Five Questions That Separate the Pros from the Clowns (When Hiring Your Tile Guy)

Seriously, guys, if I could go back in time and whisper five questions to my younger self before I hired 'Tile Tommy' (long story, awful outcome), I would. Tile installation is not like painting a room. You can’t just redo it cheaply. Once it’s down, if it’s wrong, you’re talking about demolition, busted waterproofing, dust everywhere, and easily twice the original cost. Ugh. We’ve all been there, or know someone who has.

So, listen to your friend (that’s me!) who learned this the hard way. When you’re frantically searching for tile flooring installation near me, stop. Slow down. Put your candidates through the ringer with these five essential questions.

1. "Can you walk me through your waterproofing method for the shower base/walls?"

This is the non-negotiable, single most important question you will ask.

If you’re tiling a floor, this is about subfloor flatness. If you’re tiling a shower, this is about keeping your house from slowly rotting. I'm telling you, 90% of leaky shower problems happen because the prep was wrong.

Listen for the specific brand names. If they start saying stuff like, "We use Kerdi Board," or "I use RedGuard over cement board and a linear drain assembly," that’s good. That shows they know the modern, industry-approved, guaranteed systems. If they just say "tar paper and concrete," or "we just make sure the grout is sealed," run. Seriously, just get up and leave. They’re using outdated methods that are bound to fail, and you’ll have mold in your walls in three years. This is your biggest filter.

2. "How will you handle my floor being uneven? And what kind of trowel size do you use?"

Okay, two questions in one, but they go together. This tells you if they understand the foundation of their work.

Every floor is uneven. Every single one. If your guy says, "Oh, it looks fine," they are glossing over a critical step. A true professional will talk about floating the floor, or using a self-leveling compound to make sure it’s absolutely flat before they even mix the thin-set.

Then, the trowel size—it's super boring, but it matters! The little notches on their trowel determine how much cement adhesive, or thin-set, goes onto the floor. If they use a trowel that’s too small for your big 24-inch tiles, you won’t get "full coverage." That means you’ll have hollow spots under your tiles that are guaranteed to crack if you drop a hair dryer or step down too hard. Ask what size they use and then watch them use it. No hollow spots, please!

3. "Where will my cuts and transitions fall, specifically around that main doorway?"

This is about quality-of-life, the daily visual test. It’s the difference between a nice job and a beautiful job.

Ask them to visually map out the layout for you. You do not want a tiny, sliver-thin cut tile running down the most visible edge of your room. It looks messy, cheap, and it’s harder to grout. A skilled tiler will measure everything so they can center the pattern and push any small, necessary cuts to the least noticeable place—like underneath the vanity or tucked behind a door swing.

If they say, "I'll just start here and see where it lands," that’s a fail. A real professional tile installer knows the layout plan before the first bag of thin-set is even opened. It's planning, not guessing!

4. "Can I see two references: one recent job and one that’s at least three years old?"

Everyone can show you a photo album of a job they finished last week. That’s great. But tile work fails over time, often because of poor prep (see Question 1).

You need to know how their work holds up to three years of real life. Kitchen spills, kids dropping toys, shower use. Ask for a reference from an older job. If they hesitate or say they don't keep track of old clients, that’s a giant red flag. Why wouldn't they proudly show off their long-lasting work?

And when you call the reference? Don’t just ask, "Did they do a good job?" Ask: "Did they show up on time? Did they clean up every day? Were there any hidden costs? And would you hire them again?" That last one is gold.

5. "What kind of warranty do you offer on the labor, and can I see your current insurance certificate?"

Yes, you have to be the adult in the room and demand the boring paperwork. I know you’re just trying to find some great tile flooring installation near me, but this is essential.

You need their license and proof of current liability and worker's compensation insurance. If they don't have it, and their helper falls off a ladder, guess who the insurance company comes after? It's you. Don't risk your entire house on someone trying to save $500 a year on insurance.

As for the warranty, if they are confident in their waterproofing and prep (the hard stuff), they should offer at least a one-year warranty on their labor. Anything less means they expect to be gone before the problems start.

Final Thoughts (Go Get ‘Em!)

It sounds like a lot of interrogation, but trust me, these five questions will save you weeks of headaches and thousands of dollars. The good ones—the true craftspeople—will love these questions, because it shows you value quality and longevity. They want to talk about their technical expertise!

So, go ahead. Ask the tough questions. You’re not being rude; you’re being smart. Now, find that installer and get the beautiful tile job you deserve!

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