Tile work is not supposed to fail.
Did you know that there is a difference between a high-quality and a low-quality tile installation? Somehow, the consumer became okay with expecting tilework to fail. Personally, I blame home reno shows. We all love makeovers, and television was happy to oblige and make those before-and-afters happen in a hot minute (with about 18 minutes of commercials). Somewhere in there, tile installation became like fast food:
Fast, cheap and easy.
“It’s just tile.” Anyone can do it! Big box stores are happy to encourage this DIY empowerment we all feel well up inside ourselves now and then. But we all know this inherently:
You get what you pay for.
As the saying goes, if it’s cheap it won’t be good. If it’s good, it won’t be cheap.
So how do you determine whether an installation is done by a craftsman…or not?
1. Training, education, artistic nature of the installer
Has your tile installer had adequate training and experience? Are they nationally certified, or is the extent of their training some version of “internet university”? Are they even aware that there are industry standards they are expected to follow? Do they know where to find that information? Do they keep up with technological advancements within the industry? We don’t use the same phones, computers, running shoes, pillows, cars or even light bulbs as we used 2 or 3 decades ago. So, how is it ok to still be using tile installing technology from a previous era, when there are so many advancements (such as actually waterproofing a shower) available now? Did you know that many showers being installed today, even in high-end homes, are not actually waterproofed? Beware the “good enough” mentality.
2. Commercial vs Residential
These installations typically have very different priorities. Someone who does commercial work often feels the pressure of extremely tight deadlines and budgets to complete the work as inexpensively and as quickly as possible. Choosing layouts based on design esthetic and attention to detail are not priorities. How many times have you been in a public space and puzzled over why someone would lay the tile that way? Or, seen a drain in a public restroom surrounded by more grout than tile? Time is money. For commercial, faster is almost always better.
With residential, you will be living in that space that you are going to have tiled. Once the novelty of a home reno project wears off, the reality sets in.
Every single day, you will look at the backsplash while you cook at your stove. Do you want to spend those moments pondering sauce seasoning…or the uneven joints?
How about that weird cut around your outlet, or why the installer filled in the row under the cabinet with a huge grout joint instead of adjusting the tile layout?
Every single day you will be in that shower. Every day, noticing the poorly planned tile cuts behind your shampoo. Why weren’t they symmetrical? Why is that grout joint in that row thicker than the rest? Why does that tile stick out more than the rest?
Or, worse…
Why is my grout cracking?
Why is there mold in my 2 yr old shower?
Why is that tile loose?
3. Layout
Choosing where to start installing tile requires forethought. If you start at any given point, what impact will that have all the way to the other end of the backsplash? The top row of the shower? Under the cabinets? Around electrical/plumbing fixtures? Are those outlets exactly the same height from the counter? What can be done to ensure the best possible layout?
An installer with plenty of experience, a discerning eye, strong work ethic, artistic vision…and solid math skills…is best equipped to install tile the way (s)he would be satisfied with seeing every day. This is often not about his/her design preference. This is about being able to see the layout in the mind’s eye and foresee issues and resolve them with the input of the client before installation.
4. Pattern compatibility with tile selection
Does your installer respect tile manufacturer’s recommendations for installations? Some wall tile should not be used for floors. Some aren’t slip resistant enough. Some aren’t meant for foot traffic. Or may be better suited for residential or commercial. Does the installer point out that the tile you love is better suited for a 1/3 stagger, not the half stagger that you had your heart set on?
5. Work ethic of installer
Do they follow all manufacturers’ instructions so the products perform as expected? Do they actually measure the water for mixes? Do they precisely time how long they mix products per instructions? Do they use the appropriate speed for mixing? Do they respect job site conditions (such as temperature ranges) for optimal product performance for every product used? If the manufacturer specifies two coats, do they do two…or is one generous coat “good enough”? Regarding all aspects of the installer’s job, is “good enough” adequate? Or do they strive for best practices and best outcomes in all things…your satisfaction and quality of craftsmanship?
It’s about longevity. Whatever you invest on your new flooring, backsplash or shower, you will be living with it for years. Can you afford to do it a second time if the workmanship fails?