Are you thinking of renovating your bathroom or kitchen soon? Unfortunately, you’ll be facing a range of renovation ads on the Web, but also from the big box stores that often offer various installing tile services.
In fact, many of us leave it to others to dictate how we’ll manage our renovation project. Several advertising incentives give us a false sense of security about the costs associated with professional installing tile. But especially regarding the quality of the various tilers. The reference for the tiler is made by a store clerk who has everything to gain by increasing the value of its order and their commission. The true professional tiler rarely charge fees in a residential submission process.
BYPASS THE TENDER PROCESS
For example, several big box tile stores offer installing tile services. They state that their price is very competitive and that their installers are best. In fact, these stores encourage you to circumvent a legitimate and essential bidding process.
In this case, buy your tiles and have prices on hand or the contact information of the said tiler of that shop to start your real bidding process. Following this you’ll have ample opportunity to evaluate various tiling experts. It’s not uncommon to realize that the price offered was not as low as you imagined. Better yet, expert tilers, given their actual experience, will bring you the components essential for your renovation. This is standard: you speak directly to the professional.
DESIGNERS ARE NOT TILE INSTALLATION PROFESSIONALS
In other stores, it’s the designers who will accompany you in your buying process. Although designers have more experience than big box store employees, they’re not installation professionals.
For example, most of the time they have no idea of:
- What is the appropriate adhesive for the area and are there are new adhesives?
- What is the state of the surface and has it has been properly prepared? This is normal: they weren’t on the scene to assess the situation.
- Does the proposed tiler know the ABCs of laying ceramic tiles such as floorboard guides or the amount of glue to purchase, etc? Essential details for the new, trendy boutiques that see a good opportunity to sell an installation service.
- The complexity of the room and the number of joints. These can have great impact on the amount of tiles to buy or have on reserve in case of breakage. Only a master tiler will know the precise number of joints and the number of tiles to be cut.
All of these small details, as mentioned previously, shown us once more that it’s better to carefully conduct a detailed bidding process.
PERFECT CERAMIC INSTALLATION
Finally, we must always remember that perfect ceramic installation is always one that is done according to good trade practices. Taking into account the availability of a professional tiler who will always be there in case of glitches.
As in all trades, there is no savings if the work has to be redone. But above all, we must know who we’re going to be dealing with, because they’ll be spending several days in the house.