Floor Tile Installation
Floors that stay flat and crack-free. We check subfloor deflection before we open a bag of thinset, then lay out patterns that look intentional from every angle.
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What Makes Floor Tile Fail, and How We Prevent It
The most common cause of cracked or loose floor tile is subfloor movement. Wood-framed floors flex under load, and if that flex exceeds the tile industry's L/360 standard, the tiles will eventually crack or pop loose regardless of how carefully they were set. Before we begin any floor tile project, we check the subfloor for deflection by walking the area and looking for soft spots, spring, or visible bounce. If we find excessive movement, we address it by adding structural support, adding a layer of backer board, or using an uncoupling membrane like Ditra, which decouples the tile layer from the subfloor and allows them to move independently.
On concrete slabs, the issue is usually flatness rather than flex. Atlanta's clay-heavy soil can cause slabs to settle unevenly over time. We check for high and low spots with a straightedge and use a self-leveling compound to bring the floor within the flatness tolerance required for the tile size being installed. Larger tiles require flatter substrates because the tile can't bridge a dip the way a smaller tile can.
Pattern Layout and Visual Outcome
How a floor looks depends as much on layout planning as on the tile itself. We start by finding the visual center of the room and dry-laying the tile to see how cuts fall at the perimeter. The goal is to avoid ending up with a narrow sliver of tile at one wall while the opposite wall has a full tile. We adjust the starting point until the cuts are balanced, then snap chalk lines and begin setting. For diagonal patterns, herringbone, and other non-rectilinear layouts, the planning step takes longer but the payoff is a floor that looks designed rather than just laid.
Floor Tile Installation Includes
- Subfloor deflection assessment
- Flatness check and leveling if needed
- Uncoupling membrane or backer board where appropriate
- Center-point layout and dry-lay confirmation
- Full-coverage thinset with back-buttering
- Lippage control with leveling clips on large-format tile
- Grout, sealer, and transition strips at doorways
Indoor and Outdoor Floor Tile
We install floor tile indoors and outdoors. Exterior tile in Atlanta needs to be rated for freeze-thaw cycles and installed with appropriate grout that handles thermal expansion. We use exterior-rated thinset and grout and slope outdoor tile slightly away from the structure to shed water. Patio tile in particular benefits from a proper setting bed, not just a thin coat of mortar over a cracked concrete slab.
This service is available throughout Poncey-Highland, Virginia-Highland, and Old Fourth Ward. Contact us at (229) 290-2963 or visit our contact page to discuss your project.