Tiling Contractors
Backsplashes, shower surrounds, floors and feature walls in tile and stone.
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About tiling services
Tile is one of the most versatile and long-lasting finishes in any home, standing up to water, foot traffic, and heat in ways that few other materials can match. From porcelain floors that mimic hardwood to handmade ceramic backsplashes and full glass mosaic showers, tile lets you combine practicality with real design character. But the finished look is only half the story. What separates a tile job that lasts thirty years from one that cracks and leaks within two is the substrate preparation, waterproofing, and layout planning that happen before a single tile goes down.
Homeowners often search for tile installation cost per square foot, and while that number is a useful starting point, it can be misleading because the true cost is driven by what lies beneath the tile. A bathroom floor over a bouncy subfloor needs an uncoupling or backer board layer to prevent cracked grout lines. A shower needs a continuous waterproof membrane behind the tile, not just water-resistant board, or moisture will eventually rot the framing. Skilled tilesetters price these hidden but essential steps into their work, which is why the cheapest quote is frequently the most expensive mistake.
Material choice shapes both the look and the difficulty of the job. Large-format porcelain demands a perfectly flat substrate and specialized handling to avoid lippage, where one tile edge sits proud of its neighbour. Natural stone like marble and travertine needs sealing and gentler cutting. Small mosaics and intricate patterns take far more labour per square foot than plain field tile. A good installer helps you weigh these trade-offs early, so your material, your budget, and your expectations for the finished space all line up before demolition begins.
Tiling services we cover
Floor tile installation
Porcelain, ceramic, and stone floors installed over properly prepared and levelled subfloors, with crack-isolation or uncoupling membranes on wood framing to keep grout lines intact for the long haul.
Shower and wet-area tiling
Full waterproof shower builds using bonded membranes, pre-sloped bases, and correct niche and curb detailing so water is contained behind the tile rather than seeping into framing.
Kitchen backsplash
Subway, mosaic, and slab-look backsplashes cut and fitted around outlets, windows, and range hoods, sealed at counter and edge transitions for a clean, wipeable finish.
Heated floor systems
Electric radiant mats embedded in the mortar bed beneath tile, wired to a dedicated thermostat, delivering warm floors in bathrooms and entryways where cold tile is otherwise unwelcome.
Large-format and slab tile
Precise installation of oversized porcelain panels that require flattened substrates, levelling clips, and special tools to eliminate lippage and achieve a seamless, contemporary surface.
Regrouting and tile repair
Replacing failed grout, re-caulking movement joints, and swapping cracked tiles to restore both appearance and water resistance without redoing the entire installation.
Signs you need a tiling pro
Cracked or hollow-sounding tiles
Tiles that crack or sound hollow when tapped usually signal a failed bond or movement in the substrate below, a problem that spreads and calls for proper reinstallation, not just a swap.
Crumbling or discoloured grout
Grout that is powdery, stained, or missing lets water reach the substrate. Once moisture gets behind tile in a wet area, the damage compounds quickly and often hides until it is severe.
Loose or shifting shower tiles
Movement in shower walls or floors points to waterproofing that has failed behind the tile, meaning the framing may already be absorbing moisture and needs assessment before it worsens.
Dated or damaged surfaces
Chipped edges, worn finishes, or simply an outdated style are all valid reasons to retile, and a renovation is the ideal moment to correct any prep or waterproofing shortcuts underneath.
What drives tiling cost
See the full cost guide →Substrate preparation
Levelling uneven floors, installing backer board or uncoupling membrane, and building waterproof shower assemblies is where much of the labour lives, and skipping it guarantees future failure.
Tile material and format
Natural stone, large-format porcelain, and glass mosaics cost more to buy and to install than standard ceramic, since they demand more prep, slower cutting, and careful handling.
Layout and pattern complexity
Diagonal, herringbone, and mixed-size patterns, plus lots of cuts around fixtures, niches, and corners, add significant labour compared with a straightforward straight-set field layout.
Area size and access
Larger areas spread setup costs over more square footage, while small, tight, or awkward spaces like powder rooms often cost more per square foot because of fiddly cuts and detailing.
Top Tiling Contractors
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Concord, Ontario
Toronto's trusted renovation experts since 2009, kitchens, baths, basements & full home remodels across the GTA.
Tiling in Canada
Homeowners looking for tiling in Canada rarely face identical conditions. Canadian winters put real stress on a home, so materials and installation here are chosen to handle frost, snow load and freeze-thaw cycles.
From kitchen backsplash to large-format and slab tile, the specifics are local. Requirements vary by province and municipality, and many jobs need a permit, so a local contractor who knows the regional code saves headaches.
On NeedReno you can find tiling pros throughout Canada, compare quotes in Canadian dollars, and choose a contractor who already works in your province.
How to choose a tiling contractor
Tile setting is a genuine skilled trade, and in some provinces Tilesetter is a designated Red Seal occupation with formal apprenticeship, so ask about training and experience rather than assuming any handyman can do it. The most reliable signal of quality is familiarity with industry installation standards, particularly the TTMAC (Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association of Canada) guidelines that specify substrate prep, movement joints, and waterproofing methods. An installer who references these standards and uses recognized membrane systems is telling you they build for longevity, not just for a good-looking first day.
Confirm the contractor carries commercial general liability insurance and, if they have employees, workers compensation coverage through WSIB or your provincial board, since tile work involves wet trades, cutting, and mortar that can go wrong. Review a portfolio of completed showers and floors, and specifically ask how they waterproof wet areas and how they handle movement joints, because those two answers separate professionals from improvisers. A quality tilesetter provides a written scope covering prep, materials, and grout type, sets clear expectations about lippage tolerance and grout colour, and stands behind their workmanship with a warranty rather than disappearing once the grout dries.
What to expect from a tiling project
Consultation and measuring
The installer assesses the space, checks the substrate for flatness and soundness, discusses tile choice and layout, and measures precisely to estimate material with an allowance for cuts and waste.
Demolition and substrate prep
Old tile comes out, the substrate is repaired or levelled, backer board or uncoupling membrane is installed, and wet areas receive a continuous waterproof membrane before any tile is set.
Dry layout and setting
Tiles are dry-laid to plan cuts and centre the pattern, then set in thinset mortar with spacers and levelling clips to control spacing and eliminate lippage across the surface.
Grouting and sealing
After the mortar cures, joints are grouted and tooled, movement joints are filled with flexible sealant rather than grout, and natural stone or porous grout is sealed as needed.
Cleanup and final inspection
Haze is cleaned from the tile faces, the installer walks the finished surface with you to confirm the layout and finish, and provides care instructions for grout and sealed materials.
Tiling: frequently asked questions
How much does tile installation cost per square foot?
Labour per square foot varies with tile type, pattern complexity, and how much substrate prep the space needs. A simple straight-set ceramic floor costs less than a large-format porcelain or a mosaic pattern with many cuts. Wet areas like showers cost more because of waterproofing. The most accurate approach is an in-person quote where the installer can inspect your subfloor and factor in the hidden prep that drives the real number.
Can you tile over existing tile?
Sometimes, if the existing tile is solidly bonded, flat, and free of moisture problems behind it. However, tiling over old tile raises the floor height, can telegraph cracks from below, and hides any failing waterproofing. For showers and wet areas, professionals almost always recommend removing the old tile so they can install a proper membrane. A tilesetter should inspect the existing surface before advising either way.
How long does a tile installation take?
A typical bathroom floor might take a couple of days, while a full tiled shower runs several days because waterproofing and mortar need time to cure between stages. Larger floors and complex patterns take longer. Rushing curing times causes failures, so a good installer builds cure windows into the schedule. Ask for a realistic timeline that includes the waiting periods, not just the hands-on setting days.
Do I need to seal my tile and grout?
It depends on the materials. Glazed porcelain and ceramic do not need sealing, but natural stone like marble, slate, and travertine should be sealed to resist staining. Cement-based grout is porous and benefits from a penetrating sealer, especially on floors and in wet areas, while epoxy grout is stain-resistant and needs no sealing. Your installer will tell you what your specific tile and grout require and how often.
Why do my tiles keep cracking?
Cracking almost always traces back to what is underneath, not the tile itself. A subfloor that flexes, a missing crack-isolation membrane, insufficient mortar coverage, or a slab crack transferring upward will all break tiles and grout. Fixing it means addressing the substrate, not just replacing the broken piece. An experienced tilesetter diagnoses the root cause first, because retiling over the same weak base simply repeats the failure.
What is the best tile for a bathroom floor?
Porcelain is the usual top choice for bathroom floors because it is dense, water-resistant, and hard-wearing, and textured or matte finishes add slip resistance where floors get wet. Ceramic works well and costs less. Natural stone looks beautiful but needs sealing and more maintenance. Whatever you choose, the waterproofing and substrate prep beneath matter as much as the tile, so discuss both with your installer when selecting materials.
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