How to Select a Tile Installer

A good installer will make the best installation.

A good tile installer can make your tile look great and last for years. There is a tile installer out there for every type of tile on the market, with craftsmen who specialize in bathrooms, backsplashes, ceramic tile or glass. Before you hire a tile installer, make sure to check on several things. For example, hiring an installer who has never worked with glass tiles may get you a lower price on your kitchen backsplash, but not a quality job.

Instructions

1. Ask for recommendations from the place you bought your tile. Tile showrooms work with builders, installers and contractors on a daily basis. These installers know the product being sold from these stores and are likely to do a better job with it.

2. Speak with several installers. Make an appointment for each one to come out to the house and look at the job and the material in question. Get at least three bids to see how the costs compare. The bids should be comparable; beware of extremely high or low bids.

3. Ask to see photos of their finished jobs using a similar material. If you're installing ungauged slate tiles, ask for examples or references from a similar job. Don't take installers' word on it. Make them to prove it.

4. Get a written estimate of the job. Include a start and end date, and find out if the installer wants to purchase setting materials himself, or if you have to do it. Find out if there is a warranty on the work, and get everything in writing before the job begins.

References

• Build Wish:Tips for Hiring