Tile Installation in Burlington, NC

What’s the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile?

Both are made of clay and fired. Porcelain is made from finer clay at higher heat, which makes it denser, harder and much less absorbent. By industry standard, porcelain absorbs less than 0.5 percent water. Ceramic is more porous, a bit softer and easier to cut, and usually costs less.

	Porcelain	Ceramic
Density and strength	Denser and harder	Softer and more porous
Water absorption	Very low, under 0.5 percent	Higher
Best for	Floors, showers, entries and heavy traffic	Walls, backsplashes and lighter-use floors
Cutting and setting	Harder to cut, needs the right blades	Easier to cut

For floors in a Burlington house, porcelain is our usual recommendation.

Is tile a good choice for a Burlington home?

For the right rooms, yes. Tile is waterproof on the surface, it doesn’t scratch the way wood does, and it wipes clean after a muddy day. Piedmont red clay and wet shoes after a storm are no problem for tile.

The catch is that tile is the least forgiving floor to install. It cracks when the floor underneath flexes, and in many Burlington houses the subfloor is wood framing over a crawl space. Half of the city’s homes were built in 1978 or earlier. Tile can last decades on a floor that was prepared properly. The prep is the job.

Where tile is a good fit

• Bathrooms, showers and tub surrounds
• Laundry rooms, mudrooms and entries
• Kitchens, with the subfloor checked first
• Anywhere you want a floor that shrugs off water

Where we’d steer you elsewhere

• A bouncy floor you don’t want to stiffen. See our vinyl flooring page.
• Bedrooms or living areas where you want a warm, soft floor
• A house where a cold floor in winter would bother you, unless you add heat

Can you put tile over a wood subfloor?

Yes, with the right prep. Tile over wood is common, and it works when the floor is stiff enough and the tile is set over an approved base. The industry standard, from the Tile Council of North America, limits floor deflection to L/360 for ceramic and porcelain. Natural stone over wood is held to a tighter L/720.

L/360 means the floor can’t sag more than 1/360 of its span under load. For a 15-foot joist span, that’s about half an inch. We check the framing where we can reach it: joist size, span and spacing, and any existing sag. If the floor is too flexible, we stiffen it with blocking or an extra layer of subfloor, or we recommend a different floor.

What does a tile-ready subfloor look like?

• Stiff. Meets the L/360 standard for ceramic and porcelain over wood framing.
• Flat. Tile won’t hide dips, and large tiles show them most.
• Dry. No leaks, no damp crawl space working on the wood.
• Solid. Loose panels and rot repaired first.
• A tile base on top. Cement backer board, glass-mat backer or an uncoupling membrane, depending on the room.
• Good mortar coverage. Large tiles should have roughly 90 percent coverage in dry areas and 95 percent in wet ones.
• Movement joints. Flexible joints at the edges, not rigid grout.

If your subfloor needs repair first, our subfloor repair page covers how we do it.

What goes under tile in a shower or bathroom?

A real waterproofing system. Tile and grout aren’t waterproof as a system. Water gets through grout lines and cracks, so a shower needs a waterproofing membrane under the tile, either a sheet or a liquid-applied coating, over a backer made for wet areas. The shower floor slopes to the drain. In a bathroom, areas around the tub and toilet get the same care. Our waterproof flooring page explains why the layers under a floor matter as much as the surface.

Is tile slippery?

It can be, and it depends on the finish and the grout. Polished and glazed tile gets slick when wet. Textured and matte tile grips better, and smaller tiles have more grout lines, which add traction. Tile makers rate slip resistance with a DCOF number, and 0.42 or higher is a commonly used benchmark for wet interior floors. Check the spec sheet, especially for showers, entries and anyone with balance concerns.

What size tile is best?

It depends on the room and the floor. Large tiles look clean with fewer grout lines, but they need a flatter, stiffer floor, and any lippage, meaning one edge sitting higher than its neighbor, is more noticeable. Smaller tiles and mosaics are more forgiving over wood framing and give more grip in showers. Long wood-look planks need a very flat floor and careful layout. We’ll tell you honestly if your floor can handle the size you like.

Cement grout or epoxy grout, and does grout need sealing?

• Cement grout is the standard. It’s porous, so it usually needs sealing and re-sealing, and it stains over time if you don’t.
• Epoxy grout resists stains and doesn’t need sealing, but it’s harder to install and cleans up differently.
• Caulk, not grout, goes in corners and where tile meets tubs, walls and other surfaces. Those spots move.

Grout is the first part of a tile floor to look tired. Sealing and a pH-neutral cleaner go a long way.

Can tile go over old vinyl or old tile?

Sometimes. Tile can go over old vinyl or old tile if the existing floor is solid, flat, clean and well bonded. Cushioned vinyl and anything loose has to come out. Vinyl tile from before 1980, especially 9-inch squares, and the black adhesive under it can contain asbestos, so it gets tested before anything is sanded or removed. Going over old floors also adds height, which can leave a lip at doorways and appliances.

Why does tile crack, and why does grout fail?

• The floor flexes. The most common cause by far.
• No movement joints, so the tile has nowhere to go.
• Poor mortar coverage, leaving hollow spots under tiles.
• Moisture working on the wood or the bond.
• Settling. Pier or framing movement in a crawl-space house.
• Grout that wasn’t sealed, or was cleaned with harsh chemicals.

A cracked tile floor is usually telling you about the structure beneath it. Replacing the tile without finding out why just buys you the same crack.

How much does tile installation cost in Burlington?

Price per square foot is only part of it. Here’s what moves the total:

• The tile itself, including size, finish and any special cuts
• Layout and pattern, such as straight, diagonal or herringbone
• Subfloor prep, backer board or uncoupling membrane
• Waterproofing in showers and wet areas
• Tearing out the old floor
• Grout type and sealing
• Heated floor mats, if you want them
• Trim, transitions and moving toilets or appliances

Ask every installer what’s included. Our estimates list each line separately.

How long does a tile job take?

Longer than a vinyl floor. Setting materials need time to cure before grouting, often about a day, and grout needs time before sealing and before heavy use. Showers need extra cure time before they get wet. Products differ, so the instructions decide. Plan on days, not hours, and we’ll give you a schedule in writing.

Where do you install tile near Burlington?

We install tile across Burlington, from older houses off South Church Street to neighborhoods near Alamance Crossing, and throughout Alamance County.

Town	ZIP code	What matters there
Burlington	27215, 27217	Older bathrooms and laundry rooms on wood subfloors over crawl spaces
Haw River	27258	River-town houses where moisture control matters
Graham	27253	Older and newer homes with bath and kitchen remodels
Mebane	27302	Newer homes, where builder-grade flooring is ready to be upgraded
Elon	27244	Rentals and family homes near Elon University
Gibsonville	27249	Homes on both sides of the Alamance and Guilford county line

More tile questions

Can tile go in a kitchen?

Yes. Tile handles heat, spills and traffic well, as long as the subfloor is stiff enough. It’s hard on dropped dishes and on legs, so many people put it down in the work zones and use something softer elsewhere.

Is tile cold underfoot?

Yes, especially on winter mornings. Electric heated mats under the tile are an option, and they’re easiest to add during installation.

Does tile need to be sealed?

Porcelain generally doesn’t. Cement-based grout usually does, and some natural stone and unglazed tile do too. Epoxy grout doesn’t need sealing. Follow the product’s instructions.

Can I tile over carpet?

No. Carpet and its pad have to come out. Tile needs a solid, stiff base, not a soft one.