Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile?
A. Porcelain tile is typically more dense and more resistant to breakage than ceramic tile. Porcelain usually has tighter manufacturing tolerances, making it more consistent with sizing, and less likely to have flaws such as glaze chips and warpage. However these are just general examples and there are some very high quality ceramic tiles just be sure to examine several tiles from different boxes for flaws. The most common flaw is size variation, some low quality tile can very a 1/8 inch or more from piece to piece even within the same box.
 
Q. Why does it cost so much more to install travertine and stone?
A. Travertine is much harder to install because it is heavier than ceramic, this makes it harder to keep the pieces level. Every cut also has to be made with a wet saw which adds a lot more time to the installation. Stone tile also has to be sealed after the installation is complete.

Q. How soon can you install my floor?
A. It varies but usually within 2 weeks.

Q. Do you move furniture and appliances?
A. Yes we do, but we only move large items such as bookshelves and desks after they have been emptied by the customer. We do not move electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and computers.
 
Q. How long will it take to complete the installation of my tile?
A. It depends on the size of the install, the amount of floor prep as well as the type of products that are being installed. We typically can complete the demolition and floor prep in one day. The typical pace of installation is about 350ft per day for ceramic /porcelain and 250ft per day for travertine and other types of stone.
 
Q. Do you tear out existing tile and vinyl?
A. Yes
 
Q. Why should I hire a Licensed Contractor?
A. Licensed contractors are certified by the state to have met several requirements such as a minimum of 4 years experience in their field, they also have to pass a certification test. Most importantly they are required to warranty all of their work for 2 years. If the contractor does not willfully repair his work you can request a registrar inspection, if the inspector sides with the customer they will force the contractor to perform the necessary repairs. If the contractor still refuses to repair the problem or goes out of business the Arizona Registrar of Contractors will then revoke the contractor’s license and use their bond and the contractor’s recovery fund to have the problem fixed. Essentially hiring a licensed contractor is like an insurance policy. Unlicensed installers may claim to offer a warranty but there is nothing but their word to back it up. If they change their phone number or simply decide that they don’t want to fix the problem there is no way to hold them accountable. Unless you are hiring someone based upon a friends referral there is no way really to tell who it is you are hiring. Sure some guys may have a photo album of work that they claim to have done but how do you know that the guy didn’t go to a bunch of model homes and take photos. You might say to yourself if he does a lousy work I will just make him fix it or I simply won`t pay him until he fixes it. This might seem like a great idea but think how much it is going to cost you to buy new tile and hire someone else to tear out his sloppy work and reinstall it. It may be cheaper to hire an unlicensed installer initially but in the long run it may cost you a lot more. State law actually requires a contractor to be licensed if the total cost of the job including materials is over $1000

Q. Can you install tile over existing tile and vinyl?
A. No, we do not. In order to provide a good quality lifetime installation we only install tile over bare concrete and hardibacker underlayment. Tile and vinyl are designed to be non-absorptive and repel moisture. Thinset only bonds well to surfaces that absorb moisture.

Q. How long is your warranty?
A. We warranty all of our work for a period of 2 years.

Q. My concrete slab has several cracks in it, how do you prepare the floor so that my tile does not crack?
A. We use an anti-fracture membrane called Flex Guard on all cracks that exceed 1/8in. on small spider cracks we use a rubberized coating called curelastic.
 
Q. Can you clean my existing tile and grout?
A. We do not clean tile and grout but we recommend Arizona carpet and tile cleaning. You can visit their website at HTTP://www.azcarpetandtilecleaning.com

Q. Will you do repairs and small jobs?
A. Yes we can however we do have a $200 minimum on labor.

Q. I need new carpet installed in my house as well as tile, can you install the carpet too?
A. Yes we can we have an excellent carpet installer.

Q. I purchased a foreclosure and it needs a lot more work than tile and carpet, can you help me with others types of home renovation?
A. Yes we work with the licensed general contractor Nicholas Ryan Homes on major home remodels. You can visit their website at HTTP://www.NicholasRyanHomes.com

Q.I found your page on the Internet but I live in Colorado , Do you do work in Colorado or can you recommend someone that does ?