Tile floor installation in Los Angeles
We set porcelain, ceramic and stone floors on prepared, flat slabs, and we clean and seal the saltillo floors many LA homes already have.
- Porcelain, ceramic, stone
- Bathrooms and kitchens
- Saltillo care
Porcelain, ceramic or stone
All three make a lasting floor. They differ in toughness, care and price.
- 01
Porcelain
Dense and fired hot, so it absorbs very little water and stands up to heavy use. The usual pick for kitchens, bathrooms and large open rooms, including large-format tile.
- 02
Ceramic
Softer and lighter than porcelain and lower in cost. A good choice for bathrooms and lighter-traffic rooms.
- 03
Natural stone
Marble, travertine, limestone and slate bring natural variation. Stone needs sealing and more care, and some marbles etch from acidic spills.
Tile on a slab
A tile floor is only as good as the base under it.
Tile cannot bend. If the floor under it moves or dips, tiles crack and grout breaks. So we start with the base.
On a concrete slab we check flatness with a long straightedge. Large-format tiles need an especially flat floor, so low spots are filled with leveling compound. Where a slab has cracks, we lay a crack isolation membrane so a hairline in the concrete does not become a crack through the tile.
On a raised wood subfloor, we stiffen the floor and add cement backer board or an uncoupling membrane before setting tile.
Then layout. We plan where the cuts fall so the room looks balanced, with full tiles at the doorway and no thin slivers along the walls. Tiles are set in thinset with leveling clips on large formats, and grout goes in once the thinset cures.
Bathroom and kitchen floors
The two rooms tile suits best.
In a bathroom, the floor around a shower or walk-in needs to slope toward the drain, and the tile needs a waterproof base in wet zones. We set the tile to the drain and choose a slip-resistant finish for wet areas.
In a kitchen, we plan where the tile stops: under the cabinets or up to them, and how it meets the floor in the next room. Porcelain handles dropped pans and spills, and a mid-tone tile hides everyday dirt.
Where tile meets wood, vinyl or carpet, we fit a transition strip at a matching height. If you want a softer, warmer option for a kitchen, vinyl plank is worth comparing.
Saltillo and older tile floors
Many Los Angeles homes already have tile worth keeping.
Saltillo is a handmade terracotta tile from Mexico, common in Spanish-style and ranch homes across Southern California. It is porous, so it stains and dulls when its sealer wears off.
We deep-clean saltillo, replace cracked tiles where matching ones can be found, and reseal it so it is protected and shows its warm color again. You can choose a matte look or a soft sheen.
Older ceramic floors can often be cleaned, regrouted and have single tiles replaced. A cracked tile is a tile repair, not a new floor.
What drives the price of a tile floor
The tile, the base and the layout.
Tile material ranges widely in price, and large or patterned tiles take longer to set. Then the base: removal of the old floor, leveling, membranes and backer board. Layout matters too, since a diagonal or herringbone pattern means more cuts. We list each part in the quote.
Questions about tile floors
Is porcelain or ceramic tile better for a floor?
Porcelain is denser, absorbs less water and resists wear better, so it suits kitchens, entries and bathrooms with heavy use. Ceramic costs less and works well in bathrooms and lighter rooms. Both make a good floor when the base is right.
Do you seal and restore saltillo tile?
Yes. We deep-clean saltillo, replace broken tiles where we can match them, and reseal it with a matte or soft-sheen finish.
Can large tiles go on an uneven slab?
Not as it is. Large tiles need a very flat base or they rock and crack. We level the slab first with patching or self-leveling compound, then set the tile with leveling clips.
What does tile floor installation cost?
It depends on the tile you choose, the size and pattern, removal of the old floor, the leveling and membranes the base needs, and the room's shape. After we measure, we give you a written quote with each part listed.
Planning a tile floor?
Tell us the room and the tile you are considering. We will check the slab and plan the layout with you.