Process
How a tile project runs, step by step
Most tile complaints are not about the tile. They are about surprises — scope that changed, prep that was skipped, a layout nobody agreed to. This is the sequence we follow to keep those surprises out.
Phone conversation
You describe the room, the tile you are considering and your timing. We tell you straight away if the project is outside what we do, so nobody wastes a site visit.
Site visit and substrate check
We measure, check floor flatness with a straightedge, look for deflection underfoot, inspect the existing surface, and open access points where it is sensible. On showers we look at the valve, the bench framing, the curb and where the water is currently going.
Written scope and estimate
You get an itemized scope: demolition, prep, waterproofing method, setting materials, tile layout and grout choice. Prep is written as its own line so you can see what is being done under the tile rather than guessing.
Layout planning before anything is set
We dry-lay or snap out the layout with you so cut placement, offsets and where the pattern lands at doorways and niches are agreed before mortar is mixed. This is the cheapest moment to change your mind.
Demolition and protection
Floor paths are protected, doorways are sealed, and debris is removed as work goes. Dust control is part of the job in an occupied house, not an extra.
Substrate preparation
Whatever the site visit found: self-leveling underlayment, sheathing, crack isolation, uncoupling membrane, backer board, or slab grinding. Nothing gets set until flatness and stiffness are within the tolerance the tile requires.
Waterproofing and testing where applicable
For showers and wet areas the assembly is waterproofed as a continuous system and, for pans, flood-tested before tile goes on. Tile is not the waterproofing layer.
Setting, grouting and finish detailing
Tile is set with full mortar coverage appropriate to the format, then grouted and detailed. Movement joints and change-of-plane joints get flexible sealant rather than grout, because grout cracks where the building moves.
Walkthrough and care instructions
We walk the finished work with you in good light, note anything you want addressed, and leave plain instructions on cure times, first cleaning and what to use — and not use — on the grout you now have.
Process questions
- How long does the estimate take to come back?
- Usually a few days after the site visit for a typical bathroom or floor. Larger scopes with multiple rooms take longer because the prep needs pricing room by room.
- Can I live in the house during the work?
- For a kitchen backsplash or a single floor, generally yes. For a shower rebuild you lose that bathroom for the duration, which is worth planning around if it is the only one.
- Who supplies the tile?
- Either way works. Many homeowners choose and purchase their own tile from a local showroom; we will confirm the format is suited to the substrate and tell you the waste allowance to order before you buy.
- What happens if you open the floor and find something unexpected?
- We stop, show you what is there, and price the additional work before continuing. Rot, failed subfloor and hidden leaks are the common ones in older Boise homes, and we would rather have an awkward conversation than tile over a problem.