I'm planning to replace my old linoleum kitchen floor with tile and have received two quotes so far, both around $8,000 for about 320 square feet. I already have the tile, can get cement board and other necessary materials, and I'm capable of doing the demolition myself. I'm located in Northern California and I'm wondering if this price is typical or if the small size of the job is causing these high quotes since they might prefer not to take on smaller projects. Any insights?
4 Answers
Tile work can be a great DIY project if you're up for it. There are tons of tutorials online to help you get started. Plus, if you rent tools like a saw, you could do everything for a fraction of the cost—around $500 for tools, and materials should only run about $5 per square foot. Just remember to practice your technique first!
You can always rent tools if you want to try DIY first and save some hassle!
Prices for tile can be pretty steep lately! I paid $7,000 for a 250 square foot job in a high cost area, and that included doing some demo, too! So you might want to get more quotes just to compare and maybe consider DIY as a backup plan to save money.
Wait until things ease up, then see if you can get a better deal!
Definitely check out services like Thumbtack for more quotes!
It sounds like $8k might be standard for this kind of work in your area. Quality matters with tilers—if you go for the cheapest option, you might just end up with issues like uneven tiles or crooked grout lines. You’re definitely on the right track wanting reliable work!
Totally get that! I’m not looking for the cheapest either, just curious if this is high for a smaller job since I'm already handling some parts myself.
As someone who's been doing DIY tiling for years, I’d suggest doing a bit of homework before diving in. It's really important to start with a solid base—use a deflection calculator to check if your floor can handle the tile you pick. If you’re considering large tiles, the base needs to be thicker. Also, have you explored other options like vinyl plank flooring which can be easier to install and maintain?
Great advice! I hadn't thought about checking the base first, I’ll definitely look into that.
$5 per square foot might limit you on style, but for a floor, it’s not a huge deal!