Tile installation in Port St. Lucie, FL

Porcelain and ceramic floor tile and bathroom tile installation in Port St. Lucie, FL. Free quotes from independent local flooring installers. Ask for proof of insurance.

A modern Florida bathroom with new white porcelain floor tile and a walk in shower

Tile has been the standard Florida floor for decades, and for good reason. It handles water, humidity and sand better than anything else, it stays cool, and a well set tile floor can last as long as the house. The tradeoff is cost and time. Tile takes more labor than LVP, and it depends on a flat slab and good technique.

Porcelain or ceramic

Porcelain is denser and absorbs less water than ceramic, so it is the usual choice for floors, bathrooms and lanais. Ceramic is softer and often costs less, and it works well on walls and in low traffic rooms. Both come in wood look planks, stone looks and plain colors.

Large tiles need a flat floor

Large format tiles, such as 24 by 24 inch or long wood look planks, are popular because they mean fewer grout lines. They also show every high and low spot in the slab. If the floor is not flat enough, the edges of neighboring tiles sit at different heights, called lippage. Good installers check flatness, grind or level where needed and often use a leveling clip system. Ask how they plan to keep large tiles flat.

Bathrooms

A bathroom floor is a small room with a lot of cuts, a toilet to pull and reset and often a shower curb or threshold to match. If you are tiling a shower too, the waterproofing behind the tile matters more than the tile. Ask what membrane or system the installer uses, and whether the job includes any plumbing work. Moving a drain or a toilet is plumbing work and may need a licensed plumber and a permit.

Cracks and movement

Concrete slabs often have small shrinkage cracks. A crack under tile can show up later as a crack through the tile. An installer may suggest a crack isolation membrane over the crack, or across the whole floor. Tile also needs movement joints at the edges of the room and in large areas, filled with a flexible sealant instead of grout. Skipping them is a common reason tile pops loose, called tenting.

Permits, licenses and who is responsible

Many cities and counties do not require a building permit to replace floor covering alone, but rules differ and some jobs include other work that does, such as moving a toilet or changing a doorway. Confirm with your city or county building department. The installer is responsible for its own work and any permits the job needs.

Florida does not require a state contractor license for flooring work on its own. Florida Statute 489.117(4)(a) leaves flooring out of the trades that need state certification or registration. That is not the whole story, because counties and cities can have their own requirements, such as a local business tax receipt or a local license, and a job that touches plumbing or electrical work brings in other rules. Local rules can vary, so confirm with your city or county. Either way, ask any installer for proof of insurance.

Have old tile to remove first? See old tile removal. For prices, see the flooring cost guide.

Questions homeowners ask

How long does a new tile floor take?

A few rooms often take two to four days, depending on prep and tile size. The thinset needs time to set before grout, and the grout needs time before heavy use. Your installer will tell you when you can walk on it and when you can move furniture back.

Can new tile go over old tile?

Sometimes, if the old tile is flat and well bonded, but it raises the floor height and can cause problems at doors, appliances and transitions. Many installers prefer to remove the old tile.

What is tenting?

Tenting is when tiles pop up off the floor, often in a ridge. It is commonly caused by missing movement joints, poor bonding or slab movement. Movement joints at the walls and in large areas help prevent it.

Related services

We refer homeowners in Tradition, Port St. Lucie West, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Palm City, Vero Beach, and nearby neighborhoods.

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