How much does tile installation cost in Virginia?

Tile installation has no single Virginia price. What you pay comes from written quotes for your own job, and two quotes only compare when they describe the same work. A dollar figure with no date and no Virginia job behind it is a guess, so this page shows what moves the number and how to get quotes that line up.

What moves the price

The surface under the tile. Damaged, loose or uneven areas must be repaired, patched and leveled before tiling,^[1] and a wall or floor that needs that work adds labor and materials before a single tile is set. Removing old tile, or a layer of old adhesive, is often its own line in a quote.

The tile and the pattern. Small mosaics and tight patterns take longer than plain rectangles. Large rectangular porcelain has its own rules: Daltile says it should never be set in a running bond pattern but with no more than a 1/3 overlap, with the joint widened to 3/16" and a large unit porcelain mortar used.^[1] A pattern like that needs a flat surface and an installer who has done it before.

Cuts and details. Every outlet, window return, niche and corner is a custom cut. Trim pieces matter too: Daltile's guide has an installer begin with counter trim and use bullnose trim pieces on flat walls or sides.^[1] Edge pieces cost more than field tile and take more time.

Who buys the tile. Daltile advises letting your installer purchase the tile, because then material problems fall under the installer's warranty, and says an installer who is reluctant to buy it is a red flag.^[2] The trade-off is that the installer's quote then includes the tile, so make sure each quote says which of you is buying it.

Room and access. A kitchen backsplash, a bathroom floor and a whole-house floor are different jobs with different minimums. Stairs, a long carry for heavy tile, or moving furniture and appliances add time.

Compare quotes on the same specification

DPOR advises getting at least three written bids using identical plans and specifications, and not automatically accepting the lowest.^[3] For tile, give every bidder the same list:

• the areas to be tiled, with measurements, and the tile you have chosen or your budget for it
• the layout and pattern, edge and trim pieces, and where tile stops
• what they will do about the surface: removal, patching, leveling, waterproofing in wet areas
• the grout type and color, and whether it is sealed
• who buys the tile, and whether the quote includes extra for cuts and breakage

Daltile suggests asking how long the project will take, how much tile is needed, how many people will work on it, and whether the installer has done this kind of job before, such as large format tile.^[4] Ask for a bid in writing, and for a written warranty that the work will be free from leaks and other issues. Daltile says to expect a warranty that covers you for about two years.^[2]

What Virginia requires of the installer

If the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's license is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[3] The Board for Contractors defines a specialty license for tile, marble, ceramic and terrazzo work, and says the commercial and residential building classifications and the home and commercial improvement specialties also cover it.^[5] A Class C license covers a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000; Class B covers $30,000 to under $150,000.^[6]

Look the license up on DPOR's License Lookup before you sign. Virginia's contract rules for licensed contractors require the contract to state the amounts and schedule of progress payments, with a specific statement of the down payment,^[7] and a listing of the specified materials and the work to be performed.^[7]

On the deposit, DPOR's guide says a good rule of thumb is no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less, with a larger deposit reasonable only for custom or special-order items.^[3] Tile ordered specially for your job can qualify, so ask what is ordered and when it arrives.

Stop and call a pro if

• Demolition turns up damage. A soft or sagging subfloor, rotted framing, or a wall that is wet or moldy has to be fixed before tile goes on, and the cost of that repair is not part of a tile quote.
• The job grows past $1,000. Virginia then requires a licensed contractor,^[3] so hire one rather than a handyman.
• A bid is far lower than the rest. Ask what it leaves out: surface prep, trim, waterproofing, or the tile itself.
• The contractor wants most of the money up front. That is out of line with DPOR's 10% rule of thumb.^[3]

Daltile's own advice on tile work is blunt: "Tile mistakes are hard to cover up and end up being very costly."^[2]

Getting help in Virginia

To see what you might do yourself first, read how to tile a kitchen backsplash and should I tile a backsplash myself or hire a tile installer. Browse tile and backsplash pros on Loclis, or read more flooring and tile answers.

To get itemized written quotes from licensed local installers, describe your tile job.