_____________________________________________ Ideas about Tile Setters and Contractors Tile Setters/Contractors Search or submit your tile work to find a contractor. If you are remodeling your bathroom, kitchen, or installing a new foyer entry, you are likely considering hiring a tile setter. Generally, not all tile setters use the same methods for setting tile. Each becomes adept at his or her own style and ways of doing things. Therefore you may want to consult with the person setting your tile on a number of factors prior to starting. Depending on your project, some commonly overlooked items you may want to consider when taking bids are : Soundness of Substrate/Level Is the floor beneath solid or could it benefit from reinforcing? Floor areas around toilets are notorious for having rough, foundation pours. Know if this needs floated. For cinching framed flooring, methods such as driving added screws, shiming and/or by adding bridging at the joists could be options. Obtain you prospective contractors recommendations for this. Spacers Many setters claim they can do without placing spacers and still achieve adequate, consistent spacing. Tiles having round cornered, wavy, or curved borderss won't show this as obviously as on straighter ones. Beware though, adding spacers can add to the overall cost since it renders the job much more time intensive. Grout The type of grout. Is it epoxy, or cementitious based and will it need sealing every so often. Along with the benefits of sealing you can count an some discoloration or blotching of overall appearance. Many times this is left to the project or home owner to perform. Sealers Know when, if the contractor intends on sealing the project after completion of the main work. This will usually mean returning at some date later due to the cure time of most grout materials. Spares Be in possession of spares after the job is completed in the event there arises the need for replacing. After going out of production, matching tiles can become very hard indeed to find. Floor Heights Ask how well the connecting floors will level up. If being raised, know about your door cuts. Tile for Bathroom Areas - The concept of floor heights applies particularly when working in bathroom areas. At this time you may wish to consider whether you wish to replace the vanity, whether a run beneath the unit is practical (w/future replacement of) and too, the commode seal/bolts will need resetting at this time.