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Many home improvement television shows are unrealistic. They lead homeowners to believe that it’s easy to tackle large home improvement projects in a weekend, even if they have little or no experience.

Many home improvement television shows are unrealistic. They lead homeowners to believe that it’s easy to tackle large home improvement projects in a weekend, even if they have little or no experience.

But if you’ve never tiled before, you can risk of causing damage to your home or worse—yourself. Taking on a do-it-yourself tiling project can end up costing you time, money, and frustration. Yet finding a tiling professional who can do the job right is often tricky too.

The HGTV show, Holmes on Homes, is perhaps one of the most realistic to date. Renovation expert Mike Holmes demonstrates that it’s “buyer beware” when a homeowner contracts professionals for repair or renovations. There are plenty of shady contractors and tile layers who take shortcuts, use shoddy practices or employ a band-aid approach to repair work, often leaving homeowners in dangerous situations or out of a lot of money.

What to Ask Professional Tile Installers

Here are a few questions that you should ask each tile professional before they provide you with an estimate. Be sure to take notes so that you can remember who said what when you review the estimates or quotes you later receive:

? How long have you been in business?
The answer can speak volumes about a company’s reputation and experience.
? What formal training is required for your installers?
A reputable company should require that employees receive proper training.
? What states are you licensed to work in?
Check your state laws to see if a license is required. (More on this later.)
? How many projects do you do a year?
If the answer is only a few, they may be a hobbyist or may not work well in tight time frames.
? How long do you estimate the project will take?
? When can you start?
? Do you guarantee your work?
? May I have the names and numbers of at least three previous satisfied customers?
Ask the referral what relation they have to the tile installer; how they met the installer; if they are satisfied with the installer’s work; and how the contractor treated the home and work space while working on the project.
? Do you have any pictures of your work I can look at?
? Do you carry your own workmen’s compensation insurance and general liability insurance?
? Are you bonded?
? Do you charge per hour or per project?
? Do you guarantee completion times?
Some contractors will offer a discount if the project is not completed by a certain date
? How do you manage your work area?
? How long is your bid valid?

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Charlene is the author of this article on Natural Stone.
Find more information about Ceramic Tile here.