The Grapevine Homeowners' Guide to Tile Installation Services

Tile has been used as a finishing material for thousands and thousands of years. While the modern options are an improvement over ancient installations, they really haven't changed all that much over the course of history—after all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But speaking of broken tiles, if your current floor or wall finishings are looking pretty rough around the edges, or you just want to add some style and protection to your living space, professional Grapevine tile installation service is an excellent choice for your home.

Tile is an incredibly versatile option that comes in a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes, textures, patterns, and materials, so a new tile installation is an ideal chance for a Grapevine homeowner to put their own stamp on their house by making it reflect their personality and sense of taste. But it's not all about the aesthetic appearance. Tile also offers some huge benefits, such as its durability and longevity. It is also easy to clean and usually low maintenance.

Do you have questions about Grapevine tile installation services? The team of Grapevine handyman service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine can offer you some expert advice and deliver the highest standards of quality workmanship and excellent customer service. We have many years of experience with tile installation in the Grapevine area and beyond, so we can get the job done efficiently and correctly.

Do I Need a New Tile Installation, or Just Repairs?

This is a good question to start with because you don't want to necessarily dive into a big flooring installation project to replace your current tile surface if all you really need is a basic repair for a chip or crack or to replace one damaged piece. Grapevine homeowners often ask us about repair versus replacement. In our professional experience, it comes down to the severity and extent of the damage and whether a suitable replacement piece is available.

Widespread Damage

If you have noticed a couple of chips on your floor or a hairline crack, we can likely take care of those surface issues with repair services. That involves filling the crack or chip with epoxy, smoothing it out, and then painting over it and sealing so the repair is invisible and the piece doesn't have to be removed at all. Or, the pieces themselves might be just fine, but the grout lines are crumbling or just dingy, no matter how much you scrub. In that case, we can remove and replace the grout lines while leaving the pieces in place.

But if the damage is severe or maybe not that bad but widespread across a large number of pieces, a replacement installation is going to be your most cost-effective option. It will also have much more attractive, long-lasting results. Numerous repairs would be very time-consuming, and the repaired areas would be weaker and prone to further damage, so they would need to be monitored carefully.

No Matching Pieces

If something heavy was dropped on the floor—or smashed against the wall—and one or two pieces were seriously damaged, replacing just those broken pieces makes a lot of sense as long as you have replacement pieces available. Unfortunately, that is a pretty big caveat. You may not know the manufacturer or exact pattern name of what is currently installed in your home. This will make locating a new piece very difficult. Finishing materials frequently become discontinued, so the right ones might not even be manufactured any longer.

That is why, whenever you have a tile installation done, you should make sure to save a few extra pieces in case you need them for a replacement. But even if you did do that, it may be impossible to make the color consistent. That's because, like anything else, your tile installation will suffer wear and tear over time. It can fade or deteriorate and change color, so the new, unused piece won't match the old ones anymore. In those situations, a replacement installation is your best option.

What Type of Tile Should I Choose for Grapevine Tile Installation?

If you have already begun looking around at the types of tile available in Grapevine, you have probably noticed that there is an extensive selection to choose from. That may feel intimidating at first, but there are a few questions you can ask yourself that will help narrow down your options and find the best type of flooring or wall tile for your property. Need more info on the various types? Here's what Grapevine homeowners should know about tile flooring.

What Is the Main Purpose of the Tile Installation?

It might seem like an odd question at first, but it can be really helpful to think of your tile installation this way. There are a wide variety of possible applications in Grapevine properties, including residential and commercial applications, exterior applications, and (of course) indoor installation projects.

Where on your property do you want the installation location to be? Will it be on the floor in a high-traffic area of the house that is prone to high levels of moisture? If so, you should be looking at durable choices such as ceramic or porcelain that offer solid water resistance protection.

Is enhancing the style and appeal of your Grapevine home your number one reason for tile installation? Glass, for example, is far too delicate for floor tile installations, but even just one little accent strip in a kitchen backsplash goes a long way to add depth and interest with its translucent beauty. And, while natural stone is understandably more expensive than man-made tile, there is no denying that it is gorgeous and can serve as a conversation piece for the whole room.

How Much Maintenance Do I Want to Do?

This is another big consideration that may surprise some Grapevine homeowners, but different types of material do have different maintenance requirements. For example, natural stone tiles such as slate need to be regularly resealed to look good, which can be a big task. You may be perfectly fine with the trade-off of more maintenance work in exchange for the natural charm of slate, but it's good to be honest with yourself about how much maintenance you really want to do throughout the life of your installation. Ceramic, on the other hand, may not have the same striking appearance of natural stone, but it is virtually maintenance-free.

What Size Is Best for My Tile Installation in Grapevine?

The easiest way to determine what will work for size is by approximately matching the size of the pieces to the space size you are working on. For example, an installation on a relatively small surface area like a backsplash looks great with smaller options such as subway or mosaic tiles. And for the record, mosaic options are also a great choice for any surface with a slope or a curve, like a shower floor, because they are small enough to conform to a non-flat surface.

The "standard" size is 12-inch by 12-inch tiles, which is generally a safe bet for most typical installations. But if your installation is going on a larger surface area, like a floor or an entire wall, large-format tile is a good choice. It looks less "busy" than small pieces on a large area. Larger tiles can also make a small room feel a little bigger. Don't forget that you can also play around with the shape of the pieces to get unique and attractive results. Rectangular planks that mimic a wood floor pattern are increasingly popular, as are honeycomb, herringbone, and other less common shapes or patterns.

Are Caulking and Grouting the Same Thing?

They are not the same, though caulk and grout are often mistaken for each other. Caulking and grouting are both important parts of the tile installation process that serve different purposes. There is a little bit of overlap in how you use them, but you can't replace one with the other. Grout is primarily cement-based and goes between the pieces to space them out from each other and forms a strong masonry bond with the cement backer board or substrate under the tiles. Caulk, on the other hand, is a semi-flexible material, usually made of acrylic or silicone. It goes along the edge of an installation where it meets another type of material such as drywall and can also be used in corners where two planes meet at a 90-degree angle.

For an installation that will be frequently exposed to water, such as in a shower, it might be a good idea to have your Grapevine handyman apply caulk over top of the grout lines to seal them. This will make the cleaning process easier. However, a wide range of tile grouts is available, including some epoxy grouts that don't need to be sealed.

Does Grout Have to Be Used in a Tile Installation?

Basically, yes. If you are getting a new installation, grout joints are going to be a part of it. A skilled Grapevine handyman may be able to minimize the appearance of grout lines a bit, but you can't eliminate it altogether.

All houses shift and settle over time, and grout allows for a little bit of "wiggle room" to absorb that movement, so the pieces don't grind against each other and crack. It also prevents particles of dirt and bacteria from getting into the cracks between pieces and making it impossible to clean.

Can You Put a New Tile Installation Over Top of Old Tile?

This is possible sometimes, but we don’t usually recommend it for a couple of reasons:

1. It's a very heavy material, and it’s not a good idea to install a heavy layer over top of another heavy layer unless the subfloor is solid concrete because the weight could potentially damage floor joists.

2. The original layer needs to be in good condition and perfectly even, with no cracks or bumps that will affect the new installation, and most people aren't interested in covering tile that is in great shape.

3. It will raise the level of the floor and could create a lip that will trip people up.

Not up to the task of removing an old installation before putting in a new one? No problem! Our Grapevine handyman team can take care of that step along with the rest of the process, so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy your new floor or wall.

Is It Safe to Install Tile Over Asbestos Flooring?

The answer to this one is a definite no. Asbestos is a naturally occurring, highly carcinogenic mineral that causes aggressive health problems if particles of it are inhaled or ingested. It was banned as a building material in the late 1970s, but manufacturers were allowed to continue selling their existing stock, so it was used until the mid-1980s.

Asbestos is dangerous when it is cut, broken, or disturbed in a way that minuscule particles become airborne, so you should never apply tile over top of it or try to remove it on your own. If you suspect asbestos anywhere on your property, including flooring, popcorn ceilings, and numerous other potential applications, you must have it tested and removed by an asbestos abatement professional.

Need Help With Grapevine Tile Installation? Your Local Handyman Is an Expert Installer!

If you are in Grapevine, Southlake, or another nearby community, you can rely on the professionals at Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine for high-quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. Whether you need service just for installation or help with a larger project like a shower remodel, you can count on us!

Pick up the phone and call us today at 817-567-2433 to schedule a convenient appointment time or speak with our knowledgeable customer service staff about what your Grapevine home needs to get in perfect working order.