Tile installation
Compare local tile installers for floors, showers, tub surrounds and backsplashes. 2,585 pros listed in 1,179 cities across 50 states.
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
Tile by city
What a tile job involves
Tile is only as good as what is under it. A proper job starts with removing old finishes, checking the floor or wall is flat and stiff enough, and installing the right backer — cement board or a membrane — before any tile is set. In showers and tub surrounds the critical layer is waterproofing behind the tile, because grout and most tile are not waterproof on their own.
Then comes layout (where cuts fall and how the pattern lines up with walls, doors and fixtures), setting the tile in thin-set mortar, grouting, and sealing where the tile or grout needs it. Movement joints at walls and changes of plane are filled with a flexible sealant rather than grout.
Floors, showers and backsplashes
- Floors: the subfloor has to be flat and rigid; bounce in the floor shows up as cracked tile and grout.
- Showers: ask what waterproofing system goes behind the tile and how the pan and drain are built.
- Backsplashes: mostly layout and finishing around outlets, windows and cabinet edges.
- Large-format and natural stone tile need flatter surfaces and more care to avoid uneven edges.
Signs tile needs attention
Cracked or hollow-sounding tiles, crumbling or missing grout, and loose tiles in a shower are worth acting on before water gets behind them. Staining, a musty smell or soft walls next to a shower suggest it already has. EPA’s advice is that the key to mold control is moisture control, and that water-damaged materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours (EPA) — regrouting over a wet wall will not fix it.
How to choose a tile installer
- Ask what goes under the tile: backer, membrane, and for showers the full waterproofing system.
- Ask how they check flatness and deal with an uneven floor or wall.
- Agree the layout before they start — where cuts land and where the pattern centres.
- Ask about licensing; many states license tile work as part of contracting above a job-size threshold. Check with your state board.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and photos of finished work like yours.
- Confirm who supplies tile and setting materials, and how much spare tile to keep.
What affects the cost
- Area, and how many cuts the room needs — small rooms with lots of corners cost more per square foot.
- Tile type and size: large-format, natural stone and mosaics take longer.
- Removing old tile and repairing what is under it.
- Shower waterproofing, pans, niches and benches.
- Pattern — herringbone and diagonal layouts waste more tile and take more time.
- Who supplies the tile and materials.
DIY or pro — and dust
A small backsplash is a fair DIY project. Floors over questionable subfloors and showers are where mistakes are expensive, because the failure — cracked tile or a leak behind the wall — shows up months later.
Cutting and grinding tile, stone and mortar can release crystalline silica dust; CDC links breathing too much of it to silicosis and lung cancer (CDC). Wet cutting and doing it outdoors keeps the dust down.
Common questions
- Is grout waterproof?
- No. In showers the waterproofing is a layer behind the tile; grout and most tile let some water through.
- Can new tile go over old tile?
- Sometimes, if the old tile is flat, sound and well bonded and the extra height works at doors and fixtures. Many installers prefer to remove it.
- Why did my floor tile crack?
- Common causes are a floor that flexes, an uneven surface, or missing movement joints. Replacing the tile without fixing the cause usually repeats the problem.
- Do I need to seal tile and grout?
- It depends on the tile and grout. Natural stone and cement-based grout often need sealing; ask the installer what they used and how to maintain it.
- How much extra tile should I buy?
- Ask your installer; the waste depends on the layout and pattern. Keep spare tiles for future repairs.
- Do tile installers need a licence?
- It depends on the state and the size of the job. Check with your state board.
Related services
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- US EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home (last updated February 18, 2026)
- CDC (NIOSH), Silica and Worker Health (last updated July 7, 2026)
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