As we’ve already discussed in our article on the reasons to switch to tile flooring, tile installation can completely improve the look of your home. This is why you’ll want to do all you can to hire the right contractors to handle your project.
Now, differentiating quality contractors from subpar ones can be tricky, especially if you know very little about the entire process. To help you out with this, we’ve prepared important questions that you can ask your contractor to help you figure out if they are right for the job.
What You Should Know About Your Tile Installation Contractor
Before you go through with committing to tile installation, here are some of the most important questions you should get answers to:
1. Do You Abide by the TCNA Handbook and ANSI Standards?
Now, you’ll want to make sure that things are always done the right way. This is why you should ask your potential contractor if they own and abide by the industry standards stated in the Tile Council of North America Handbook (TCNA) Handbook and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards. These two pieces of text outline the industry best practices for tile installation, so it’s certainly promising if your contractor shows that they abide by their standards.
2. What Are Your Certifications?
Certifications are important in just about every line of work. The same can be said about tile installation. This is why you should ask your potential contractor if they hold any certifications, as this will be indicative of the quality of work that they do. You should ask them if they are Ceramic Tile Education certified. Holding this certification means they have undergone rigorous examination, which means they will be able to conduct great-looking and lasting installations.
3. Are You Licensed to Work as a Tile Contractor?
Aside from being certified, you’ll also want to ask if they’re actually licensed to work as a contractor. One thing that people don’t seem to realize is that some states actually require you to have a license before you can conduct any tile installation projects. California is a state that requires a license before you can install tile if your service involves costs that exceed over $500. These licensing requirements were put into place to protect consumers and to ensure that they’re getting quality service.
4. Do You Have Reference Photos or a Portfolio of the Work You’ve Done
Aside from the licenses and certifications, you’ll also want to make sure that the work that your potential contractor does is up to par. The only way you do this is by asking for reference photos or asking to see their portfolio. By examining the work that they’ve already done, you can get a better idea of the type of service that you’ll be getting if you decide to work with them. You should also go through their site and look for customer testimonials and read up on the experiences of their previous clients.
Conclusion
We hope these questions help you find the right tile contractor for the job. Remember, this entire process is necessary to make sure that your home is in the best state that it can possibly be in. If you have any more questions for your contractor, don’t hesitate to ask. This list is only a guide and shouldn’t be seen as the only important questions, as we understand that there may be things that are important to you that we didn’t mention here.
Need help with tile installation in Santa Clara County? Design Miter Tile’s custom installers and remodeling experts will help give your home an entirely new look. Contact us today to know more about our services!