install. 

Tile Size and Type

Very large tiles and mosaics cost more to install than ‘mid sized’ tiles like 12×12 or 12x24s. Natural stone tiles costs more to install than ceramic of porcelain. 

Cheap tiles, like those from home depot or discount outlets, can also cost more because they are often poorly made and not square of flat and therefore take longer to install.

Grouting

Tile installation costs should include installing the grout and the type of grout should be specified in advance. We recommend acrylic grouts and the grout joint size is specified by the manufacturer.

Rectified tiles can have quite small grout joint joints (1/8″ or less) while most tiles we have a minumum 3/8 inch grout joint.

Inexperienced installers will use grout joints that are too small (because clients ask for it) but that can cause cracking and other issues down the road. 

Thinset

One of the most important things when installing tile is getting ‘full coverage’ of thinset on the tile. Any gaps or pockets can lead to cracking or hollow sounding tile. 

The right thinset must also be used. The type of thinset is determined by the type and size of tile being installed and the surface it is being installed on. Inexpereicned installers will just choose the cheapest thinset which can lead to loose tiles and cracking later on. 

Other things that can affect tile installation labor costs

We already discussed that quality installers will cost more than handymen or inexperienced installers. But there are several other factors that can affect tile installation costs.

Jobsite Access. Upstairs projects can cost 10% more than first floor ones. If you live in a condo or apartment it can cost more than that. 

If parking is difficult or there is no easy place to set up and clean up that can increase costs as well. 

Demand. One reason costs are increasing is there are fewer and fewer qualified installers and there is a lot of demand right now. We don’t see demand lessening any time soon.

How fast do you need the job to be done can also affect cost. If you’re not in a tremendous hurry, you’ll pay less than you would in an emergency or rushed situation.

Jobsite Conditions. If the home or yard are disorganized, if the there have been no updates for decades, if the condition of the home is poor etc… these things can affect cost too. 

Fixing someone else’s work. Is the project already started? If you hired someone else and they did a poor job, fixing their mistakes will cost more than a contractor starting from scratch. And if you started the project and realized it was bigger than you could handle, generally having a tile installer finish a DIY will cost more.

Where to Find a Trade Contractor and How to Evaluate Them

If you need a referral feel free to give us a call and we can give you some options depending on the type and size of project you are considering. 

Pro’s and Con’s of Referrals. Referrals are always a good place start. If a friend or family member used a contractor and had a great experience, definitely consider that.

Just make sure to do your due diligence on the contractor even with a personal recommendation, because sometimes referrals can be misleading.

Tile installers may be good at one type of install but lack experience in others. So even if they did a great job installing your friends wood look tiles they may lack the experience to install your herringbone pattern.

Also, Many contractors have a great project one month, and a less-than-great one the next, due to poor planning. Still, a happy customer’s review is a good sign.

Professional Presence Online and In Person

The best tile installers will have a website, business facebook page and trucks/trailers with signage. If they are investing in their business it’s a sign they have been and will be around for a while. 

That said there are good installers out there who are just “old school” and don’t have a professional online presence.

Local Tile Stores in Tallahassee.

If you call Sellers Tile, Florida Tile or Sea Tile here in town they should be able to give you some referral as well.

Facebook groups can be a great resource. Ask for referrals in groups like Living Tallahassee and others where people can post about their experiences. Those groups can be a little like the wild west though so make sure to beware of scammers.

Local Builders Association

You can also contact BIABB (Building Industry Association of the Big Bend), the local builder’s association. Members of this builder’s association are always professional, licensed, and insured–finding out if someone you’re considering hiring is a member is a great help. Another option is asking at local supply houses. They can often let you know which contractors would be good to check out.

How Can I Evaluate a Tile Installer I Want to Hire?

First of all, read this post to learn everything you need to know about evaluating a remodeling contractor you can count on. We have lots of information to help you make a good decision.

Remember that different installers excel in different areas. You might get a referral for someone who is amazing at tiling a kitchen backsplash–but you need someone to do your shower. Make sure when you’re vetting people, you are asking questions about the exact job you want them to do.

It’s always good to look at their past work. Ask for pictures of tile they’ve installed and examine the grout lines (should be perfectly straight), edges (make sure there’s no lippage), and other potential issues.

Still Have Questions?

It can be overwhelming to find a good contractor. You’re trusting him with your biggest investment–your home– and you want to make a good decision. We’re here to help you.

We can take on your remodeling project and provide you with design help, reliable contractors, and an excellent finished product. We can also talk you through any questions you have about contractors, pricing, and more.

We have years of experience serving Killearn Estates, Golden Eagle, Southwood, and other Tallahassee area neighborhoods. Contact us today.