Although tile can be used in numerous areas of a home, including your kitchen and bathroom backsplash or shower remodeling, most associate it with flooring projects. Although many homeowners are already familiar with what size, shape, cut, and color they’d prefer, we always recommend double-checking and getting a second opinion from an expert with an on-site consultation before booking the actual installation appointment. We can conduct a thorough inspection of your current flooring, including the subfloor, take appropriate measurements and calculate how much material is to be expended based on the square footage of your house.
Still, some homeowners are eager to purchase their flooring supply early on. So we always recommend stockpiling an ample supply and ordering extra material as any mishaps can happen during the floor replacement. You’ll likely nick your floor by scratching, chipping, or denting it over the years. The best part is that tile installations are relatively easy to refinish for minor repair compared to its dummy counterpart of vinyl which requires a total overhaul of the flooring at times.
Types of Tile Installations in Naples, FL
Surprisingly there are many options for material, and it’s not an either/or selection of natural-based or plastic-based. Each material reflects a certain presentation and flair with exclusive benefits and drawbacks based on the type of material. Based on your preferences for aesthetic appeal, you can decide which installation type is the most suitable. Here are some of the typical materials we offer clients for tile installations in Naples, FL:
Natural Stone: The purest form around, this is directly extracted literally from natural stone and includes everything from marble, slate, granite, limestone, and more. But buyer beware–natural stone tile easily requires the most upkeep as it’s less durable than its half-baked ceramic and porcelain counterparts, but it’s a worthwhile investment as it’s the most resistant to wear and tear and increases your home’s property value.
Ceramic: Made from natural clay that has been fired in a kiln at a scorching temperature, ceramic tiles are compact and water-resistant and come in glazed or unglazed varieties. But also note that ceramic is not a completely natural product and mimics real stone's look. But it doesn’t require as much extensive upkeep and is more resistant than purely natural stone.
Porcelain: Similar to ceramic tile, porcelain is slightly more water-resistant and sturdier than its doppelgänger but not all that much. This is another man-made product that mimics real stone and can withstand higher temperatures, and is not easily scratched, stained, or scuffed.
Cork: Not as popular but a decent water-resistant material that can provide great coverage and protection and adds a quirky flair to your space.
The Mr. Handyman Approved Tile Installation Process
Our Mr. Handyman service professionals only follow a foolproof procedure for your tile installation. Naples, FL property owners, after their initial consultation, can expect our uniformed handyman to arrive promptly and answer any questions, comments, or concerns you may be anxious about before they begin. After your approval, they will prep the designated area to ensure your surroundings are protected and wear disposable gloves and boots for your flooring replacement. Naples, FL residents just need to sit back and relax, deciding what furniture they are going to deck out their crib with.
- Flooring development: First we have to remove the existing flooring, so we can do a treatment following suit. We can get rid of all old flooring, like carpet, tile, laminate, vinyl, you name it!
- Subfloor preparation: Next, we’ll give your floor a good scrub and carefully inspect it. If it’s unbalanced, we will utilize a leveling compound to correct it so it’s surface level once more.
- Applying thinset: This is a type of tile adhesive solution we will thickly glue onto your tiles, so they can stick on nice and snugly. We will concoct the solution for you and mix it well enough so that it snuffs out any air bubbles and spread it generously using a notched-edge trowel.
- Installing the tile pieces: Our skilled tile installers will use spacers to measure the length and width of the floor so that tile placement is equally distanced apart on the thinset. Our team has the ingenuity and know-how to guarantee that tiles are parted evenly during the installation with no discrepancies visible to the naked eye. Using a give-and-take approach, we will carefully sponge off excess thinset as we move along the floor surface. Our service professionals can even eyeball more intricate cuts around fixtures and proceed accordingly.
- Cementing with grout: After the thin-set layer has dried off for at least 24 hours, we get rid of the spacers and begin to apply grout using a rubber float tool. Once again, we will scrub away the excess grout as we go along and wipe your tile surface clean so it doesn’t stain.
- Sealing and setting: When the grout has completely dried, we will add the final touches to a sealant substance to the joints between your tile installation and baseboards. If required, your Naples handyman can apply grout sealant to further lock in the surface.
