Hours vary Jacksonville (904) 699-2626
Strictly Builders Inc
Tile Installation That Holds Its Line

Family-owned · Jacksonville Local

Tile Installation That Holds Its Line

From shower floors to kitchen backsplashes, every tile set by Strictly Builders Inc starts with proper substrate prep and ends with a finish that lasts.

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Tiling Work That Starts Beneath the Surface

Tiling is one of those trades where the visible result is almost entirely determined by work you'll never see. Set tile over a compromised substrate, skip the waterproofing membrane, or rush the layout without accounting for grout line symmetry, and the installation will fail regardless of how good the tile looks on day one. At Strictly Builders Inc, Ryan Alson has built a three-year track record of setting tile correctly from the first step: substrate assessment, leveling, membrane application, then layout. That sequence doesn't get shortened. If you're planning a bathroom remodel, a new kitchen floor, or a full shower gut-and-retile, call for a free estimate before you start pulling existing material.

What drives cost on a tile installation is primarily substrate condition, square footage, tile format, and layout complexity. Large-format tiles require a flatter surface tolerance, which often means more prep labor before a single tile is placed. Diagonal or herringbone patterns cut waste into the estimate and add layout time. Wet areas, specifically showers and mudset floors, require waterproofing systems that add material cost but are not optional if the installation is meant to last. A straightforward floor tile job in a single room and a full custom wet room are both tile installations, but they are not the same scope. Every job is different, contact Strictly Builders Inc for an accurate estimate.

Where Tile Work Goes Wrong

Most tile failures trace back to decisions made before the first tile was set.

Grout cracking, tiles debonding, water infiltrating behind a shower wall: these are not material failures. They're installation failures. Hollow spots under tile indicate inadequate thin-set coverage, which is a direct result of skipping back-buttering or using the wrong trowel notch size for the tile format. Failed shower tiles typically mean no waterproofing membrane was installed, or the membrane wasn't properly transitioned at corners and curbs. Strictly Builders Inc won't set tile over a substrate that isn't ready. If the subfloor has flex, we address it. If a shower pan doesn't drain correctly, we correct the slope before anything goes on the walls. The sequence isn't negotiable.
floor tile installation work, professional service in Jacksonville, FL

Full Scope

Tile Applications We Handle

One contractor across every tile application in the home, residential and commercial.

01

Floor Tile Installation

Ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, and large-format tile on residential and commercial floors. Includes subfloor evaluation, leveling compound where required, and precision layout from center reference lines.

02

Shower and Wet Room Tile

Full shower tiling with waterproofing membrane at the pan, walls, and all transitions. We handle both standard shower surrounds and custom wet room builds from the bathroom remodel phase through final grout seal.

03

Kitchen Backsplash

Subway, mosaic, penny round, or large slab tile behind counters and ranges. Our kitchen backsplash work includes precise outlet and switch cutouts, consistent grout joints, and a clean transition to adjacent materials.

04

Fireplace Surround Tile

Heat-rated setting materials for hearth and surround applications. Natural stone, large-format porcelain, and decorative tile installed to manufacturer spec. See our fireplace tile installation scope for detail.

05

Tile Backsplash Installation

Beyond kitchens, tile backsplashes in laundry areas, utility rooms, and mudrooms protect walls from moisture and impact. Our tile backsplash installation approach uses the same substrate-first process regardless of location.

06

Tile Replacement and Repair

Cracked field tiles, failed grout joints, or a debonded section that has compromised the surrounding installation. We match grout color and tile profile where possible, and we're direct about when a partial repair isn't the right call.

Process

How We Approach Every Tile Installation

  1. 01

    Substrate Assessment and Prep

    Before layout begins, we evaluate the substrate for levelness, structural integrity, and moisture exposure. Deflection in a wood subfloor, residual adhesive from previous flooring, or an unlevel slab all get corrected at this stage, not discovered after the tile is set.

  2. 02

    Layout, Reference Lines, and Dry Fit

    We snap reference lines from the room's visual center, not from a wall, which is rarely truly square. Complex formats, like herringbone or large-format diagonal, get a dry-fit run before thin-set touches the substrate so cuts and symmetry are verified first.

  3. 03

    Setting, Grouting, and Sealing

    We use the correct thin-set for the tile format and substrate, back-butter large-format tiles for full coverage, and maintain consistent joint width throughout. Grout selection factors in traffic, moisture, and joint width. Sealers go on porous tile and natural stone before the space is handed back.

What Strict Tile Work Looks Like

  1. 01

    Full thin-set coverage behind every tile

    Large-format tiles require back-buttering in addition to troweling the substrate. Hollow spots aren't acceptable and aren't something that becomes visible until after failure.

  2. 02

    Waterproofing at every wet area transition

    Shower niches, curbs, and corners are where membranes fail most often. We overlap and seal every transition point, not just the flat wall surfaces.

  3. 03

    Consistent grout joint width throughout

    Spacers and reference lines are used throughout the installation. Grout line width is set to the tile, not adjusted mid-run to compensate for an uncorrected layout error.

  4. 04

    Movement joints at perimeter and field breaks

    Rigid tile over a substrate that moves needs a place to accommodate that movement. Perimeter joints caulked to match grout prevent the cracking that comes from a fully rigid installation.

Tile Work Alongside the Broader Renovation

Tile rarely happens in isolation. A bathroom remodel that includes drywall replacement, a shower pan rebuild, and new fixture installation needs a contractor who can coordinate the full sequence, not schedule around three separate trades. Strictly Builders Inc handles drywall work, tile, and the surrounding renovation under the same project. When you're also replacing flooring in adjacent spaces or planning a room addition that needs tile in a new bath, one point of contact means the timeline doesn't depend on three different crews showing up in the right order. We're available Monday through Friday around the clock, and Saturday 6AM to 6PM, which means scheduling doesn't have to wait for the next available weekday.
floor tile installation work, professional service in Jacksonville, FL

Straight from Google

What Customers Are Saying

2.65 verified Google reviews
Ryan did a great job for us! Marble tile, kitchen backsplash and kitchen painting all look great. Delivered high quality work on time and on budget. I would highly recommend giving him a call.
Lisa BlowLisa BlowOct 2025 · Google
Super thorough and very friendly owner. does a fantastic job!
Kendall BlowKendall BlowNov 2024 · Google
Read all 5 reviews

Common Tile Installation Questions

How do you start a tile installation correctly?
The correct starting point is the substrate, not the tile. We assess for level, deflection, and moisture before anything else. Once the substrate is ready, we snap reference lines from the room's visual center, dry-fit the layout to verify symmetry and cut placement, then begin setting. Starting from a wall is one of the most common errors in DIY tiling, walls are rarely square and the error compounds across the room.
What thin-set should be used for large-format tiles?
Large-format tiles, generally anything 15 inches or larger, require a medium-bed or large-format mortar rather than standard thin-set. The thicker bed accommodates minor substrate variation without creating hollow spots, and back-buttering the tile in addition to the substrate is required to achieve full coverage. Using standard thin-set under a 24-by-48-inch tile is how hollow spots and eventual cracking happen.
Is waterproofing behind shower tile actually necessary?
Yes, and not optionally so. Grout is not waterproof. Water migrates through grout joints and will eventually reach whatever is behind the tile. In a shower with no membrane, that means the backer board, framing, and surrounding structure. Waterproofing membrane at the pan, all wall surfaces, and every transition point is the only installation method that prevents long-term structural damage. We won't tile a wet area without it.
How long should tile installation take to complete?
A straightforward bathroom floor or backsplash can be set, grouted, and sealed in one to two days depending on square footage and layout complexity. A full shower gut, including demo, waterproofing, and tile, is typically a multi-day installation. Large-format tile in an open floor plan adds time for substrate prep and layout. Thin-set needs to cure before grouting, and grout needs to cure before sealing, so the total project timeline is longer than the setting time alone.
What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile for floors?
Porcelain has a lower water absorption rate than ceramic because it's fired at higher temperatures from denser clay. For floors in high-moisture areas or exterior applications, porcelain is the correct choice. Ceramic is suitable for interior walls and lower-traffic floor areas where moisture exposure is limited. The distinction matters for setting materials too: porcelain requires a thin-set rated for low-absorption tile to achieve adequate bond strength.

Get Your Tile Installation Estimate

Strictly Builders Inc handles tile installations across floor, wall, and wet area applications, with the full substrate prep and waterproofing work the job actually requires.

Call (904) 699-2626 Call for a Free Estimate

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