Tile contractor —
Seattle & Puget Sound.
Tile installation is a quiet craft. We dry-lay every layout, plan grout joints around fixtures, and use epoxy grout where moisture demands it.
Tile is a quiet craft. The difference between great and average tilework is invisible from across the room and obvious the moment you stand at the wall — straight grout joints, balanced cuts at edges, niches centered on the field, and grout color that matches the design intent.
We dry-lay every layout, plan grout joints around fixtures, and use epoxy grout where moisture demands it. Substrate prep is enforced before any tile gets set — flatness within 1/8" over 10 ft for large-format, full uncoupling membrane on plywood floors, waterproof membrane in wet areas.
What we build
SCOPE- 01Schluter + Ditra underlayment
- 02Custom layouts + dry-fit
- 03Large-format slabs
- 04Mosaic + feature walls
- 05Epoxy grout in wet areas
- 06Stone honing + sealing
Phased process
PROCESS- 01
Substrate prep
Flatness verification, Schluter Ditra or Kerdi membrane install, level cement-board on walls, vapor management.
- 02
Layout & dry-fit
Snap reference lines, dry-lay entire layout, center cuts at focal walls, plan niches and accent placement.
- 03
Setting
Back-butter large-format tile, comb proper trowel notch, set with 1/3 stagger pattern, beat in for full bed contact.
- 04
Cuts & trim
Wet-saw cuts, Schluter trim pieces or tile-on-tile mitered edges, sealed cut edges on stone.
- 05
Grout
Float grout into joints, wait for slight haze, sponge clean in three passes. Epoxy grout in showers and counters.
- 06
Seal
Penetrating sealer on natural stone (3 coats); enhancing sealer on slate and travertine; no sealer on porcelain unless specified.
Spec sheet
SPEC- +Porcelain rectified large-format (24×48, 32×32, 24×24)
- +Natural stone (marble, travertine, limestone) with cleft, honed, or polished finish
- +Glass mosaic and handmade ceramic for feature walls
- +Schluter Ditra / Ditra-XL uncoupling membrane on all floor installs
- +Schluter Kerdi waterproof membrane on all shower walls and pans
- +Epoxy grout (Laticrete Spectralock) in wet areas; cement grout elsewhere
- +Schluter profiles (Jolly, Quadec, Rondec) for transitions and outside corners
Cost drivers
COST- Tile size and material$6/sf basic porcelain → $80+/sf book-matched marble installed
- Pattern complexity (herringbone, chevron, mosaic)+25–60% labor over straight-set
- Substrate prep (self-leveling, membrane)+$3–$8/sf depending on conditions
- Wet-area waterproofing (Kerdi, hot-mop)$1,800–$4,500 per shower depending on size
- Stone sealing and maintenance+$2–$5/sf for premium sealer, plus annual re-seal recommendation
Codes & permits
COMPLIANCE- TCNA / ANSI A118.10
Industry standard for waterproof tile assemblies. Schluter Kerdi and Wedi systems are pre-engineered to meet it.
- ASTM C627 (Robinson Test)
Tile rated for residential, commercial, or extra-heavy traffic. Porcelain in baths typically rates Extra Heavy.
- TCNA F125 (radiant heat under tile)
Specific membrane and movement-joint requirements for radiant-heated floors. We follow exactly to preserve warranty.
Is tile the right call?
- →Showers, tub surrounds, and bathroom floors
- →Kitchen backsplashes and accent walls
- →Heated bathroom and entryway floors
- →Fireplace surrounds, feature walls, and outdoor patio finishes
Tile questions
FAQQ.01
What grout color should I choose?
Match grout to tile for a quiet, monolithic look; contrast for a graphic look that highlights pattern. We dry-fit grout samples next to tile before final selection — color reads very differently in place than in a chip.Q.02
Is epoxy grout worth the extra cost?
In showers, yes — epoxy grout is impervious, stain-resistant, and never needs sealing. In dry areas, premium cement grout with sealer is fine and easier to work with on repairs.Q.03
How long does a shower take to tile?
5–8 days for a typical shower from waterproof membrane through grout and seal. Large-format and stone runs 1–2 days longer for layout and dry-fit.Q.04
Can you match an existing tile?
Often, if the original is still in production or we can source close-out lots. For discontinued tile, we typically reuse salvaged pieces in low-visibility areas and refresh the focal wall.
Official resources & sources
- Source ↗WSEC 2021 Residential Energy CodeEnvelope, HVAC, hot-water and air-sealing requirements
- Source ↗WA HB 1110 — Middle housing lawStatewide middle-housing zoning preemption
- Source ↗WA HB 1337 — ADU statewide rulesTwo-ADU baseline, no owner occupancy, parking limits
- Source ↗WA Dept. of Commerce — ADU resources
- Source ↗WA L&I contractor license lookupVerify Golden State ADU Builders Inc · GOLDESA747LZ
- Source ↗Washington State Building Code CouncilStatewide adopted codes (IRC, IBC, WSEC)
Ready to scope your tile project?
Send a paragraph and the address. A licensed PM replies within one business day with next steps.
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