01
Moisture
Tile itself doesn't mind water, but the subfloor does. Around toilets and tubs we check for soft, stained or rotten plywood before anything goes on top of it.
No. 03 · Sample board
Tile flooring
Porcelain and ceramic for bathrooms, entries and kitchens, set on a stiff, flat base so it doesn't crack or sound hollow.
$11–$24 per sq ft, installed
What the price is made of
Material and labour per square foot of floor, the same split you'll see on our written quote. Waste is added to the material you order, not to the labour.
- Material
- $3–$10
- per sq ft ordered
- Labour
- $8–$14
- per sq ft of floor
- Installed
- $11–$24
- per sq ft, before prep
Worked example: a 12 x 15 ft room
- Floor area: 12 ft x 15 ft 180 sq ft
- Material to order: 180 sq ft + 15% waste 207 sq ft
- Material: 207 x $3 to $10 $620–$2,070
- Labour: 180 x $8 to $14 $1,440–$2,520
- Before prep and removal $2,060–$4,590
Line totals rounded to the nearest $10. HST extra.
About waste 15% for cuts, breakage and a few spares to keep for future repairs.
Stairs $130 to $220 per step, depending on nosing, open sides and landings.
What's not in the number yet Removing the old floor, levelling and any subfloor repairs. They're separate lines, and the estimate tool adds them.
Run your own roomsHow we install it
Our approach to tile
Tile outlasts nearly every other floor, but only when the base under it is right. Most cracked tile we tear out failed because of what was under it: a bouncy floor, no crack-isolation membrane, or thin-set that never fully covered the back of the tile. We set large tile with a levelling system, back-butter where the size calls for it, and lift tiles as we go to check coverage.
A good choice for
- Bathrooms, entries, mudrooms and kitchens
- Floors with electric in-floor heat: tile is its best partner
- Homes with allergies, since tile holds nothing
Think twice for
- Kitchens where you stand for hours (hard on legs, so plan for a mat)
- Floors that bounce, unless you're willing to stiffen them first
- Tight timelines: thin-set and grout need time to cure
Honest prep notes
The three things that decide whether tile lasts. We check each one at the free measure and write what we find on your quote.
Read the full prep guide02
Subfloor
Tile needs a stiff floor. Over wood joists we check the bounce, add a layer of plywood if needed, and use an uncoupling membrane. Over concrete, cracks get a crack-isolation membrane.
03
Acclimation
Tile doesn't need to acclimate, but thin-set needs warmth to cure: we keep the room above 10°C (50°F), which matters for unheated additions and winter jobs.
Every tile quote includes
- Deflection (bounce) check over wood joists, written on your quote
- Uncoupling or crack-isolation membrane where the floor needs it
- Levelling clips on large-format tile, so edges sit flush
- Grout, and sealer for cement grout
- Transitions and a final clean
What we carry
- Porcelain, 12 x 24 in. matte
- Our most common floor tile. Dense, tough, easy to clean.
- Large-format porcelain, 24 x 48 in.
- Fewer grout lines; needs a flatter floor and two installers.
- Ceramic, 12 x 12 in.
- The budget choice for lighter-use rooms.
- Mosaic and hex
- For shower floors and small baths. More grout, more labour.
- Natural stone
- Marble, slate and limestone, quoted case by case.
Install day, step by step
-
01
Check the base
Bounce test, moisture check around fixtures, repairs to the subfloor.
-
02
Membrane and layout
Membrane down, then a dry layout so cut tiles land at the edges, not the middle.
-
03
Set
Notched trowel sized to the tile, back-buttered where needed, coverage checked by lifting tiles.
-
04
Grout and seal
Grout after the thin-set cures, sealer where the grout needs it, then a clean.
Questions about tile
All questionsHow long until we can use the bathroom?
Usually two to four days for a small bathroom floor: a day for prep and membrane, a day to set, and a day to grout. You can walk on tile carefully after 24 hours. The toilet goes back once the grout has set.
Can you add heated floors?
Yes. We install electric mats under the tile; a licensed electrician makes the connection to the thermostat. Budget roughly $12 to $18 per sq ft for the heated area, on top of the tile.
Do I need to seal the grout?
Cement grout, yes: once at install and every year or two after. Epoxy grout doesn't need sealing and resists stains, at a higher price. We'll show you both.
Other floors
Free within 45 km of Kingston
Ready to price your tile?
We bring samples to your home, measure every room with a laser, take moisture readings, check how flat the floor is, and send a written quote within two business days.
Rather talk it through? Call (613) 555-0146. Priya answers weekdays, 8 to 5.