Readiness check

Will your tile installation last or come back as a callback?

Tile is rigid and brittle, so it fails from what is under it and what holds it down, not from the tile itself. Cracks, hollow spots, tenting, and leaks all trace to skipped fundamentals. Answer for how the job actually runs, not the ideal. The score stays on your device; enter an email only if you want the tile installation checklist sent over.

1. Is the substrate sound, clean, and stiff enough (deflection within L/360, or L/720 for stone)?Yes, verified sound and within the deflection limitLooks fine, we did not check deflectionWe tile over whatever is there

2. Is the substrate flat enough for the tile size (large-format needs a very flat floor)?Yes, flattened and checked against the toleranceRoughly flat, not measuredWe just set into the dips and humps

3. Do you use the right mortar for the tile and get full coverage (back-butter large tile)?Yes, correct mortar, full coverage, back-butteredRight mortar, but coverage is hit or missWhatever thinset, spot-bond it

4. Do you pull and check a tile to confirm coverage with no hollow spots?Yes, we check coverage as we goOnce in a whileNo, we trust the trowel

5. In wet areas, do you install a waterproofing membrane and flood-test before tiling?Yes, membrane plus a flood testMembrane, but no flood testNo membrane, the tile is the waterproofing

6. Do you install movement joints (soft joints at the perimeter and in the field)?Yes, perimeter and field movement joints per EJ171Perimeter only, no field jointsWe grout everything solid

7. Do you control lippage (flat substrate, leveling clips, sensible offset on large tile)?Yes, lippage controlled and within toleranceSome lippage we live withLippage is a regular complaint

8. Do you let mortar and grout cure before traffic and seal cementitious grout where needed?Yes, cure before load and seal where specifiedWe rush traffic on when busyNo real cure or seal step