5 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO
BEFORE HIRING A TILE COMPANY
To avoid wasting time or money. |
1. Knowing your square footage will save you $$.
Knowing how many square feet you will have tile installed on will save you time and money. How big of a surface is it? 100 square feet? 500 square feet?
Knowing your square footage will allow you to buy the correct quantity of tile. We've seen customers not buy enough tile and then end up waiting 2-4 weeks for a special order of the tile to be shipped in from Italy. Similarly as unpleasant, we've seen customers with 2-3 pallets of leftover tile just because they didn't take proper measurements before buying their tile.
Here's how to get your square footage:
For example: A kitchen that is 15ft 10in long and 10ft 2in wide, becomes 16ft long by 10ft wide. Now multiply 16ft by 10ft to get 160sqft. Add 10% on (which is 16sqft) to get a total of 176sqft of tile for the kitchen.
BONUS: Knowing your square footage will allow you to get rapid estimates from potential contractors.
Knowing your square footage will allow you to buy the correct quantity of tile. We've seen customers not buy enough tile and then end up waiting 2-4 weeks for a special order of the tile to be shipped in from Italy. Similarly as unpleasant, we've seen customers with 2-3 pallets of leftover tile just because they didn't take proper measurements before buying their tile.
Here's how to get your square footage:
- Measure the length and width of the area. You should round your measurements to the nearest foot—don't use inches.
- Multiply the length by the width.
- Add another 10% to cover damage during transport and installation errors.
For example: A kitchen that is 15ft 10in long and 10ft 2in wide, becomes 16ft long by 10ft wide. Now multiply 16ft by 10ft to get 160sqft. Add 10% on (which is 16sqft) to get a total of 176sqft of tile for the kitchen.
BONUS: Knowing your square footage will allow you to get rapid estimates from potential contractors.
2. Find the right tile type.
From ceramic, natural stone, glass and metal to many new porcelain veneers, you should take the time to look at various tile types with your local supplier. You can get a head start by browsing websites like Houzz. With it you can see what other homeowners have done, know what kind of tile was used and even shop for the material.
Tip: When looking at porcelain tile, I suggest choosing through-body as opposed to glazed porcelain. The difference is, through-body porcelain maintains its color from the surface to the bottom of the tile. This means any scratches or chips are hardly noticeable. With glazed porcelain, the top has been painted with a glassy paint so any scratches or chips will show the true color underneath, usually a white-beige color.
P.S. With some custom tiles, you may be ordering them directly from the manufacturer. If they are being made abroad, shipping alone can take a 2-4, weeks so plan ahead.
Tip: When looking at porcelain tile, I suggest choosing through-body as opposed to glazed porcelain. The difference is, through-body porcelain maintains its color from the surface to the bottom of the tile. This means any scratches or chips are hardly noticeable. With glazed porcelain, the top has been painted with a glassy paint so any scratches or chips will show the true color underneath, usually a white-beige color.
P.S. With some custom tiles, you may be ordering them directly from the manufacturer. If they are being made abroad, shipping alone can take a 2-4, weeks so plan ahead.
3. Consider other tile ideas
Have you considered all of the additions your tile contractor can do?
Inside a shower you can get a:
For your kitchen you can get a:
For your entryway consider getting:
Inside a shower you can get a:
- Shower bench
- Decorative trim pieces lining a window or half-way point on your wall
- Shower Shelf
For your kitchen you can get a:
- Backsplash up to your cabinets
- Backsplash with a custom design or tile medallion above your stove range.
- Spice shelf cut into your wall just above the stove range.
For your entryway consider getting:
- A custom slab medallion
4. So many tile patterns, so little time.
With countless tile patterns, don't opt for an easy square design.
Different layouts can improve the appearance of your tile installation. For small tiles, the herringbone layout looks really nice.
There are also some really nice interlocked tile patterns that use tiles in various sizes. Check out our article on tile patterns.
P.S. A more elaborate tile pattern will increase the price of your installation by a small amount. Tile work is an investment in your home that will last for many years. Choose something you love and want to see every day.
Different layouts can improve the appearance of your tile installation. For small tiles, the herringbone layout looks really nice.
There are also some really nice interlocked tile patterns that use tiles in various sizes. Check out our article on tile patterns.
P.S. A more elaborate tile pattern will increase the price of your installation by a small amount. Tile work is an investment in your home that will last for many years. Choose something you love and want to see every day.
5. Contact several suppliers
Even we shop around when pricing tile for our customers. Even if you find the perfect tile at a supplier near you, calling up another supplier might land you with the same tile, at a discount.
Plus, if you find duplicate tile, you will know where to go if your main supplier runs out of material.
Check out our list of local tile suppliers in the Bay Area. Those suppliers almost always provide our customers with a special a discount because we have a long history of working with them. Let us recommend a tile store for you.
FYI: Your local Home Depot or Lowes will usually have great deals on a basic tile selection.
Plus, if you find duplicate tile, you will know where to go if your main supplier runs out of material.
Check out our list of local tile suppliers in the Bay Area. Those suppliers almost always provide our customers with a special a discount because we have a long history of working with them. Let us recommend a tile store for you.
FYI: Your local Home Depot or Lowes will usually have great deals on a basic tile selection.
Request Tile Installation Services
With all of those steps out of the way, it is time to ask a professional installer for help. Tile Plus, is San Jose's expert tile company and we are ready to provide you with excellent service. We've got a bunch of services you should check out. And remember, we can probably secure you a deal on the tile you want save 20-40% on retail prices.
Ready to get tile installed? View our services by clicking on the button below.
Ready to get tile installed? View our services by clicking on the button below.