Residential Tile Installation

What Residential Tile Installation Covers

Residential tile installation is a broad category, and we work across all of it. Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, mudrooms, entryways, and living areas. Wall tile, floor tile, shower surrounds, and backsplashes. The common thread across all of these is that the tile is only as good as what's underneath it.

In Atlanta's older housing stock, particularly the bungalows and cottages common in Poncey-Highland and Virginia-Highland, we often find that the existing substrate needs work before new tile can go down. Concrete slabs from the 1950s and 60s can have high spots and low spots that need to be addressed with a self-leveling compound. Plywood subfloors need to meet deflection standards. Wood-framed walls in bathrooms need cement backer board. We address these things as part of every job, not as an afterthought.

What We Actually Do

The process starts before any tile touches the wall or floor. We assess the substrate, identify any prep work needed, and discuss the layout with you before we begin. For floors, we establish a center point and dry-lay the tile to confirm the pattern looks right and that cut tiles at the perimeter are acceptably sized. For walls, we establish a level reference line and work from there.

We use polymer-modified thinset for most applications, and large-format mortar for tiles larger than 15 inches on any side. Every tile gets back-buttered in addition to the trowel-applied mortar on the substrate, which ensures full coverage and eliminates hollow spots. Grout is applied after the mortar has cured, typically 24 hours, and sealed after the grout cures.