Tiling and Bathroom

Tile installation is priced by square footage and by how much preparation the space needs before any tile is set. The biggest cost drivers are the tile itself (porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone all sit at different price points), the layout pattern — herringbone and mosaic take considerably longer to set than a straight lay — and whether the subfloor needs leveling or the shower needs new waterproofing first. Tearing out and hauling away old tile adds to the total as well. Final price depends on your project, so we measure the room and put a written estimate in your hands before any work begins.

A standard bathroom floor usually takes two to three days: one day for demolition and subfloor prep, one for setting tile, and one for grouting after the mortar has cured. A full shower surround runs longer, generally four to six days, because the waterproofing has to cure before tile goes over it and the grout and sealer each need their own dry time. We do not rush cure times — that is where most tile failures start.

Often, yes. If the damage is limited to a few cracked or loose tiles and the subfloor underneath is sound, we can lift and reset just that section. The practical limit is matching: tile dye lots change from run to run, so an exact match depends on whether the original line is still made and whether you have leftover boxes. If water has reached the subfloor — you will usually feel a soft or springy spot underfoot — the affected area has to come out and be rebuilt, because new tile set over a compromised subfloor will fail again. We will tell you honestly which situation you are in after we look at it.

Porcelain is the usual recommendation for bathroom floors. It absorbs very little water, it is harder than ceramic, and it is available in finishes that convincingly imitate wood and stone. If slip resistance matters — a kids’ bathroom, or a shower floor — a textured or matte finish in a smaller format gives you more grout lines and better grip than large polished tile. Natural stone such as marble and travertine is beautiful but porous, and it needs to be sealed on a schedule to stay that way. If you want the wood look without the maintenance in a wet room, luxury vinyl flooring is worth comparing against tile before you decide.

Always. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own — water passes through grout and sits behind the tile, so the waterproofing layer underneath is what actually protects the wall and floor framing. We install a waterproof membrane over the substrate and build the shower pan with a proper slope to the drain before a single tile is set. Failed or missing waterproofing is the single most common reason we get called out to tear out someone else’s shower.

Atlanta Floor One handles tile installation and bathroom flooring install and repair across the north Atlanta metro, including Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Milton, Duluth, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody. You can see our full service list for flooring installation in Alpharetta, or contact us to schedule an in-home estimate.