Good tile work comes down to what's underneath it. JH Construction sets tile on cement board substrate with proper waterproofing in wet areas -- not directly over standard drywall -- so showers and tub surrounds actually hold up instead of failing at the grout lines a couple years in. We install ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile for showers, floors, and backsplashes.
Farmington's dry climate is actually an advantage for tile work -- low ambient humidity means thinset and grout cure evenly without the mold and slow-cure issues that come up in wetter regions. That said, the substrate and waterproofing still have to be done right, especially behind shower tile.
When tile needs to be replaced or installed
- Cracked, loose, or hollow-sounding tile when you tap it
- Grout that's stained, crumbling, or has gaps no amount of regrouting fixes
- A shower surround that was never actually tiled -- fiberglass or acrylic instead
- You're finishing a bathroom, kitchen backsplash, or entryway and need a first-time install
How a tile installation goes
- Substrate prep -- cement board goes up in wet areas; floors get leveled as needed.
- Waterproofing -- membrane applied at shower pans and walls before tile.
- Layout -- we dry-lay the pattern and check it against the space before anything's set.
- Setting tile -- thinset and tile go in, checked for level as we go.
- Grout & seal -- grout gets applied and, for natural stone, sealed.
What affects the price of tile installation
- Tile material -- ceramic and porcelain cost less than natural stone or large-format tile
- Square footage and layout complexity (patterns, accent tile, niches)
- Whether the substrate needs to be replaced with cement board first
- Waterproofing scope for shower and tub surrounds
Call (505) 482-4372 with your square footage and tile preference and we'll put a number to it.
Tile installation is available in Farmington, Kirtland, Aztec, and Bloomfield.
Tile installation questions
What's the difference between ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile?
Porcelain is denser and more water-resistant than ceramic, which makes it a common choice for shower floors. Natural stone (like the marble-look tile in some of our recent bathroom work) has more variation and typically costs more, plus needs periodic sealing.
Do you install tile floors, not just showers?
Yes -- we install tile flooring in bathrooms, entryways, and other rooms, in addition to shower and tub surrounds.
How do you waterproof a tile shower?
We use cement board (like USG Durock) as the substrate instead of standard drywall, with a waterproof membrane at the pan and up the walls before tile goes on -- that's what actually keeps water out of the wall cavity, not just the grout.
Can you install a mosaic or accent tile pattern?
Yes -- we've installed mosaic accent tile in niches and backsplash areas alongside standard field tile.
Do you do small tile repair jobs, or only full installs?
We take on both -- a handful of cracked or missing tiles as well as full shower, floor, or backsplash installs.
Need tile installed or replaced?
Call with your space and tile preference -- we'll quote it.