Table Talk: Here's why working in comfort equals working with quality (and safety too!)

In the construction world, we abuse our bodies like few other professions. This video is an explanation about how the "detail oriented" tile installers at Hamilton Tile in Woodstock, GA not only create better quality tile projects, but also lengthen their tile careers, by using one SIMPLE tool.

Bathroom Remodeling: Low & Slow NOT Blow & Go

I’ve been having a lot of fun with an analogy lately. With over 200 documented leads last year, many people get familiar with our company and our price structure. Often, we are not in the same stratosphere when it comes to arbitrary expectations. I get it! Not everyone values the same things.

Check out my blog post Why we're losing craftsmanship in a 'Market for Lemons' and a prescription for change. for my theory as to why!

I’ve been comparing our tile service to barbecue lately. Lovingly prepared by an over weight man, with a big, beautiful belly…maybe a touch of “secret sauce” on the edge of his mouth, one of those chef hats, with secret spices, specialized equipment and techniques…20 years of experience and the passion to match; cooking up that brisket or rack of ribs…LOW AND SLOW.

THAT’S US.

Now compare that to the other guys, the blow and go, minimum standard types…the mystery white vans…the “looks good enough from my house” variety. They’re like McDonald’s. Yeah, McDonald’s is okay. I ate it as a kid! It’s “cooked” by a 16 year old at their first real job, it’s questionable what’s really between the bun, awful quality, but it’s cheap and fast!

THAT’S THE OTHER GUYS.

We’ll never be McDonald’s, they’ll never be brisket. The question is, which one do you want to eat today?

So, when you’re deciding what “type” of tile work to go with, I recommend barbecue…because you have one shot at it and McDonald’s will be a long term cost that you don’t want to pay!

Back splash kitchen transformations in Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth County!

Yes, Yes, Yes. We’ve been “doing it” all over Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth counties in these recent weeks. One kitchen backsplash transformation after another, tile going up gang busters! Not only that, we’re documenting it all for your viewing pleasure.

Many give me the side eye when I’m recording or photographing our excursions and work, or when I’m teaching others about the power of these mediums… I call them critics. Many talk about being great “builders” or “contractors” with little evidence other than the words that come out of their mouths and their blurry “finished” pictures. We call them talkers. Meanwhile, here we are “doing” it, photos and videos of your trusted partners during your next remodel, “doing” our craft and proudly displaying it to build up confidence in you. Cultivating faith in our competency and mastery of a dying ART FORM. This blog, with four years of documentation has surpassed my wildest expectations, but it’s not about me…it’s about you and a new way of doing business…past the “handshake” model, where you take our word for it…a model where we spout words like “quality” , “experience” and “professional” without any context as to to what that means TO YOU, but a model where we show you what those words mean by bringing you verifiable proof that “We are who we say we are and we do what we say we’ll do!’

What other remodeling company is demonstrating and exhibiting this kind of paper trail?

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Back splash number one in Cumming, GA!

This was the first tile that was chosen for this back splash in Cumming, GA. We tore the old back splash out, put up new board, got ready to set tile…started opening these packages of tile only to find out…EVERY SINGLE SHEET WAS SCRATCHED. $40 a square foot tile. We refused to reward Villazio Tile by re-ordering this tile. Our client was willing to change her selection. It’s the story of a tile guy’s life…manufacturer produces inferior products and ships the stuff…and it’s left to us to make the decision to send it back because we won’t install it in someones home. Their lack of quality control becomes OUR problem! No other trade has to deal with this problem to the extent that tile guys do.

WE’RE NOT MCDONALD’S!

McDonald’s would install this stuff! Defects and all!

Again, the metaphor works!

How would you like it if McDonald’s installed this in your home? That’s why you want to eat brisket.

Sparkle grout with the matching silicone (around the perimeter) is another example of a small detail that we recommended on this project, that most installers would never have thought of. This adds that “one of a kind” characteristic that makes this back splash a personalized expression of this homeowners’ personality.

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Next back splash in Kennesaw, GA! One of my favorites to date. I loved how this back splash complimented this homes existing kitchen decor! The homeowner definitely has an eye for design. We like all of our customers but these people were a couple of our recent favorites! Thanks for having us!

We edged this back splash with a black color match profile from Schluter Systems. These color match profiles are some of our most popular options for edging. Whatever color tile you have, you can get a profile to protect the edge that blends in seamlessly, almost like it’s not even there!

We also (like always) used 100% commercial silicone sealant to install a soft joint around the entire perimeter of this splash so, they will never have that unsightly cracked grout! A high quality 100% silicone is vastly easier to clean whatever cooking mess may arise and also lasts considerably longer than whatever “siliconized” junk they sell at Home Depot.

A side note: Home Depot has started to hear our message because they are now carrying *a limited supply of Custom’s 100% silicone sealant! Things CAN change!!!

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The third kitchen back splash in Woodstock, GA was a timeless classic: 4"x10” subway tile with a cleanable, color consistent, stain proof Mapei Flexcolor grout. It was a big one, but nothing we couldn’t handle.

Demolitions of old back splashes are the most nerve racking part of a kitchen splash remodel. It still amazes me that we’re able to get them put back together and that we’re able to get them looking magazine worthy again. It’s a skill and an art form, not for the weak of heart or mind! The dust, the debris and the trepidation about working in someone’s finished kitchen around appliances, counter tops and cabinets.

The most frequent response I get to my phone question “What qualities do you like to see in the people that work in your home?” revolves around respecting and keeping their property clean, tidy and protected. Have a look at the photos and video in this blog post. We are the company you can trust that will go above and beyond while working in your kitchen. To us, “Quality” means delivering everything that you see on this web site. What you see here is what you will get.

Not to mention, recently we’ve made a new purchase to improve our tile service. We made the purchase of a Build Clean air cleaner that will keep your home even CLEANER than any other time in the past. This purchase was made to better serve you and show that respect and cleanliness that you expect during your next remodel. This is the level of service you deserve. “Professional finish, Tidy Service” It means something to us.

Look at the glue on these tiles. THEY ARE BARELY STUCK to the wall. Many people use ‘mastic’ to install back splashes which is a completely amateur move. Mastic is glue that comes in a bucket, pre-mixed and people use it because it’s like McDonald’s, FAST AND EASY…but inferior quality! (The metaphor works!) Compare that to the tile we stick to the wall in the picture below. I would hate to tear out one of our back splashes!

A very important detail most don’t even think of. One row of tile below the counter line so when the stove is pushed back, you only see tile!

We demolished this whole back splash down to studs and absolutely NO DRYWALL OR PAINT WORK was necessary when the new back splash was complete.

Check out this video breakdown of our Cumming, GA glass back splash remodel! Questions about how these go? We have plenty of answers for you in this video and throughout our website!

5 Reasons why NTCA members are the smart choice for wise homeowners!

You’ve been clicking through my website and I’m sure you’ve noticed the badge displayed above. On that circular symbol are written the letters “NTCA” which stands for The National Tile Contractors Association. Many companies have badges signifying they are members of trade organizations; admit it, they add an air of legitimacy. I won’t mince words here; That’s why we have it!

What’s different about our trade organization, the NTCA? The difference is: it actually means something to you, our client. It’s a tile trade organization that has been a mainstay in the tile industry since 1940. It brings so much value to our company, but more importantly to YOU as a consumer, otherwise, we would not be a member.

Here are five reasons hiring NTCA members is a wise choice for you, a tile consumer:

1. Members have access to a treasure trove of installation data.

Every tile installer knows that feeling of excitement when they go to their mailbox and inside, is the NTCA’s Tile Letter. The Tile Letter is an exclusive monthly magazine for NTCA members and it’s the gold standard for tile related articles and news. Inside the Tile Letter are articles with names like, Scribing: Demonstrating artistry and craftsmanship in Creative Tiling that contains an extensive breakdown of systems and methods to scribe tile, described by other top industry professionals. Trust me, you want your potential tile installer referencing this magazine for installation tips and techniques!

The NTCA also has the NTCA University, a group of online courses to further a member’s education as well as the NTCA Reference Manual that keeps its members up to date in order to better serve their customers. We also participate in hands on training sponsored by the NTCA.

The educational opportunities provided to NTCA members is the most significant and important factor in being a member. Other tile installers who are not part of this organization do not have access to this extensive resource and in an ever-changing business-like tile, the guys who aren’t constantly educating and informing themselves like NTCA members, are markedly inferior to those who are. It’s like any profession; teaching, for example. A teacher is regularly receiving additional training to update themselves and better educate their students. Professional tile guys do the same, to better serve, YOU!

NTCA training in Dunwoody, GA at the Tile Shop that we recently attended.

2. Members have access to a network of fellow installers.

With the wide variety of available finishes, patterns, lay outs and materials, it can be very tricky for even the most advanced installers and we may have some questions. It’s great to sometimes throw questions to a fellow installer and seek guidance from someone who has dealt with a challenge similar to what we are facing. The NTCA is a family of like-minded installers who are eager to help each other! Without the NTCA, installers are like an island, atomized and alone. Because of this organization we can unite in power and provide the most lasting, functional tile remodel possible. Our connections are KING!

3. Members are going to be up to date on the latest trends, installation techniques and materials.

Inside the Tile Letter and NTCA marketing material is a plethora of data informing installers of the newest trends, installation techniques and materials. Why is this important to you? It’s important to you because our main priority as professional tile installers is to act as a guide for our clients. NTCA members are given yearly vouchers to try different products that may be new to market or simply new to us! Any installer who is not up to date on the latest trends, installation techniques and materials will not be able to guide their clients as well as an informed, knowledgeable NTCA member.

4. Members are participants in a tile world outside of the one that is right in front of them.

If you’re seeing your tile installer as a person who sticks tile to the wall or floor, you are only seeing a small portion of the full picture. Tile is an entire Eco-system that great installers are driven to be a part of. NTCA members make a difference in the world through our profession. Being a tile crafts person is a way of life, a passion, a reason. You’re not just hiring labor, you’re hiring an artisan crafts person who sees far beyond the physical act of setting tile, because there is far more to our business than just that!

5. Members are helped by the NTCA to become more legitimate, professional businesses.

A better business means a better service for you, the tile consumer. The NTCA of course helps our company create systems and methods which ensure you with a consistent, lasting, functional finished project that you expect. But a great BUSINESS is far more than the finished product. It’s also about providing great customer service, building a business that retains quality, talented employees, keeping our books in order and making it easier for you to hire us. They do this by sponsoring great business related talk shows, like Tile Money and creating great content like Tile TV.

They inform us how to meet new Federal laws like OSHA’s new life saving silica dust mitigation rules. You can be assured that any non-member will be throwing deadly dust into the air, putting you and your family at risk. They simply don’t know any better! They would if they were a member!

NTCA also has 401k program and health insurance opportunities that add to our overall quality of life. They believe a happy, healthy tile installer does better work and I couldn’t agree more. We’ve all been around that resentful, unsatisfied worker. The NTCA helps us be the best version of ourselves by helping us become great businessmen who pass along that positivity to you, our customer.

The NTCA is more than a badge on our website or a sticker on our trucks. They are a trusted partner in our journey to provide you with the best tile experience possible. They share our values of bringing you a tile project that combines great looks, functionality as well as being a permanent display of your personality. We are not members of this organization for us, we are members for you. We’re bringing the value that you deserve and the NTCA helps us get there.

Be sure to visit the NTCA website to learn more about their history, benefits and mission by clicking here or entering the URL www.tile-assn.com into your web browser. I hope it builds confidence in you that you won’t just be hiring a tile installer, but you’ll be working with a member of a solid community who sees your project as more than just a job; but rather a business owner who seeks to improve your life, THROUGH TILE!

Tiling a custom shower ceiling in Johns Creek, GA.

Here today the guys at Hamilton Tile are tiling a custom shower ceiling in Johns Creek, GA. We are at your service when the unexceptional won't make the grade. Our proven systems and processes ensure an anxiety free bathroom remodel that is guaranteed to impress!

Maybe you have a technical project that you can’t trust to a stranger, or a person who is difficult to communicate with; someone who doesn’t have the receipts or a proven history with the knowledge to secure success. We understand your needs and you are likely our customer. We possess exactly the skill set you need.

DIY wood rot repair for tile: It’s wise to over build!

I’ve seen a rash of under built floor repairs in the field, so today, I AM SOUNDING THE ALARM! For all you DIYers out there, or simply homeowners who care, it’s wise to over build your floor repair when you take out a piece of your existing sub floor to repair rot or damage.

What I’m seeing when I’m on the job is a lot of cutting of subfloor without proper BLOCKING put back in to support the substantial weight of a new tile floor. A certain degree of rigidity must be present in a subfloor when it is meant to support tile. Notice the photo below. You have the two joists. That was originally sufficient when supporting a whole sheet of tongue and groove plywood. The tongue and groove locked the plywood together, so it was supported. But once you cut out a piece, it has to be supported around all four sides of the plywood that is going back in. If you put a piece of plywood back without supporting the sides (by putting in additional blocking) there will be too much movement! Tile and MOVEMENT do not mix!

Do you know how you judge if your subfloor repair has too much movement? It’s easy! WALK ON THE REPAIRED FLOOR. The spot without extra blocking will flex and move, that’s bad. In certain instances, even with ¾” plywood, you’ll feel like you could put your foot through the floor! Don’t ask how we know! 😊 But you will notice if you put blocking in, between the joists, like in the photo below, the movement will stop and the floor repair will be far more rigid.

This particular area (the shower pan) will have over 500lbs of material on top of it. Build it STIFF and STRONG.

What’s the point? What is the conceptual, overarching theme of building with tile? Over build, Over engineer, over block. MORE IS BETTER. Tile is a permanent finish and it does not like movement. Any movement in a substrate results in cracked grout, lifted tile, etc. A tile floor needs to meet specific deflection specifications.

 So, if you’re using tile, if you think something needs to be built stiffer, DO IT. Cement board, for example, does nothing to add to the strength and rigidity of a floor. Always, add wood, stiffen it up and you will have a flooring that will last the lifetime of your home. That’s the whole point of tile!

If you like this type of content, be sure to like this blog post and be sure to comment.

Tons of blocking here!

A bathroom remodel built to last in Marietta, GA

Bathroom shower remodel located in Marietta, GA.

This is video breakdown of our latest bathroom remodel in Marietta, GA.

In this video we break down everything you might want to know about this bathroom we recently completed. We go over the high quality materials we use as well as our techniques that went into building this lasting bathroom. We also go over the over all cost of this bathroom as well as its individual parts.

It was a very fun bathroom project to take part in and we really feel quite proud of our accomplishments here.

Jason Hamilton: Nominated for NTCA Tile Craftsperson of the year.

Jason Hamilton, owner and lead installer of Hamilton TIle has been nominated for the National Tile Contractors Association’s Tile Craftsperson of the year.

To be nominated setters had to be setting tile for a minimum of 15 years and were nominated by a co-worker or someone who could speak to their ability to set tile correctly, their craftsmanship or artisanship, the breadth of their work, their ability to resolve issues on the job, their ability to mentor or lead, and their drive to continually educate themselves on new materials, products and methods in the industry.

Ardex Academy: Worth it or waste? Hamilton Tile weighs in on Continuing Ed.

The guys at Hamilton Tile participate in a day at the Ardex Academy in Dallas, GA. Watch the video below to find out: WORTH IT, OR WASTE?!

Shower installation process illustrated quick guide.

Here is a basic overview of our shower installation process. Most showers fall within this process. Square footage is irrelevant. Big shower or small shower. We don’t skip steps or combine steps. Each shower we follow the same general process. Bigger showers with more options (inset boxes, complex tile, benches, etc.) add time, but generally speaking, this is our system for shower building.

Small tile floor installation: Illustrated quick guide.

This is a general overview of a small tile floor installation to help you better understand the installation schedule and process. Enjoy.

Amazing Acworth, GA tile bathroom remodel.

Our most recent completed master bathroom remodel was located in Acworth, GA. This client acted as his own general contractor for this project and hired us for the tile work. The original shower to the home was a mud job, so it was a bear to tear out! A mud job is the traditional way of building a shower where they would embed common masonry material (sand, lyme, portland cement) in wire and set tile on that. It’s heavy and nasty to tear out, but it works! We replaced that with a Schluter Systems shower, lightening the load. We built this shower according to Schluter System’s standards, complete with official paperwork. It has a lifetime factory warranty. How much peace of mind would you get knowing that your bathroom is covered by a lifetime factory warranty and installed by two of the only 1600 Certified Tile Installers in the entire United States?

We take our preparation stage very seriously. The whole job hinges on how well we prepare the area before any tile is set. We would be the fastest tile guys in the world if we didn’t have to rebuild all the shoddy work from when your home was built! We do this everyday and when we think about the amount of going backwards we have to do, it is mind boggling. We build according to Maximum, not minimum standards. Tile work: it’s like a barbecuing a brisket, low and slow but when it’s done it melts in your mouth! Step by step, no corners cut and when we’re done your bathroom will last a lifetime.

My favorite part of building these is the thought of showing you all our work. I always say that people who show their work, take pride in their work. It’s like my high school algebra teacher, “Show your work!” When people hire us, it’s never a mystery what they are going to get. I feel like it provides great peace of mind for our customers. Our target market: “If you care about how your project is built, we want to work for you!”

Part of our “Full service tile job” is handling all aspects of the job. Including acquiring all the material in order to ensure a consistent finished product. This is day two, all materials loaded at Tile House in Marietta and delivered to the job site!

I’m constantly harping on this, because I know what kind of thin set coverage most tile installers are getting under their tile. It doesn’t look anything like this! Full thin set coverage under the tile is so important to getting a lasting finished product! These tiles are 24” x 24” and 12” x 24” respectively, they need to be supported!

Lippage systems (the green clips) are a pro grade tool. This tile was a gloss tile, so we used a specific type of lippage system called MLT. It will not scratch the tile like wedge style lippage systems. Check out the video below for a full explanation of what these lippage systems are all about and watch how professionals install tile.

My marketing is directed specifically to those who want to know and trust the people who work in their homes. We market and sell to folks who want to hire people that share similar values. We understand your standards of etiquette, because we SHARE your standards of etiquette. If you wouldn’t want the people building your master bathroom USING your master bathroom, you should think twice about hiring them to construct your master bathroom. My name is Ben Santos, this is Jason Hamilton and we close the toilet seat.

This bathroom received Kohler all the way. The bar below was a Kohler piece, that we installed. We covered all bases by putting significant amounts of wood blocking behind the tile so this thing is sturdy as all get out! We also installed this Kohler glass door. Obviously, Kohler is extremely pricey stuff. If you’re spending thousands on certain items, how important is it to you to have competent, conscientious, credentialed people install these items? We are those people!

The installation video above gives you an inside look at this bathroom being installed!

I enjoy the final days of the tile install. I spend a lot of time fine tuning details like polishing the gloss 24” x 24” porcelain tile on the floor. I kept thinking about the final reveal, all the cardboard finally up, when the homeowners would finally see the finished floor. I did’t want them to see one spot in the sunlight when they looked down! Every time I thought I was done, I would get up and see the sun hitting the tile at such an angle and I’d see a spot! So, I’d get down and do some more polishing! I did this for about an hour and a half, until I got it perfect!

Below are a few finished pictures for your viewing enjoyment. David did excellent with his side of the job. He was very invested into this project doing much of the work himself. I mention often that we are ‘winners’. Part of being a winner in the trades, is running toward accountability and not away from it. Feel free to have high expectations when you hire us. We invite it.

Free standing tubs are what I lovingly and respectfully call “Budget Busters”. Not only can the tub be remarkably expensive, but the filler neck, which is all finished, traditionally has a jaw dropping price tag. Add the cost of the plumber to set all this up and the movers to get this behemoth into place; the extra tile underneath it and the wainscoting around it, you’re easily looking at an extra $8k. At the same time, bathrooms sell houses, home buyers love to see free standing tubs, so think about the value added when trying to offload your home.

In order to get a finished shower floor that looks like this, notice there are no sheet lines; we pulled all the stones off of the sheets and set them individually. Check out this blog post for an in depth explanation on why we do this, and any tile installer you hire should do the same! Way more time, but a much better finished product. You aren’t paying us to see distinct lines on your shower floor!

Finally, our five star google review, that is absolutely on point! Thanks David!

Tile to carpet transition, different heights. Our solution!

When remodeling a bathroom, very often the tile will be significantly higher than the outside carpet into the bedroom. No one wants a toe stubber right there but luckily we have a solution that works unbelievably well. Today I’m spreading the good will be giving you our hard earned trade secrets!

Enjoy the video and if you could please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, I would greatly appreciate it!

Marietta, GA pro tile pebble floor installation. What's the DIFFERENCE?!

Jason installing a pebble tile shower floor in Alpharetta, GA

In this vlog post I go over how we install tile pebble floors and why. We do it a little differently than most but it’s what we have to do to get a professional grade finish! I want you to know, we’ll go the extra mile on your project.

For an extremely informative article on tile pebbles check out the DIY Tile Guy’s blog! There’s a lot of good information on this subject to be found there.

https://www.diytileguy.com/pebble-tile-flooring/

Check out the video and be sure to like and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

You're getting a BACK SPLASH: A comprehensive guide.

This blog, “A Tile Guy’s Journey” has been more of a “vlog” lately, so I’ve decided to put out an article that is sure to help you, if you’re thinking about a new back splash. This will be your comprehensive guide!

Back splashes are the centerpiece of a homeowner’s kitchen. They are a functional, piece of art and an expression of your personality. Functional, by being a hard surface that is easily cleaned around a busy area. Art because they are aesthetically pleasing; we all enjoy looking at beautiful things!

In this article I will be writing about back splashes in the context of RESIDENTIAL REMODELING. This model will work best if you are hiring a tile installation company directly or if you are working with a builder.

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CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT 8 REASONS OUR BACKSPLASHES ARE BETTER!

When you’re preparing for your new back splash, get a rough idea of what you want. Use Pinetrest, Houzz or Instagram to help you narrow things down. Realize, the pictures you see on those sites are installers’ BEST WORK.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, find a reputable store to source the material. Ask about price and availability. Heck, maybe you’ll get some alternative ideas from the store!

Buy a high grade tile with an ANSI label on it. Not all tile is the same. No matter how good the installer, if they have garbage tile to work with, it’s very difficult to create something incredible.

Have the person who is going to do the install arranged before you purchase tile. A great place to start is on Google, looking for a detailed website that has examples of their work and photos or videos of them performing their work. People who document themselves working, not just the finished product, take pride in their work! It also helps you verify who is ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. That’s the guy you want to vet, not the guy who sells you the job. Look for reviews. They’re hard to get so, if you’re installer has a bunch of detailed testimonials, you’re part of the way there. Feed back from other installers on their social media is a great sign. A tile guy who is active in the tile community will also be up on the latest installation methods and products. Look for certifications and credentials. You wouldn’t go to a Dr. without a PHD you shouldn’t hire a tradesman without some degree of credibility. “Experience” is just a word and “Quality” means nothing with out a detailed explanation of what that means.

I recommend paying extra to allow for your tile installer to handle all aspects of the tile acquisition. It’s tempting to think that it’s no big deal to pick up the tile. It’s more complicated than that. The installer will make sure you get consistent dye lots; They will make sure the tile isn’t damaged and that you have the right amount. Is this a nominal size tile? Have you ever walked into Home Depot and been turned around not knowing up from down? That’s what the tile store will be like, in overdrive. If there’s anything wrong with the tile or if anything unforeseen happens (likely) it’s the installer responsibility NOT YOURS. You have better things to do with your time, trust me. 

Get his or her opinion before you buy any tile. Is the tile you’re looking at a quality tile? Are there any stipulations involved with the installation of your desired tile? Does the purchase of the tile you want change the scope of the job?

We send our clients to a specific shop to speak with our designer. You walk in, tell them you’re with Hamilton Tile, work with the designer to find what you like. We handle the rest. Other companies will have their own system, but that’s ours and it works great!

There are infinite choices for your back splash depending on what you like and what tile fits your budget; but here are three major differentiators that matter to tile installers. Is the tile:

Natural Stone

Porcelain

Glass

Glass is the most technical install because, IT’s GLASS. We use a fancy-Dancy thin set, specifically engineered for glass and specialized saw blades, for instance. It takes an excess of skill and precision to install to a high standard of finish. What does a high standard of finish look like?  I talk more about it in the video below. Glass is going to be your priciest option.

Natural Stone is the second most technical install. A tile guy must eliminate the use of time saving “snap cutters” with this material. That can add a lot of time and effort running to the saw, which will be set up outside the home. Imagine the distance between your kitchen and the garage, we’ll be making that trip for EVERY CUT.  It will likely have to be sealed which adds another step to the install and a small amount of extra money. As far as functionality, natural stone is not as easy to clean. Imagine spaghetti sauce on a tumbled stone. Yuck! There can be added maintenance. The material is, on average, more expensive to buy and install.

Porcelain is your most installer and homeowner friendly material. A good installer can put it up efficiently; it’s the least number of headaches. For a homeowner, it’s tough and maintenance free. An example of porcelain tile would be traditional subway tile.

Sometimes, certain mosaics combine all THREE! Yay!

Tile is as varied as the rainbow! The type of material matters because many types of tile have different installation requirements and standards. Many tile can have different installation techniques that are required. Similar principles, but distinct practices.

If you like detailed back splashes that look like a lot of work to put in, expect a higher price from the installer. What does “a lot of work” entail?

Cutting around light switches and electrical boxes.

Patterns like herringbone.

Kitchens that are difficult to access (upstairs.)

Decorative insets.

Difficult material (glass, mosaics, natural stone)

Tiles that are not square or rectangles. Circles, arabesque, etc. These make it hard to cut a square edge!

Are there inside or outside corners? How many corners?

Will the installer have to climb a ladder to install the tile on the wall? Over cabinets, or around a vent hood?

Moving on, without a doubt, the most difficult part of a back splash is the tear out or demolition of an old back splash. (if you have one.) We don’t just show up and start going to town. Hours are spent protecting your home. Covering countertops and cabinets, covering the floors, putting up zip walls and preparing for dust containment. A demolition is a huge liability for a tile company. We are working inside your house around finished plumbing and cabinets, finished floors and walls. Not to mention, what is buried inside your walls when we are cutting and hammering out the old back splash. There are horror stories of people cutting through water pipes and gas lines. We’ve been close ourselves! Don’t think it doesn’t happen, because it does! Your installer also must dispose of the material from the demolition. Don’t sleep on the demolition and be sure the people who are working in your home are conscientious and respectful.

After the demolition is complete, which usually takes one full day, we fix any framing. This means straightening and sistering in studs to give a place for our new backer board to be secured. It’s very important to have flat walls with no bumps because this will affect the overall look of the back splash. After all that is done, the old backer board is replaced with new. Some people use drywall, we prefer an engineered, foam board, like Kerdi or GoBoard. Foam board is more expensive, but it is an upgrade because it’s waterproof. It also cuts down on the dust inside your home.

All the corners and seams get seam tape and we have ourselves a fresh pallet to install your new tile. The prep stage is the most important part of your back splash install, before any tile is set. This part dictates how the whole job is going to go.

Once the prep is complete your tile guy will do a rough lay out. You’ll want to be on site for this part to discuss your options. Options like:

Mirrored or wrapped corners. Click here for informative article.

Inset placement, any other feature placement.

Where you want to stop the tile.

What kind of pattern will you use? Straight set or brick set? Diagonal or herringbone? Click here for descriptive article.

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Be on site for the different stages of the back splash install. Tile is permanent, and there is nothing worse than having a back splash complete and the homeowner wanting to make changes. If you see something wrong or something you don’t like, TELL YOUR INSTALLER, IMMEDIATELY. The next day it comes out with a hammer! Many choices that tile installers make are completely subjective. There is no objective way to do certain design features with tile, so, it all needs to be discussed PRIOR to the tile going up. If you have complete trust in your installer (preferred) great, but if you have strong preferences in how you want things done, be involved. We prefer customers to be invested in what we are doing, rather than having issues once everything is done.

Realize that your home is probably not constructed perfectly. You will have to make compromises if you don’t want your whole kitchen torn apart and redone to accommodate for imperfections out of the remodeler’s control. Why are some things out of the remodeler’s control? Whenever your house was built, it was put together, presumably, below par! Be flexible and open to unorthodox solutions. An example, your granite counter tops may not be level. That means irregular cuts under the cabinets, your walls out of plumb may mean angled cuts! Aside from rebuilding your whole house, compromise is key! A truly skilled artisan will produce, regardless of circumstances.

The average back splash takes one or two days to install the tile, depending on the size. We take our time with back splashes. My favorite saying is this: “A fatigued tile guy is a careless tile guy”. The one thing you don’t want your tile guy to be, is careless!

When we do a back splash, we go step by step, utilizing a tried and true system that produces quality, great looking work and a long-lasting finished product. Tile guys will decrease their price by cutting corners, working long hours and combining steps. Using ‘speed set’ is one example of how they will accomplish this. “Speed Set” is a thin set that is used to stick the tile that sets up quickly. We only use ‘speed set’ if it’s absolutely necessary and in my opinion, it is rarely necessary! Cement gets its strength from the curing process! Speed set quickens the curing process so, it’s an inferior product, in my mind.

We put each part of a back splash into multiple days because we allow for each step to dry completely. We don’t set and grout a back splash in the same day. We set tile, let the thin set completely dry according to manufacturer specifications, and then we’ll grout.

 A five-day job for a conscientious installer, will be cut to two days by a blow and go guy. If you’re not picky and you just want a project to be done quickly and cheaply, that two-day guy is your candidate; but remember, tile is a PERMANENT FINISH and the Cheapest tile job is the one you only have to do ONCE!

Once all the tile is set, we’ll grout. You’ll have to determine what color you like. Pick your grout once all the tile is up, so you can compare colors in the natural light! I recommend using the highest end grout possible. People are usually unhappy with grout getting filthy. There’s an easy solution. Buy a quality grout. It costs more, but it’s denser and has built in sealer, so dirt won’t penetrate it as easily. We use a product by Custom called Prizm or, when we can, a product by Mapei called Flexcolor.

Here’s a part many tile guys skip to save money and you’ll want to have your antennae up during the recruiting phase to hear if your tile guy mentions this. We caulk all plane changes. A “plane change” is where the granite meets the tile, or in corners or under cabinets. Why do we do this? We’ve all seen the cracked grout joints between granite tops and tile splashes in many homes and businesses. That’s because it was grouted in tight and didn’t allow for the small amount of movement in the structure. Every house moves because that’s the nature of wood structures. Good installers will allow for that by using “soft joints” to compensate.

Installing ‘soft joints’ will add one more trip to your house to use high quality, silicone sealant that matches your grout. We don’t silicone the same day as the grouting because it’s best practice to allow the grout to completely dry, come back the next day, do a final buff, getting any grout dust cleaned up. The product we use is 100% silicone and not the “siliconized” stuff (JUNK!) packed with latex.  

It has a slightly different shade than your grout, because one is cement and one is silicone, but it helps to make a lasting, issue free back splash. The silicone is also cleanable, so when you’re cleaning your counter tops you can scrub it without a problem. The soft joint step is usually a couple hours, but we’ll also adjust your outlet covers which can be quite a feat because of the added thickness of the tile. We have our ways!

Our tools are long gone after the setting stage, the cardboard was taken up after the grouting, so when the caulking is done, we pick up a final check and we’re out of your hair. This hypothetical back splash took about five days.

Wow, all that for a back splash. People will call me telling me about the square footage of their back splash. I always tell them; SQUARE FOOTAGE DOESN’T MATTER. Back splashes are billed based upon time. The average backsplash takes a setter and a helper 40hrs. When you get a bill for your custom, one of a kind back splash, think about the price like that; Two guys, working inside your home for 3-5 days. Plus, the cost of setting material, tile, any other business expenses as well as profit. (So, we can stay in business and do your next project.)

On average one of our back splashes will cost from $1,000-$5000. If we have to tear out an old back splash, it will certainly be over $1000.

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A few points for you to think about:

·         Many counter tops have a small 4” granite splash that was installed by a granite company. That piece of vertical granite is more than likely covering a large gap between the granite top and the back wall. Framers build wavy walls and granite guys don’t cut their granite to conform to the wall. If you take that granite back splash off, there may be a large gap that the tile will not cover. If you put tile on top of that granite back splash, in my opinion, it’s not ideal. If you’re having granite put in and you KNOW you’re putting in a tile back splash, make sure the granite guys cut their granite to conform to the wall it is going up against, or you may not be able to use the tile you want, or get tile at all.

·         Think about edging for your splash. Anywhere that a tile is going to end, where it’s not butted against a cabinet or another wall, you need to edge it. That may be by flipping a tile vertically, while the field is horizontal, or my preferred method is using a Kerdi profile in brush nickel, for example, to match the fixtures. A fine little detail. The raw outside edge of a tile is a quite unflattering and sloppy look!

· Back splash lighting is important.  Most electricians will slam their lighting against the back wall, which is against national standards. (who’s keeping track?) When this is done you get an effect called “wall wash” where the light hits the tile back splash at an unflattering angle, accentuating every flaw. This isn’t the tile guys fault! If you’re in the planning stages, have your back-splash lighting brought out to the middle of the underside of the cabinet and this will solve the problem. CLICK HERE FOR AN ARTICLE ON THIS TOPIC!

·         Think about buying new face plates for outlets and switches! New plates will look amazing! If your outlets and switches are old and worn, think about having an electrician replace them!

·         Be onsite to supervise the moving of appliances. Your stove very often needs to get moved. It’s wise to be around to help, if needed and consult with the tile installers.

·         Electricity may need to be shut off to the outlets on the back splash to prevent the installers from getting shocked.

·         Your tile installer will also be responsible for adding electrical outlet extenders so your outlet plates go on the way they should!

·         During a demolition, put things away and take things off the wall that could fall due to vibration. There is going to be a lot of hammering! Wouldn’t want to break Granna’s China!

·         You want to be the person that has their counter tops completely cleared of all ‘STUFF’. Make the space ready to work in for the people who are doing your splash. Have a space that is out of the way ready to accept things like coffee pots, dish strainers, etc. Have your island cleared as well if you have one! We’re tile installers, not movers.

Be sure the wall that you are installing your back splash on is PRIMED. NO RAW DRYWALL OR DRYWALL MUD. Raw mud sucks the moisture out of the thin set so it will set up extra quickly. Quicker than you can stick tile on the wall!

NO GLUE OR COATINGS on the substrate where the back splash is being installed. This is called a “bond breaker” and your tile will only be stuck as well as the glue!

When purchasing a GLASS BACK SPLASH be sure to ask the installer about the edges of cut tile. Below I’ve posted an example of quality cuts vs. bad cuts. I’ve seen many glass splashes installed with bad cuts and I wonder how no one says anything. Glass tile takes special skills, blades and techniques to cut. Be sure the installer you are using knows what he is doing.

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 There is a lot that goes into a back splash. They are certainly a luxury item and when you’re ready to off load your home, a nice one will sell the place for you.  I always warn against shopping for back splashes based on price. We’re usually lured into accepting undesirable treatment or results because the carrot of low price was dangled in front of us. Don’t accept it! This is a permanent finish and something you’ll have to live with as long as you’re in your home. These people will be working in a FINISHED SPACE with your valuables and everything you’ve worked your whole life for. Drop the extra money to have it done beautifully and professionally.

Now that you’ve made it through this post, I sincerely believe you’re ready for anything that comes at you.

You now have the knowledge, which will be transferred into the power to realize the kitchen splash of your dreams! Good luck!

ProKnee AP16: The Ultimate Professional knee pads for tile?

In this weeks’ vlog I do my first video product review of the ProKnee AP16. I ask the question: Are these the ultimate Professional knee pads for tile?

Do yourself a favor and check out the video below!

For an extensive written review click here!

Hamilton Tile Tip of the Day: How to screw your plywood subfloor with this easy system.

Today’s Vlog post is a DIY tip to organize and systematize your plywood screwing.

Our recent tile installation in Acworth, GA puts the SERVICE in tile service.

Our latest vlog documents a master bathroom tile installation in Acworth, GA. Very excited to see this bathroom finished up. Grouting this week and it’s going to be a real master piece! Check out the video and be sure to like and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Are lippage systems for AMATEURS and FAKERS?!

My most recent vlog is on an eternal debate within the tile community!

Discovering inspiration from a mosaic tile shower floor in Johns Creek, GA

Inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest places! It’s not often when working with tile that we get to be exhilarated by a feel good story. I was really moved to see that the tile we were using on a recent tile shower install in Johns Creek, GA was put together by some people who are being integrated into the work force by a group of non-profit organizations. These people have intellectual difficulties but are still finding fulfillment and purpose making things with their hands. This is another example of an incredibly touching exercise in humanity happening in the tile world.

The company is called Eco Ceramica and it is based in Spain. I would like to promote a great company doing excellent things in the world and being the change they wish to see.

I thought it would be neat if one of the special needs workers living across the world sees a video of the tile they made being installed in the U.S.A I bet it would fire them up and it would also make my year! This would be a great example of things coming ‘full circle’!