Tile Installation FAQ

We install porcelain, ceramic, natural stone (including travertine, slate, limestone, and granite), marble, glass mosaic, and large-format slabs. Each material has specific installation requirements. For example, natural stone typically needs a white thinset rather than a gray one, because gray thinset can telegraph through lighter stone. We match the adhesive and grout to the material and the application.

The finish choice is largely aesthetic, but there are practical considerations. Polished tiles show water spots, footprints, and fine scratches more readily than matte or satin finishes. In a bathroom floor or kitchen, a matte or textured surface also provides better grip when wet. Polished marble and porcelain look dramatic in lower-traffic spaces like a formal living room or an accent wall. We will give you an honest read on which finish makes sense for where the tile is going.

There are three main categories: unsanded grout for joints under 1/8 inch, sanded grout for joints from 1/8 to 1/2 inch, and epoxy grout for high-moisture or high-traffic areas. Epoxy grout is harder, stain-resistant, and does not require sealing, but it is more difficult to work with and must be cleaned off tiles before it cures fully. For most residential bathrooms and kitchens, a good-quality sanded or unsanded polymer-modified grout with a penetrating sealer is the practical choice. We can walk you through the options before the job starts.

The most common causes are substrate movement, insufficient mortar coverage behind the tile, and missing expansion joints. If the subfloor flexes more than 1/360th of the span under live load, the tile and grout will crack over time regardless of how well it was set. In wet areas, failed waterproofing that allows moisture into the substrate can also cause adhesive failure. We check for all of these before we set any tile.

A mortar bed, sometimes called a mud bed or float bed, is a hand-packed layer of portland cement, sand, and water that is screeded flat and allowed to cure before tile is set on top of it. It is used when the existing substrate cannot be made flat with cement board alone, or when a shower pan needs to slope toward a drain. A mortar bed gives the installer precise control over flatness and slope in a way that prefabricated panels cannot always match.

Most standard grouts reach a working cure in 24 to 72 hours, but the full cure for maximum hardness and stain resistance takes closer to 28 days. We typically advise waiting at least 72 hours before a shower sees water, and longer if the grout is an unsanded type in a low-traffic joint. Epoxy grout cures faster and to a harder finish, but requires more careful timing during installation.

Most tile replacement work in an existing bathroom or kitchen does not require a permit in Lakewood or the surrounding Jefferson County communities. If the project involves moving plumbing, altering a load-bearing structure, or adding a new bathroom, those trades will require permits. We can tell you based on your specific project scope whether a permit is likely to be needed, and you can confirm with the Lakewood building department directly.

Lead times vary with the season. Spring and early summer tend to be busy on Denver's west side. Calling two to four weeks ahead gives you the most flexibility for scheduling. For smaller jobs like a backsplash or a single bathroom floor, we can sometimes fit you in sooner. Call or send a message and we will give you an honest timeline.

Not necessarily. Many clients give us a key or a door code and go about their day. We always confirm access arrangements before the job starts. We send a message when we arrive and when we leave each day, so you always know the status. If there is a decision that needs your input mid-job, we will call rather than make an assumption.

Subfloor rot, mold, or a failed shower pan are the most common surprises. When we find something, we stop and call you before proceeding. We describe what we found, explain the options, and give you an updated estimate for the additional work. We do not make repairs and add them to the bill after the fact.