How much should i pay for tile work?

[SteveSS]

I did a bathroom once but it was really easy. This time I was given marble tile. Not fake or polished marble. It's mostly very light tan with lots of streaks even some shallow holes. I think there is enough to do the bathroom floor by using the big squares and judiciously using the cut of broken pieces. The full tiles are 12"x12" and about 3/8' thick. Do I have to put in a water barrier board? Can a plastic or other barrier work?

The bathroom open floor is about 12'x7'. It did have carpet but I pulled that out so now it's just OSB.

 

[JimCoronette]

My buddy charged me $3500 for just labor to do a shower and heated floor in a small bathroom in around 2012.

 

[steve from staten island]

Were I live I've found it all depends. You could call a licensed and insured contractor, get a written estimate and bill, pay by check or you can call Luis and Juan pay cash and get the same kind of job. If you get the right guys, they do excellent work, are honest, work hard and aim to please.

 

[Pikser]

One thing to remember about marble if it’s not sealed is any liquid spills will most likely stain it.
In the past I would stop at one of the Large Home improvement stores and ask who they use as a reference. Then give them a call. Cost was very reasonable and work was very good.

 

[5.7 hemi]

If the substrate is concrete, then it can go straight on top of it. If wood, you’ll need to put down cement board and then tile. If linoleum, pull it up, then either wood or cement floor do as I said above.

As far as price, it varies and don’t hire Luis of Juan, unless they can provide papers saying they are legal.

 

[GetX'd]

I paid $500 for a guy to take up and replace a number of tiles about the size of a medium bathroom.. He did a good job and no problems with the work.

 

[1967coronet440]

@bobtile

 

[Ghostrider 67]

I used to be a tile contractor during my break in service and while in the guard. If the OSB is the ONLY floor down there, i.e. no subfloor under that OSB then you need a subfloor first. I always recommended 1 1/2" of flooring BEFORE tiling and that is especially with marble as it is porous and soft. So get the floor right and then go to your tile outlet and buy some Schluter Ditra membrane material. It's bright orange with small egg crate like squares all over it. Has a white fabric on the back and comes in rolls 30" x per foot. Put that stuff down first per the directions. It will do two things; water proof and it is designed to give just a little a micro fraction and that keeps the tile from cracking. It works, I have installed miles of it. Lay the marble over that. With marble it will soak up the moisture out of the installation mud and the mud will dry too quickly. There is a special mud for marble, buy it. Don't be skimpy with the mud either when laying it. You want to get the mud fully into those tiny squares and fully covering the face of the marble so no corners crack off. LET IT DRY. DO not step on it early. Grout with a smooth grout for marble that wont scratch the crap out of the face of it during clean up. There is a grout for marbel too because the marble will suck the water out of the grout and it will dry to fast and crack. Use it. After the floor is all done, all dry, all cleaned up. Cover it with heavy butcher paper and wait a few days for the grout a to really set and dry. Then uncover and brush the grout lines with a soft bristle brush to loose the little sand grains that get pushed up, Sweep or vacuum the floor and then seal it per the directions from the sealer container. Ask the store which product is the one to use on real marble. Get one that doesn't yellow in the sun. good luck.

Go here and read up...https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/Membranes/c/M

 

[Ghostrider 67]

As for price. In 2006 when I stopped tiling professionally I was charging 7.60 per square foot + materials. for simple tile installing. Membrane and marble...more like 9.50 a sq foot. I'm sure it's more by now..

 

[QuickBpBp]

Were I live I've found it all depends. You could call a licensed and insured contractor, get a written estimate and bill, pay by check or you can call Luis and Juan pay cash and get the same kind of job. If you get the right guys, they do excellent work, are honest, work hard and aim to please.

Not starting a war but this is a big problem in our Nation. Being self-employed I am happy all my customers VALUE my services, me and my time resulting in me doing almost everything for them basically me getting all of the work. With that being said the Licensed and Insured permit getting contractors get screwed by giving estimates for Luis and Juan to do the job. Sure they could do the job and maybe do a good job too as most are good workers but giving them cash is the problem. They can sure beat the guy who is making an honest living with honest expenses. The value for using a legit contractor who is not out to rape you is normally if there is an issue HE will honor his work not so much with Luis and Juan... Cheaper is not always better in the long run and think of your fellow American who is paying all the fees associated with running a legit business....

 

[Ghostrider 67]

Man, I fixed sooo many Juan jobs by guys in a pickup and rented tools who you never see again and cannot contact afterwards. I too was a licensed contractor with all of the insurances and permitting and skills and education/training. I kept up with all the technology and new methods...I was the first contractor to use the Schluter systems in my area. I evaluated them for the tile distributor. Gave classes on the use of them to other tile men. My customers could always find me easily..afterwards.

 

[steve from staten island]

Not starting a war but this is a big problem in our Nation. Being self-employed I am happy all my customers VALUE my services, me and my time resulting in me doing almost everything for them basically me getting all of the work. With that being said the Licensed and Insured permit getting contractors get screwed by giving estimates for Luis and Juan to do the job. Sure they could do the job and maybe do a good job too as most are good workers but giving them cash is the problem. They can sure beat the guy who is making an honest living with honest expenses. The value for using a legit contractor who is not out to rape you is normally if there is an issue HE will honor his work not so much with Luis and Juan... Cheaper is not always better in the long run and think of your fellow American who is paying all the fees associated with running a legit business....

My point exactly. Were I live most if not all small contractors are using immigrant labor, so either way some of your dollars are going towards their earnings.
My thought is make sure the contractor has his guys legally employed, paying them on the books and deducting proper withholdings.
Whats happing now is these workers are starting to go out and start business of their own, which is what America is all about.
NYC will seize work vehicles if they find contractors not licensed, bonded and insured. Id hope that would keep theses guys legit.

 

[cuda Hunter]

I"m a general contractor. 29 years in the business. Some homes I do all the work others I sub things out. 2000 to 7000 sq.ft. typically. All legal and on the books. No Illegals used. I have some great hispanic workers that are Americans.

Screw those undocumented workers. Drag em back to their country by their necks. No love for illegals. None. I pay my 30 to 40 percent small business owner taxes so that these bums can steal my jobs and get benefits.

Approximate prices for most jobs.
Floor tile varies between 5.00 and 8.00 per sq.ft. depending on patterns
Walls are typically 13 to 15 per sq.ft.
Patterns being 17-19 range on walls.
Mosaics start at 25.
Schluter/Ditra is a pretty good system.
Most shower enclosure's on a remodel are 2500 to 3500 plus materials and removal of old enclosure.
These prices are typical Colorado prices using a licensed and insured American.

 

[steve from staten island]

I"m a general contractor. 29 years in the business. Some homes I do all the work others I sub things out. 2000 to 7000 sq.ft. typically. All legal and on the books. No Illegals used. I have some great hispanic workers that are Americans.

Screw those undocumented workers. Drag em back to their country by their necks. No love for illegals. None. I pay my 30 to 40 percent small business owner taxes so that these bums can steal my jobs and get benefits.

Approximate prices for most jobs.
Floor tile varies between 5.00 and 8.00 per sq.ft. depending on patterns
Walls are typically 13 to 15 per sq.ft.
Patterns being 17-19 range on walls.
Mosaics start at 25.
Schluter/Ditra is a pretty good system.
Most shower enclosure's on a remodel are 2500 to 3500 plus materials and removal of old enclosure.
These prices are typical Colorado prices using a licensed and insured American.

Do you have any "love" for the contractors that hire those illegals? You call those illegals "bums".... If employers didn't hire those bums we wouldn't have a problem and that goes for homeowners who like to play contractor and pick up illegal day laborers hanging out on the street looking for a days work.
What troubles me with your statement is how many of those legal hispanic workers who are now Americans were once illegal themselves

 

[cuda Hunter]

No love for the contractor's either. Don't support our American system I don't support you.
Illegals or not in the past, if you take the correct steps you have earned the respect.

 

[Ghostrider 67]

I also had Mexican American workers who were citizens and THEY disliked the illegals as well. I haven't kept up with the trade so there might well be other newer products out but the Schluter System was a real innovation at the time and I used it repeatedly to great effect and success. The Kerdi fabric is super for making waterproof shower substrates..loved that stuff. Used to take a hunk of Kerdi and make a bowl shape then put water in it. Just left the water in it. Never leaked a drop. Amazing stuff.

 

[QuickBpBp]

My point exactly. Were I live most if not all small contractors are using immigrant labor, so either way some of your dollars are going towards their earnings.
My thought is make sure the contractor has his guys legally employed, paying them on the books and deducting proper withholdings.
Whats happing now is these workers are starting to go out and start business of their own, which is what America is all about.
NYC will seize work vehicles if they find contractors not licensed, bonded and insured. Id hope that would keep theses guys legit.

Ok that sounds better as in your original statement I was confused as to why you would pay the LEGAL contractor by check and give cash to Luis and Juan so they would not have the 25-30% in Taxes associated with doing the job...

 

[cuda Hunter]

I use Hydroban from Laticrete for my water proofing on pans. Works great. Laticrete's products are far better than the alternative. Mapei.

I forgot to mention that if you want Epoxy grout (laticrete prefered) you will need to add another 1.00-1.75 per sq.ft. depending on how much there is and what tile is used.

 

[Ghostrider 67]

I use Hydroban from Laticrete for my water proofing on pans. Works great. Laticrete's products are far better than the alternative. Mapei.

I forgot to mention that if you want Epoxy grout (laticrete prefered) you will need to add another 1.00-1.75 per sq.ft. depending on how much there is and what tile is used.

yeah, I liked their products too;..

 

[Budnicks]

calling @bobtile , he'll steer you straight

check with your local building dept. about proper permits
you will need

there's always Angies List too