Tile service · Boise, Idaho
Tile Floor Installation in Boise
Porcelain, ceramic and stone floors set over prepared, flattened substrates with crack-isolation or uncoupling membrane.
Idaho contractor registration RCE-57919 · Bonded and insured · 1-year craftsmanship warranty
A tile floor fails from the bottom up. Nearly every cracked-grout or hollow-tile floor we are called to look at in Ada County traces back to a substrate problem, not the tile: a subfloor that deflects, a slab that moved, or thinset that never made full contact with the back of the tile.
So our tile floor installations start below the finish. We measure deflection and flatness before we quote, correct what needs correcting, and choose the membrane and mortar that match what the floor is actually sitting on.
Substrate preparation comes first
On wood-framed floors we check joist span and sheathing thickness against the L/360 deflection limit tile needs (L/720 for natural stone). Older Boise homes with 2x8 joists on wide spacing often need a second layer of plywood or sistered framing before tile is a good idea, and we will tell you that in the estimate rather than after demolition. On slabs we look for curl at control joints, moisture, and old adhesive residue, then grind or patch until the floor holds a straightedge.
Membranes and mortar chosen for the floor you have
Uncoupling membrane over plywood absorbs the seasonal movement that Idaho's swing from dry winter air to summer humidity produces in wood framing. Crack-isolation membrane over slab keeps existing shrinkage cracks from telegraphing into grout joints. For large or heavy tile we switch to a large-and-heavy-tile mortar rather than standard thinset, because coverage — not adhesive strength — is what keeps corners from chipping later.
Layout decided before the first tile is set
We dry-lay and snap lines so cuts land where they read as intentional: full tiles at the room entry and sightlines, balanced cuts at opposing walls, grout joints that align through doorways instead of jogging. Where a floor runs into hardwood, carpet or an exterior door, we detail the transition in advance so heights meet cleanly.
Movement joints, because floors move
Tile assemblies expand and contract. Industry standard calls for soft joints at the perimeter and at changes of plane, and for interior fields exposed to sunlight, at regular intervals. We install them, we caulk them in a matching color, and we do not grout them solid — which is the single most common shortcut behind tented tile floors.
How the work runs
Assess
Deflection, flatness, moisture and existing finish are checked before pricing.
Prep
Demolition, patching, self-leveling and membrane installation.
Layout
Dry layout and control lines to place cuts and align joints.
Set
Back-buttered tile with coverage checked by pulling tiles as we go.
Grout & finish
Grout, soft joints, transitions and a final clean and haze removal.
Questions about tile floor installation
- Can you tile directly over my existing vinyl or tile floor?
- Sometimes, but not by default. A single well-bonded layer of sheet vinyl on a sound subfloor can be scarified and covered with membrane. Cushioned vinyl, floating floors and multiple layers get removed. Tiling over existing tile raises floor height enough to affect doors, appliances and transitions, so we go through those consequences with you before recommending it.
- How flat does the subfloor need to be?
- For tile with an edge longer than 15 inches, the standard is 1/8 inch of variation in 10 feet. That is much flatter than most houses are built, which is why self-leveling underlayment shows up on a lot of our estimates for larger tile.
- Do you tile over radiant heat?
- Yes. Both electric mats and hydronic systems work under tile. If heat is part of the project we sequence it with the flooring so the sensor, membrane and mortar are all compatible.
- How long before we can walk on it?
- Light foot traffic is generally fine the day after grouting, though we ask you to keep heavy furniture and appliances off for a few more days. Exact timing depends on the mortar and the room temperature, and we give you the actual schedule for your job before we start.
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