Professional Tile Installation, Substrate Preparation, Precision Setting, Permanent Results

Tile installation in South Florida runs $12 to $55 per square foot installed in 2026. Straight lay 12 by 24 porcelain on a flat floor sits near $12 to $20. Large format 24 by 48 panels, herringbone and chevron patterns, mosaics and shower walls run $28 to $55 because of layout time, cutting waste and substrate prep. Demolition of existing tile, self leveling underlayment and waterproofing membrane appear as separate line items so nothing is hidden.

A standard bathroom floor takes 2 to 3 days including layout, setting, grouting and cure. A full shower enclosure takes 4 to 7 days because the waterproofing has to cure and pass a 24 hour flood test before any tile goes up. Large format and mosaic patterns add a day or two. Grout should cure 24 to 72 hours before the shower is used. Glass door installation follows once tile is complete.

Epoxy grout is nonporous, so it does not absorb water, does not stain and never needs sealing, which matters in Florida bathrooms where humidity often sits above 70 percent. Cement grout wicks moisture, darkens and grows mold along shower joints within a couple of years. B8 Home Remodeling uses epoxy grout by default in every wet area at no upsell, including showers, tub surrounds and bathroom floors. It costs more to install and lasts far longer.

We build shower walls on cement backer board or foam backer board, never paper faced drywall, then apply a bonded waterproof membrane meeting ANSI A118.10 across the entire wet area, including corners, curb and niche, with reinforcing fabric at every change of plane. Pans get a mortar bed sloped a quarter inch per foot to the drain, then a 24 hour flood test before tile. That assembly is what keeps Florida humidity out of the framing.

Order 10 percent extra for a straight lay pattern, 15 percent for diagonal or herringbone layouts, and 20 percent for large format panels and rooms with many angles. Then keep one full box after the job. Tile dye lots change between production runs, and a discontinued line cannot be matched later, which turns one cracked tile into a full floor replacement. We calculate the exact order quantity in your written estimate.

Sometimes, though we rarely recommend it. It works only when every existing tile is solidly bonded, the surface is flat, and the added height does not create a trip hazard at doorways or block appliance and door clearance. In showers, tiling over old tile is not acceptable because there is no way to verify the waterproofing underneath. We sound test the existing floor with a tap tool during the estimate and tell you honestly which approach applies.