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HiringTile Repair

When is it worth hiring a pro to repair tile?

It is worth hiring a pro when more than a few tiles are loose or hollow, the floor flexes, the wall behind is wet or soft, or the tile is stone, porcelain, large-format or in a shower. One or two tiles on a firm, dry surface are a fair DIY job. In Virginia, work valued at $1,000 or more needs a licensed contractor.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Tap-test the area

    Tap the tiles around the damage and count how many are loose, hollow or cracked, because a handful points to a small job and a whole area to a bigger one.

  2. Step 2: Check for water

    Look for stains, a soft wall, dark patches or a musty smell near the damage; water behind tile is a pro's job.[3]

  3. Step 3: Note the tile type

    Write down whether it is ceramic, porcelain, stone or glass, and how large the tiles are, since stone, porcelain and large tiles call for different mortar and technique.[2]

  4. Step 4: Decide DIY or pro

    Keep the job yourself only for one or two tiles on a firm, dry surface that you can match; otherwise move on to hiring.

  5. Step 5: Choose the kind of business

    Pick a handyman with tile experience for a few tiles, or a tile installer for stone, shower, large-format or widespread repairs.

  6. Step 6: Look up the licence

    Check the contractor's licence on DPOR's License Lookup, because a license number on an advertisement or business card does not necessarily mean the license is valid.[6]

  7. Step 7: Ask for proof of past work

    Ask for photos of finished jobs of the same kind and for references, and look closely at corners, edges and the spacing of joints.[1]

  8. Step 8: Get it in writing

    Get a written bid and contract with the scope, the total, a small deposit and a written warranty against leaks and other issues.[10]

It is worth hiring a pro to repair tile when the problem is bigger than a few tiles, when the surface under the tile is wrong, or when the job is in a shower or uses stone, porcelain or large-format tile. One or two cracked or loose tiles on a firm, dry surface, with a matching spare to hand, are a reasonable do-it-yourself job.

Two workers kneeling on a grey tiled floor in an empty hall, repairing a section where tiles have been lifted, with buckets and a wheelbarrow nearby
Photo: Smuconlaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When it is a DIY job

A single tile broken by a dropped pan, a loose backsplash tile with a sound wall behind it, and cracked grout that needs raking out and refilling are all within reach. The condition is that nothing underneath is wrong. See how to fix loose wall tiles and how to replace a cracked tile.

When a pro is worth the money

Daltile, a tile maker, says that not every tile installation should be considered a DIY project, and that mistakes are difficult to hide and fixing them may require removing all the tile and starting from scratch.[1] These are the cases where a pro earns the fee:

  • Hollow or loose tiles across an area. LATICRETE's list of causes for loose tile includes deflection in the substrate, improper installation of cement backer board, improper thin-set and movement or settlement of the substrate.[2] Resetting tiles over those problems fails again. Finding the cause is the pro's job.
  • A floor that flexes or sags. LATICRETE says a substrate deflection rating of L/360 must be met to accept tile, and L/480 to accept stone.[2] A bouncing floor is a structure question, so see why floor tiles crack and how to keep tile from cracking.
  • Water behind the tile. EPA says it is important to "dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth."[3] A wet shower wall needs the source found and the wall opened up, not a new tile.
  • Stone, porcelain, glass or large tiles. These need different mortar from a repair adhesive; LATICRETE notes tiles larger than 8 inches by 8 inches require back-buttering for proper installation.[2]
  • Corners and tub joints that keep failing. LATICRETE traces cracking and leaking shower corners to a lack of properly installed allowance for movement.[4]
  • Old black adhesive or unknown backing in an older home. EPA says "If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone."[5]

Which pro to call

For any of the cases above, hire a tile installer. Daltile recommends someone with at least three years of experience installing tile and a proven record for the type of installation you need.[1] Our handyman versus tile installer guide goes into the choice, and what a small repair costs and what tile repair costs in Virginia cover the price.

What Virginia requires

DPOR says that if the work you are considering 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.[6] The Code of Virginia defines a Class C contractor as one whose single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000.[7] Several specialties cover tile, including tile, marble, ceramic and terrazzo contracting and flooring and floor covering contracting, which covers "ceramic, marble, stone, and all other types of tile".[8]

Do not rely on a number printed on an advert: DPOR says a license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid.[6] Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work,[6] and DPOR's checklist adds: get at least three written bids and limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.[6]

Interior floor finishes are among the ordinary repairs the building code lists as needing no permit application.[9] Check with your locality for anything beyond that.

Questions that sort good installers from poor ones

Ask how long the project will take, how much tile is needed, how many people will be working on the project, and whether the installer has worked on projects like yours before.[1] Daltile also suggests looking closely at photos of finished work: even spacing, perfectly straight grout lines, and no lippage.[1] Then ask for a written bid and a written commitment that the work will be free from leaks and other issues, which Daltile expects to cover about two years.[10]

Stop and call a pro if

  • The wall or floor behind the tile is soft, dark or wet.
  • More than a few tiles are hollow, loose or cracked, or they crack in a line.
  • The floor bounces or the wall flexes.
  • The tile is stone, large-format or in a shower, and you cannot match it or reseal it.
  • You do not know what the old adhesive is made of.

Browse local pros or more handyman answers, and when you are ready, describe the tile repair so licensed local pros can quote it.

Common questions

Is one cracked tile worth hiring a pro for?
Usually not, if the surface under it is firm and dry and you have a matching spare. If you have no spare, if the tile is stone or large-format, or if the crack runs across several tiles, a pro is worth considering.
Should I hire a handyman or a tile installer?
A handyman with tile experience is usually enough for a few tiles on a sound surface. Choose a tile installer for stone, shower tile, large-format tile, or a repair that covers an area. Daltile suggests someone with at least three years of tile experience.
What if a floor tile sounds hollow?
One hollow tile may just have a void under it, but several suggests a bond problem or a base that is moving. A pro can find out which, rather than resetting tiles that will lift again.
Do tile pros in Virginia need a licence?
DPOR says work valued at $1,000 or more needs a valid Virginia contractor's license for the right category. Look it up on DPOR's License Lookup instead of relying on a number in an advert.
What should I get in writing?
The scope of work, which tiles are being replaced and how they are sourced, the total price, a small deposit, and a written commitment against leaks and other issues. Virginia requires licensed contractors to give a written contract for residential work.

Sources

  1. [1] 5 Things to Do When Hiring a Tile Installer, Daltile. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] Tile installation complaints: causes and prevention (TDS 208), LATICRETE. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] Movement Joints in Residential and Light Commercial Applications (TDS 256), LATICRETE. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
  6. [6] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  7. [7] Va. Code § 54.1-1100, Definitions (contractors), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  8. [8] 18VAC50-22-30, Definitions of specialty services (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  9. [9] 13VAC5-63-80, Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  10. [10] 5 More Things to Do When Hiring a Tile Installer, Daltile. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.