A crack that runs in a straight line through several tiles is the slab moving, not a bad tile. We check every slab for cracks, height changes and moisture, treat stable cracks with an uncoupling membrane, and level out-of-flat floors before tiling.
Tile quality cannot compensate for an unsuitable assembly below it.
Review rigidity, flatness, cracks, movement, cleanliness and bonding compatibility.
Identify any backer, uncoupling, waterproofing, heating or crack-isolation components.
Record material, dimensions, calibration, finish, pattern and manufacturer guidance.
Plan starting lines, cut balance, transitions, perimeter space and required movement joints.
Choose joint width, grout type, colour, profiles, sealant locations and exposed-edge treatment.
Look for cracks, height changes and moisture. A crack that is still moving gets repaired first; a stable hairline crack gets an uncoupling membrane.
Dry-plan lines, pattern, focal points, cuts, transitions and edge profiles.
Bring the floor within the tile's flatness tolerance, then set the tile, with fuller mortar coverage and a clip system on large-format tile so edges sit flush.
Finish joints, changes of plane, exposed edges and return-to-use guidance.
Starting lines and focal points should avoid awkward slivers and keep the pattern deliberate.
Water management relies on the specified membrane, penetrations, transitions and sealant details below the finish.
Profiles, thresholds, movement joints and changes of plane need materials chosen for their specific role.
Our rates in Canadian dollars. We charge based on your written quote. The tile, the pattern and the substrate work set your price.
$8-$25 per sq ft
Ceramic, porcelain or large-format tile set over the right membrane, grouted and sealed, with edge profiles.
$1-$3 per sq ft
Existing tile, mortar or other flooring removed back to a clean substrate.
$2-$6 per sq ft
Floors brought within the tile's flatness tolerance so large tiles sit flush.
Quoted with the tile
Electric heating mat, sensor and membrane coordinated with the tile layout.
We stiffen and flatten the substrate, add an uncoupling or waterproofing membrane where the room needs one, and plan the layout around doors, tubs, drains and cabinets before the first tile is set.
A tile floor is an assembly: structure, substrate, membrane, mortar, tile and grout. When a tile cracks, the cause sits below the tile, so the assembly is where the work and the quote start.
Tile needs a stiff, flat base. Over a wood subfloor we check deflection and add underlayment where the floor has too much bounce; over concrete we check for cracks, height changes and moisture.
Calgary basement slabs need extra care. Expansive clay moves floor slabs far more than footings, so cracked and heaved basement slabs are common here. We treat stable cracks with an uncoupling membrane rather than tiling straight over them, and correct out-of-flat slabs with floor levelling first.
Use porcelain at entries and mudrooms. It is dense, absorbs very little water and stands up to the grit that comes indoors all winter: the City's pickle mix is 3% salt and 97% fine gravel, spread when road surfaces drop below -15°C. A matte or textured porcelain stays safer underfoot when snow melts off boots.
Large-format tile needs a flatter substrate and fuller mortar coverage than small tile, and it shows any height difference between edges. We level the floor to the tile's flatness requirement, back-butter large tiles and use a levelling clip system to keep edges flush.
The layout is set before setting starts. Centre lines get tested against walls, doorways, tubs and vanities so the edge cuts stay balanced and no sliver pieces land at the door.
Tile pairs well with in-floor heating, and a Calgary winter makes a warm bathroom or basement floor worth planning in. We coordinate the heating mat, sensor and membrane with the tile layout; see heated floor installation and bathroom tile. For cracked or loose tiles in an existing floor, see tile repair.
We charge $8 to $25 per square foot in Canadian dollars for tile installation. Your price within that rate depends on the tile, pattern and substrate work. See the flooring cost page.
Yes. Large-format porcelain needs a flatter substrate and fuller mortar coverage than small tile, so we level the floor first and use a clip system to keep edges flush. Flatness work is priced as its own line.
No. Grout and tile are the finish. In showers, bathrooms and laundry rooms the waterproofing is a membrane under the tile, and that is what keeps water out of the subfloor.
Yes, once the crack is assessed. A stable hairline crack gets an uncoupling membrane over it; a crack that is still moving or has a height change gets repaired first.
Yes. We install electric heating mats under tile and coordinate the sensor, membrane and layout, with the electrical connection made by a licensed electrician.
Porcelain. It is denser and absorbs less water than ceramic, so it handles meltwater and the fine gravel Calgary tracks indoors all winter. Choose a matte or textured surface for grip.
Yes, floors and showers, with the waterproofing membrane installed under the tile and sloped to the drain.
Yes, when matching tile exists and the cause of the cracking has stopped. Our tile repair service covers single tiles, hollow tiles and regrouting.
Installed tile costs $8 to $25 per square foot in Canadian dollars. Your price within that rate depends on the tile, the pattern and the substrate work. Removal adds $1 to $3 per square foot and levelling $2 to $6 where needed.