How to Plan a Tile Installation

If you are about to begin a new building or remodeling project that includes ceramic tile, it is important to give serious consideration to the tile installation from the beginning. This is especially important in the case of complex installations such as a custom designed shower. Here are things you need to consider before any consturction begins, or you make any purchase of tile or other materials.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. We are often asked to provide an installation quotation for a project that is well underway, and for which virtually no consideration has been given to the complexity of the project from a tile installation standpoint. Steps, bench seats, shelves, etc. in a large shower are some of the features that may be desired, along with fancy decorative tiles around the walls. Uppon receiving the estimate, the client is surprised to find that the project will cost far more than the budget will allow, and is then forced to either make drastic changes in the project (at additional expense), or come up with the additional amount beyond the planned budget allowance. Therefore, some thought needs to be given to what’s involved in a project before construction begins, while still in the planning stages.
2. Preslope complete, ready for installation of vinyl liner. Consult with a tile contractor first. Discuss in detail what you want. If you have seen tile you like, tell the contractor what it is. It sounds silly, but we have been asked to bid on a job without knowing what the tile was going to be, or any other details whatsoever about the project. A contractor cannot give an estimate without knowing all the facts. Large tile will cost more to install. Trim and decorative accents will be charged on a per piece, or per foot basis.
   
   Therefore, let the contractor know if you want any of these things, and what they are. Be specific. Accent pieces, such as chair rail moldings, listellos, rope liners and such, can add beauty and elegance to a project, but can also be very expensive, and use of very many of them will add considerably to the material cost as well as adding to the labor price of the installation, because they are very time consuming and sometimes difficult to install.
   
   If you want benches or niches, these should be discussed with the tile contractor from the begining.
   
   Find out what it will cost to build the shower pan. This involves cement work, and installation of a vinyl pan liner. Do not trust the installation of the liner to a plumber; it is our experience that they rarely will preslope the liner, leading to mold and mildew problems later (it is a violation of the universal plumbing code to not slope the pan liner to the sub drain). This is the job of the tile contractor.
   
   Remember: The more corners and decorative accents you incorporate in your project, the more costly the project, both in terms of material and labor.
   
   Projects such as these are NEVER priced on a per square foot basis. If any installer gives you a flat per square foot price, show him the door. He probably has no idea what he's doing.
3. Niches and benches are convenient, but they do add to your cost. Before you settle on a tile, make sure that the required trim pieces are available. Find out what pieces you will need. Again, consult with your tile contractor. Different tile may cost more to install, for example if it has a deeply recessed back (more mortar is required), and some tile is more dificult to work with, and will therefore add to your labor cost. The tile contractor must have all this information up front in order to provide a valid quotation.
4. In choosing tile, it's usually best to stick to tile that is all from the same tile line. This is because tiles from different lines may vary in actual size, as well as in thickness, making it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to make them work together.
   
   Expect cut tiles in all corners, or where two surfaces meet. This is because walls and surfaces are rarely perfectly plumb or level. This is the case even with the best builders. This means that, when calculating tile needs, all corner tiles need to be counted as full tiles.
5. With all these details worked out, a contractor can give you an accurate estimate for your installation.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy your tile from a tile supplier. They can give you far better advice than the employees at the home improvement store.
• Avoid "promotional tile". It is usually of inferior quality, with thin glaze (and the tiles themselves may be thin), warped (causing "lippage") and is more difficult to install (adding to installation cost).