Check out this helpful tip list from Steven Rosado from Legion Pro
1. Floor Tile Versus Wall Tile – What tile you select matters in terms of your cost.
Wall tile should be square (up to 6”x6”) or rectangular (up to 4”x12”). (We just installed a beautiful 2’x4’ wall tile, but that costs a lot more!)
Floor tile outside the shower can be up to 12”x36” (we just installed 4’x4’).
Floor tile in the shower: Mosaic mesh-backed tile or small tile up to 3”x6”.
2. Tile Pattern – So many patterns can accentuate the beauty of your tile.
In our standard charge, we include a square grid and the classically beautiful brick bond. We can accommodate any other pattern for an additional cost.
3. Grout Color and Type – Wall tile is generally non-sanded and floor tile is sanded. Another overlooked aspect of the remodel is the color of the grout. This ties the overall look of your project together. Sometimes that’s the difference between the perfect finish and one that looks like the minor details just weren’t thought through. We work with great designers that can make sure you get every detail right.
4. Tile Edges – How do you want outside corners to look? We recommend using standard tile edges which come in square or rounded finishes in colors to match your fixtures. We can cut sharp 45° edges, but that costs more.
5. What’s Beneath the Surface – Two big items we find once we complete demolition:
Floor leveling: Especially in high-rise condo buildings, the concrete subfloor needs to be leveled to accept a tile finish. This unfortunately costs more.
Backer board: Ideally, we remove the tile in your bathroom and have cement board in good condition to install the tile too. Unfortunately, when we remove your tile, we do sometimes find the original contractors often did not use cement board and installed the tile in such a way that the backer board is unusable and needs to be replaced entirely.
6. Bathtub Size or Changing to a Soaking Tub – While many tubs look the same, the sizes and types can vary. If you’d like to expand the size of the tub, here are a couple of things you’ll need to consider:
We may need to move your roughed-in plumbing.
We may need to reframe and install a new cement board for your tub surround.
7. Changing Tub to a Shower – Replacing a bathtub with a standing shower is a highly requested renovation and has many of the same considerations as changing the size of your tub:
We may need to move your roughed-in plumbing.
We may need to reframe and install a new cement board for your shower surround.
Waterproofing and tile installation are more involved.
Condo buildings generally require a shower pan as opposed to a tile floor in the shower area.
8. Timeline – Once all of your materials have been delivered, we’re able to commence work. As expected, most of our customers have a timeline expectation. Here’s what we can give you as a realistic guideline for a full-bathroom cosmetic remodel:
For a standard renovation where we are removing and replacing your existing tile, vanity, toilet, mirror, and bath hardware, we are done in approximately two weeks.
For a more custom job, we are generally done in three weeks.
If you’re in a condo building, we may be restricted on times when we can work and use elevators, which can also add to the time frame.
If the work requires permits, we’ll have to work under a timeline delegated by your city guidelines, which may be longer than originally anticipated.
