Ask around: Talk to tile professionals (contractors, designers, salespeople) who work with the installers. They are a great resource for recommendations in your area. Recommendations from Friends and neighbors can be helpful, but make sure you do your due diligence as these recommendations may be biased. Visit the National Tile Contractor’s Association (NTCA) or Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) websites to locate tile installers in your area.

Two items that should put an installer at the top of your short list are membership in the National Tile Contractor’s Association (NTCA) and training through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF). An NTCA membership will guarantee that your project will be a pro-grade installation and CTEF training means that the installer was certified by the organization and is up on the latest tile industry techniques and trends. It is also recommended to ask the installer for their insurance and other state backed license information prior to hiring anyone for any home improvement job.

Check the installer’s references. This will give you an idea of their professionalism and how they work with their clients.  Ask the references about communication between the installer and themselves, were changes or delays in the projects communicated clearly and in a timely manner.  Did they treat the property respectfully – covering items, clean up each day, were they organized in how they set up the work area.  Would the reference work with them again on another project?

Ask the installer for photographs of recently completed projects and look them up on social media. Check for straight lines in the design, evenly sized and spaced tiles with no grout lippage. Keep an eye out for uneven tile, large gaps around windows, doors and corners and grout lines that vary in width. These last items are unacceptable and show a lack of training on the part of the installer.

Always receive two to three bids for any tile installation project.  This will give you a ballpark estimate on what the project will cost and will enable you to choose the best installer for the project.

Don’t start any project without a signed contract.  In this contract, the installer should include the scope of the project, pricing for material and labor, number of people assigned, an installation schedule, and payment terms. If you are looking to use specific products in the installation, make sure your bid does not include open ended statements such as, “SGM Security Polymer Grout or other polymer grout” or “polymer grout”. This can and does lead to substitution of other (notably inferior) products. Avoid product substitutions by asking specifically for the SGM brand finish and color of your choice by name. For example: “Security Polymer Grout #300 Sand Dune Beige”.

Look for a written guarantee that will cover your project for at least two years after the project is completed, and ask what items the installer’s warranty covers. Make sure you are aware of the specifics of what is covered in any warranties.

Ask your installer about taking care of the tile once the installation is complete.  They can recommend tile care products to use, how often to use them and if they offer a maintenance agreement for cleaning and sealing the tile and grout.