Tile Flooring
Tile is the most permanent floor you can put in a house, which is exactly why the work underneath it has to be right. Our tile flooring installation covers porcelain, ceramic, natural stone and mosaic, on floors, walls and backsplashes, with the slab prep and crack isolation that Gulf Coast foundations call for.
Tile is only as good as what it is stuck to
Living with a slab that moves
Much of Fort Bend County and west Houston is built on expansive clay soil. When it rains, the clay swells. In a long dry spell, it shrinks and pulls away. Concrete slabs ride on top of that, and over the years most of them develop hairline cracks. That is normal for the region and usually not a structural problem, but it matters a great deal for tile.
Tile and grout are rigid. If they are bonded straight across a slab crack, the slab's movement can carry right up into the floor, and you end up with a crack running through three or four tiles in a neat line. Anyone who has lived in an older Houston-area house has probably seen it.
What we do about it
Before we lay tile on a slab, we look for existing cracks and how they are behaving. Where it makes sense, we install a crack isolation membrane, a thin layer that lets the slab move a little underneath without passing that stress up to the tile. We also put movement joints where the industry calls for them, at the perimeter and across large open areas, filled with a flexible sealant instead of hard grout. These steps cost a little more up front, and they are the difference between tile that stays put and tile that does not.
Most tile failures start below the tile.
What's included
- Porcelain and ceramic floor tile
- Natural stone and mosaic tile
- Wall tile and kitchen backsplash
- Crack isolation over the slab
- Old tile and mortar removal
- Lifetime Installation Guarantee
Floors, showers, walls and the backsplash
Floors
Large-format porcelain in a wood or stone look has become a common choice for entries, kitchens and whole first floors. It stays cool underfoot in a Texas summer, it is about as water-resistant as flooring gets, and it lasts. The tradeoff is that bigger tiles need a flatter slab, which we will get to below.
Bathrooms and showers
Bathroom floors and shower walls are where tile has no real competition. Smaller tiles and mosaics make sense on shower floors, where the extra grout lines give traction and follow the slope to the drain. On walls, larger ceramic or porcelain tiles keep grout lines down and cleaning simple.
Natural stone
Marble, travertine and other natural stone bring a look no manufactured tile fully copies. Every piece is a little different. Stone does need to be sealed, and some types etch or scratch more easily than porcelain. We help you decide whether that character is worth the upkeep in a given room.
Mosaics, wall tile and backsplashes
A new backsplash is one of the quickest ways to change how a kitchen feels. We install subway tile, mosaics, patterned tiles and accent walls, with careful layout around outlets, windows and cabinet edges so the cuts land where they look intentional.
Bathroom floors and shower walls are where tile has no real competition.
Tile Flooring we've installed
Layout, flatness and coverage
Getting the old tile out
Replacing tile usually means removing tile, and builder tile from the 2000s and 2010s is often set in a thick bed of mortar that comes up in chunks. We take it down to the slab, clean off old thinset and haul everything away. Starting from bare concrete is the only way to know what we are working with.
Flatness for large tiles
The bigger the tile, the less forgiving it is. A slab that would be fine for a 12 inch tile can leave the corners of a 24 by 48 inch tile sitting at different heights, which is called lippage and shows up as edges you can catch a toe on. We check the slab carefully and level it where needed, and we use leveling clips on large formats to keep edges even while the mortar sets.
Layout and full coverage
We dry-lay and plan the pattern so the room is centered, cut tiles at doorways are not slivers, and grout lines line up from room to room. Each tile goes into a full bed of mortar, because hollow spots under tile are where cracks start. Grout color, joint width and the transitions to other floors are all agreed with you before we set the first piece.
When the job is done we clean it up, walk it with you and explain any sealing your tile needs. The installation is covered by our Lifetime Installation Guarantee.
What homeowners say
"If you need flooring work done, hire Next Floors immediately! Working with the owner, Jose Garcia, was an incredible experience. Jose removed the entire upstairs flooring and replaced it with wood that matches our downstairs perfectly, along with installing brand new carpet on the stairs. The result is pure perfection! Jose is beyond trustworthy and honest, and he truly takes pride in his work. He offered a fantastic, high-quality product and executed our agreed-upon plan to absolute perfection. The craftsmanship, precision, and care were top-tier. We couldn't be happier with our transformed home!"
The Severin Family · via google "We had a great experience with Next Floors installing a carpet runner on our stairs. Jose, our sales representative, was fantastic—very prompt, professional, and clear throughout the entire process. He provided straightforward estimates for both cost and timing, and they were even able to work us into their schedule on very short notice. Joe, our installer, was equally impressive. He came well prepared, worked efficiently, and did an excellent job with the installation. The finished runner looks fantastic and really transformed the stairs. Great service from start to finish. I would highly recommend Next Floors for anyone looking for quality carpet installation and excellent customer service!"
Craig Albritton · via google
Tile Flooring questions
Why does tile crack on slab foundations?
Concrete slabs move. In this area the clay soil swells and shrinks with the weather, and slabs develop small cracks over time. When tile is bonded directly over a crack, the movement can carry right up through the tile. A crack isolation membrane between the slab and the tile, plus proper movement joints, helps keep a slab crack from becoming a tile crack.
Porcelain or ceramic: which should I choose?
Porcelain is denser and absorbs less water, so it is the stronger choice for floors, showers and high-traffic areas. Ceramic is lighter, easier to cut and works well on walls and backsplashes. Both are good products used in the right place.
Do you install natural stone?
Yes, including marble, travertine and slate-style stone tiles. Stone needs sealing and a little more care than porcelain, and some stones are softer than people expect. We talk through the upkeep honestly before you choose it.
Can you tile over my existing tile?
We generally do not. Adding a new layer raises the floor height at doors and cabinets, and any movement or loose tiles underneath will come through the new floor. Taking the old tile out and starting from a flat slab gives you a floor we can stand behind.
How long before I can walk on new tile?
Usually a day or so for light foot traffic, longer before heavy furniture goes back, depending on the setting materials and grout used. We give you specific timing for your project before we start.
Flexible financing available
Flexible payment plans for qualified customers, subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required.
Tile Flooring by city
- Richmond Tile Flooring
- Rosenberg Tile Flooring
- Fulshear Tile Flooring
- Sugar Land Tile Flooring
- Missouri City Tile Flooring
- Stafford Tile Flooring
- Katy Tile Flooring
- Cinco Ranch Tile Flooring
- Pecan Grove Tile Flooring
- Sienna Tile Flooring
- Fresno Tile Flooring
- Meadows Place Tile Flooring
- Pearland Tile Flooring
- Bellaire Tile Flooring
- West University Place Tile Flooring
- Weston Lakes Tile Flooring
- Cypress Tile Flooring
- Spring Branch Tile Flooring
- River Oaks Tile Flooring
- Houston Tile Flooring
Other services
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Hardwood Flooring
Solid and engineered hardwood, measured, supplied and installed by a local Richmond crew.
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Luxury Vinyl Plank
Waterproof luxury vinyl plank and tile, the go-to floor for Fort Bend slab homes.
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Laminate Flooring
Scratch-resistant laminate that looks like wood at a lower price per square foot.
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Carpet
Wall-to-wall carpet, carpet tile and stair runners, with new pad and clean seams.
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Floor Removal & Prep
Old carpet, tile and glued-down floors torn out, hauled off and the slab prepped flat.
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Stairs & Trim
Hardwood, vinyl, laminate and carpet stairs, plus baseboards, quarter round and transitions.
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