Prep priced up front
If the floor needs plywood, leveling or joist work, you see it in the quote.
Tile installation
in Batavia, IL
Tile for Batavia homes, from old houses near downtown to new builds.
Kitchens and baths in older Batavia homes
Older homes near downtown Batavia often have plaster walls, plank subfloors and floors that sag a little toward the middle of the house. Tile shows all of that. For a backsplash, we check the wall for flatness and plan around outlets and the range hood. In a bathroom, we lay out the floor and walls around the drain, toilet flange and any niche or bench so cuts end up at the edges.
Under a floor, we look for bounce, rot near old plumbing and patches from past repairs. Plank subfloors usually get a layer of plywood screwed down before tile. If joists flex too much, we add blocking or sister them. When we find a soft spot, we show you and price the fix before we tile.
Basements, entries and winter wear
Older Batavia basements can be damp, with stone or block walls and slabs that were never meant to be finished. We look for damp spots, white powder and cracks. If water is coming in, it needs drainage or foundation work before tile. On a dry slab, we fill cracks, level low spots and add a membrane where needed. Where an old floor drain sits in the slab, we slope the tile to it and keep it reachable.
Entries and back doors take salt and grit all winter. We suggest porcelain with a textured finish and a grout color that hides salt. Put a mat at the door, sweep before mopping, and use a pH-neutral cleaner. Stone needs sealing and gentler products.
Large tile, membranes and movement joints
Large tile needs a flatter floor than small tile, which matters in an older house. We level the floor first, back-butter each large tile and use leveling clips to keep edges even. In a room with a lot of slope, a smaller tile may fit better, and we'll show you both options.
An uncoupling membrane goes under floor tile to absorb subfloor movement. A waterproof membrane goes behind shower walls and under the pan to keep water out of the framing. A shower floor may need both. We use membranes, mortar and grout made to work together, installed to the manufacturer's instructions, and leave movement joints at walls and doorways.
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Services
Residential tile installation
Kitchens, bathrooms, entries, mudrooms and heated floors.
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Commercial tile installation
Stores, offices, salons and other business spaces, scheduled around your hours.
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Bathroom & shower tile
Shower walls and floors, waterproofing, niches and benches.
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How we work
Cuts at the edges
We lay out from the center so narrow slivers end up under trim.
Two kinds of membrane
Uncoupling under floors, waterproofing in showers, both when needed.
Winter care
We show you how to get salt off your tile and grout.
When should a Batavia homeowner plan a tile project?
While you're choosing cabinets, fixtures or flooring. That leaves time to check the floor, order tile and fix any subfloor problems. In an older house, we like to see the room before giving a schedule.
What tile size works best for a Batavia bathroom?
On walls, 12x24 or larger keeps grout lines down. On the floor, smaller tile like 2x2 or 3x6 follows a sloped shower pan and copes with an uneven floor. Large floor tile works when the floor is flat.
Can tile be installed over a Batavia basement slab?
Yes, if it's dry. We check for cracks, damp spots and low areas. Tile won't fix a leak, so any water problem gets handled first.
How should an entry tile installation handle winter grit?
Use textured porcelain, a darker grout and a good mat. Sweep often, since salt and sand dull finishes. Stone needs sealing and gentle cleaners.
Does an older Batavia home need extra tile preparation?
Often. Plank subfloors usually need new plywood, old plaster may need patching or replacing with backer board, and sloped floors need leveling. We check and price it before we start.
How are movement joints handled in a tile layout?
We leave a gap at walls, doorways, tubs and anywhere the surface changes direction, plus joints across large floors. They're filled with caulk that matches the grout, since hard grout would crack there.
Planning a tile project?
Call us or send a few details. You don’t need measurements yet.