Newington showroom • Serving Connecticut
Service scope
A clear look at the core work, the decisions that shape it, and what to expect along the way.
Core project elements
Final scope depends on the material, site conditions, and proposal, but these are the central parts of the work. None of the listed systems or supporting services is automatically included in every job.
Review the exact ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone, size, finish, backing, intended exposure and approved installation system. Porcelain, translucent glass, moisture-sensitive stone, large panels and specialty backings can require different bonding products. Ready-to-use adhesive is not interchangeable with cement mortar or approved for every wet or large-tile application.
Check structure, flatness, stability, moisture, existing layers and compatibility before choosing preparation and underlayment. A springy floor, damaged panels or active movement need evaluation; boards and membranes cannot repair weak framing. Natural stone can require a more demanding support assembly than ceramic tile.
Inspect product, shade and size identifiers before cutting. Blend the approved range and follow directional marks. Review focal points, balanced cuts, doors, corners, niches, outlets, fixture positions and grout lines in a dry layout or marked plan. Mosaic sheet joints should blend with the joints within each sheet. Follow the selected tile's offset limit; one-third is not a universal rule for every rectangle.
Use the specified mortar, primer and additives within their mixing, open-time and pot-life limits. Temperature, humidity, absorbency and air movement affect transfer and curing. Spread only an area that can be covered within working time; skinned-over mortar may not transfer, and extra water outside the directions can change performance. Check coverage by lifting representative freshly set tiles. Trowel selection, ridge direction, embedding and back-buttering where required work together; none alone proves support at edges and corners. Spot-setting ordinary floor tile can leave unsupported voids.
Test compatible grout and any approved pre-treatment on scratch-sensitive or porous tile, glass, metal and stone to check scratching, edge darkening, staining and cleanup. Follow joint-width, joint-depth, batch, mixing-proportion and curing directions. Required movement joints use the specified flexible sealant or profile; tile and rigid grout must not bridge them. Color-matched sealant can look different from grout.
Review the entire floor build-up at doors, appliances, toilets, cabinets, stairs and adjacent floors. Reducers, thresholds and profiles must suit heights and traffic. Wall ends, niches and outside corners need planned trim or fabrication; verify available sizes, finishes and lead times. Stair edges need an appropriate structural and dimensional plan. A flush transition may require preparation before tile is set.
Your proposal defines the scope
We'll review visible conditions and document the agreed work. Hidden or changed conditions are handled separately instead of being silently assumed.
What supports the finished surface
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| Starting surface | What needs evaluation |
|---|---|
| Concrete | Cracks and movement, contamination, coatings, curing products, moisture, flatness and existing joints. Establish compatible mechanical preparation, repair or mitigation and a joint plan before covering defects. |
| Plywood or OSB over framing | Joists, panel type and thickness, fastening, seams, deflection and tile or stone loads. Specify the correct layers and an approved underlayment or bonding method; plywood and OSB are not interchangeable bonding surfaces. |
| Existing tile | Bond, stability, hidden defects, contamination and finished height determine whether removal or an approved prepared overlay is appropriate. New tile cannot cure failure beneath it. |
| Resilient flooring or old adhesive | Layers, cushioning, attachment, residue and setting-system requirements determine removal or preparation. Identify materials requiring special handling before demolition; do not assume every surface can be sanded or covered. |
| Gypsum or lightweight underlayment | Identify the exact product, strength, dryness, surface, primer needs and service exposure. Use a tile method specifically approved for that substrate. |
| Wall framing and panels | Review support, flatness, tile weight, panel approval, fasteners, wet exposure and fixture penetrations. Decorative tile does not establish that a wall can support it. |
Boards and membranes serve different functions. A product may combine them only where the complete assembly documents that use.
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| Layer | Role and limitations |
|---|---|
| Cement backer board | Provides an approved bonding surface over suitable support. Follow the board's bedding mortar, fastener pattern, panel gaps and layout, and compatible alkali-resistant seam treatment. Bedding supports the board; it does not replace fastening. Conventional board neither repairs weak framing nor automatically flattens or waterproofs the floor. |
| Waterproof foam board | Can supply a lightweight waterproof tile substrate, but only with the specified support, seams, fasteners, penetrations and connections completed. |
| Uncoupling membrane | Manages specified differential movement. It is not structural reinforcement, a cure for vertical displacement or permission to omit movement joints. Verify minimum tile size, loads, substrate, primer and mortar. Waterproofing is an added function only when the required connections are sealed. |
| Crack-isolation membrane | Addresses specified in-plane cracking within its limits. It does not repair structural causes, active displacement or every crack; existing joints need evaluation. |
| Waterproof membrane | Controls water when correctly connected within its approved assembly. It does not create slope or automatically satisfy steam-vapor requirements. |
| Sound-control or heating layer | Provides the documented acoustic or heating function. Do not assume it also supplies waterproofing, uncoupling or structural support. |
Flatness describes variation from the intended plane; level describes its relation to horizontal. A sloped shower still needs a properly formed plane. Establish the applicable flatness tolerance and correct humps and dips before setting. Lippage is the height difference at adjacent edges; warpage is variation in a tile's shape. Tile, joint width, pattern, substrate and workmanship affect the result. Discuss acceptance criteria and a representative layout under the room's lighting.
Clips can hold neighboring edges during installation, but cannot correct a deficient substrate, remove every tile irregularity or prove mortar coverage. Large pieces and thin panels may require specific tools, handling and training. Use their own approved method rather than ordinary floor-tile assumptions.
The assembly and site determine joints at structural locations, perimeters, transitions, changes of plane and intermediate field positions. Area, sunlight, moisture and exterior exposure affect the plan. Decorative layouts cannot bridge required joints.
Coordinate heater, insulation where used, substrate, membrane, mortar, tile, controls and sensor placement. Confirm electrical or plumbing responsibilities, testing before concealment, curing and startup sequence, movement allowance and covering restrictions. A heated floor is not automatically waterproof.
Review the agreed tile range, pattern, joint alignment, edges, transitions, doors and fixture clearances. Discuss any concerns against the actual tile and applicable acceptance criteria. Confirm completed scope, required test and system records, matching spare material and the written timetable for each use of the room. Keep the named products, approved changes and warranty information together.
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