Tile & Stone
Permanent, waterproof, endlessly designable
Porcelain and ceramic tile are the only floors that are truly permanent: waterproof through and through, immune to scratches and sun, and available in every look imaginable — including strikingly convincing wood and marble. When tile is installed right, it simply never needs to be thought about again.
Porcelain is the denser, harder evolution of ceramic — fired hotter, it absorbs almost no water, which makes it right for floors, showers and even outdoors. Large-format tiles (24" and up) have transformed the category: fewer grout lines, faster cleaning, and a seamless, architectural feel. Wood-look planks in porcelain now give bathrooms and kitchens hardwood warmth with zero water risk.
Tile's quality lives and dies on installation. Substrate prep, waterproof membranes in wet areas, dead-level layouts and tight, even grout lines separate a 50-year floor from one that cracks in five. That craftsmanship is the heart of our tile work — it's the least forgiving material and the most rewarding when done right.
At a glance
- Typical cost
- $7–$20 / sq ft installed
- Lifespan
- 50+ years — often the life of the home
- Care
- Any cleaner works; seal grout every few years
Choose it when…
- Bathrooms, showers, entryways and mudrooms — maximum water, maximum traffic
- You want a floor you'll never replace
- Hot climates or sun-drenched rooms — tile stays cool and never fades
- Design ambition: mosaics, patterns, marble looks, heated floors
Think twice if…
- Comfort underfoot matters most — tile is hard and cold without radiant heat
- You drop things often — glassware loses, and heavy impacts can crack tiles
What we love
- + Waterproof and stain-proof for life
- + Longest lifespan of any floor — 50+ years
- + Immune to scratches, sun and heat
- + Unlimited design possibilities
Honest trade-offs
- − Hard and cold underfoot
- − Highest installation skill and cost
- − Grout needs periodic sealing/cleaning
Questions we hear every week
Not sure it's the right fit?
Bring us your rooms and your routine — we'll bring samples and straight answers. Free in-home consultation, no pressure.
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