Burnaby townhouse kitchen with cream floor tile and terracotta backsplash in golden hour light

Looking for a Tile Contractor Near Me in Burnaby? How to Vet One

A good tile contractor in Burnaby holds a valid municipal business licence, has an active WorkSafeBC account, carries liability insurance, and gives you an itemized written quote after seeing the room. If you are searching for a tile contractor near me, those four checks matter more than distance, because a contractor ten minutes away who skips them costs more than one thirty minutes away who does not.

This guide covers what to ask, what a quote should list, and when to hire a tile specialist instead of a general contractor. Floors, walls and showers are all covered under our flooring services.

What should a Burnaby tile contractor show you before you hire them?

A Burnaby tile contractor should show a municipal business licence number, a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter, proof of liability insurance (most homeowners ask for $2 million), and photos of finished jobs on a similar surface. The clearance letter proves the contractor’s WorkSafeBC account is in good standing, so you are not liable if a worker is hurt in your home. WorkSafeBC and the municipality can each confirm these details in one phone call.

Photos matter more than testimonials. A tile contractor in Burnaby who works in Metrotown or Brentwood high-rises should be able to show a concrete-slab floor, not only a ground-level bathroom. Call two references from the last six months and ask whether the crew arrived on the day promised and whether the final invoice matched the quote. Checking all this takes a day or two, and some contractors will not share insurance details before a signed deposit.

Hands arranging cream, terracotta and green tile samples beside a tape measure on a kitchen counter

What should an itemized tile quote include?

An itemized tile quote lists demolition, substrate prep, waterproofing, setting materials, tile, grout, trim and disposal as separate lines, with labour priced per square foot. Labour for standard porcelain floor tile in the Lower Mainland typically runs about $8 to $15 per square foot before materials and prep. A single lump sum with no breakdown tells you nothing about what is being left out.

Look at the prep lines first. Self-leveling compound, a membrane such as Schluter KERDI in a shower or DITRA on a floor, and a mortar rated for the tile size are where cheap quotes cut corners. On our showers we flood-test the pan for 24 hours and photograph the membrane before any tile covers it, then give the photos to the homeowner. Ask for the workmanship warranty in writing too, with its length and coverage. Loose tiles and cracked grout from poor mortar coverage usually show up within the first year or two.

Shower pan with an orange waterproofing membrane holding a shallow flood test of water

How do you choose between a tile specialist and a general contractor in Burnaby?

Hire a tile specialist when tile is the main job, and a general contractor when plumbing, framing or cabinets change too. A specialist sets tile every week and knows flatness tolerances and layout cuts, but cannot move a drain or open a wall. A general contractor coordinates the trades, though tile work is often subcontracted, so ask who sets your tile and how many years they have done it.

Specialists are often booked several weeks ahead, and a strata building adds an elevator booking and weekday-only noise hours. Our Burnaby bathroom renovation team handles tile together with plumbing and demolition, so the tile setter sees the prepared floor before the quote is final. In a strata tower the contractor usually also needs to give the strata office a certificate of insurance naming the strata corporation before the elevator can be booked. Our guide on how to choose a tile contractor in the Lower Mainland goes deeper on references and red flags.

Porcelain tiled front steps of a Burnaby home wet from rain on an overcast morning

Frequently Asked Questions

How many quotes should you get for a tile job in Burnaby?

Get three itemized quotes and compare the scope line by line, not the total. A quote that is 30 percent lower usually skips prep or waterproofing, which then shows up as an extra charge.

Does tile work in Burnaby need a permit?

Replacing tile alone usually does not need a permit, and a tile-only floor or backsplash swap rarely does. Moving plumbing or changing the structure does, and strata buildings often require written approval before work starts.

How far ahead should you book a tile contractor?

Many established contractors are booked several weeks out, so request a site visit before you order tile. Measuring the room first also lets the contractor flag flatness problems early.

Should you pay a deposit before tile work starts in Burnaby?

Pay a deposit only after you know what it covers, and get the amount in writing. Tie the remaining payments to finished stages such as prep complete and tile set, so you never pay far ahead of the work.

Shelves of tile samples in a showroom lit by warm evening light

Ready to compare tile quotes in Burnaby?

The easiest way to compare contractors is to ask each one to quote the same room. Visit the RT Home Renovations showroom to see tile samples, then book a site visit. Bring photos and measurements so the quote can list each prep step.

Contact us or call us at 604.781.2510 to arrange a visit and an itemized quote.

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Condo living room with large-format pale grey porcelain tile floor in late-morning sidelight

Large-Format Tile Installation in the Lower Mainland: Why Substrate Prep Decides the Result

Large format tile installation means setting porcelain or stone tiles with at least one edge of 15 inches or more, and the result depends on the floor underneath more than on the tile itself. In the Lower Mainland, many condos sit on older concrete slabs and many houses have wood joists that flex, so a floor that looks level is often out of flat by more than large tile will tolerate.

This guide covers flatness limits, lippage, mortar coverage and subfloors. Homeowners planning a floor can see the surfaces we install on our flooring services page.

How flat does a floor need to be for large-format tile?

A floor under large-format tile must be flat to within 1/8 inch over 10 feet and 1/16 inch over any 24 inches, which is tighter than the 1/4 inch over 10 feet allowed for small tile. A long rectangle bridges the dips that a mosaic would follow, so every hump or hollow shows up as a rocking tile or a raised corner. Flat is not the same as level: a floor can slope an inch across a room and still pass, as long as the slope is gradual.

On a Lower Mainland job we check the floor with a 10-foot straightedge before the tile is ordered. We pencil the high spots, grind them down, and fill the low spots with self-leveling compound that cures for 24 hours before any tile goes on. Flattening adds a day or more and a line item many quotes leave out, and skipping it is the most common reason a large-format floor fails.

Hands holding a long aluminum straightedge across a concrete slab to check floor flatness

What causes lippage, and how much is acceptable?

Lippage is the height difference between two neighbouring tiles, and the TCNA handbook allows about 1/32 inch between rectified porcelain tiles with narrow grout joints. At 1/16 inch a bare foot can feel the edge, and low light from a window shows it from across the room. Large tiles are rarely perfectly flat themselves: a 24 by 48 inch porcelain tile can bow 1/16 inch or more from the factory, and a flat floor cannot fix that.

We set tiles with a clip-and-wedge leveling system, and we offset long rectangles by no more than one third of the length, because a 50 percent offset lines up the bowed ends of the tile with the middle of its neighbour. The downside is time: the clips stay in the mortar for 24 hours, so the floor is off limits for a day before the caps are knocked off.

Low-angle close-up of two porcelain tiles showing a small lippage edge in raking light

How much mortar coverage does large-format tile need?

Large-format tile needs at least 95 percent mortar coverage in wet areas such as showers and 80 percent in dry areas, and it only reaches that with a large-notch trowel and back-buttering. A 12 by 24 inch tile set with a standard 1/4 inch notch leaves voids that sound hollow and crack at the edges. We use a 1/2 inch square-notch trowel with a medium-bed mortar made for tiles over 15 inches, comb the ridges in one direction, and skim a flat coat on the back of every tile.

Every few rows we lift a freshly set tile and look at its back. If the mortar ridges are still standing, the mortar has skinned over and the tile was bedded too late. Weight is the other cost. A 24 by 48 inch porcelain tile weighs about 25 pounds and chips when carried on its edge, so it needs two people and a flat stack on site. Rectified porcelain is the usual choice, and our porcelain vs ceramic tile comparison explains why.

Hands skimming mortar onto the back of a large porcelain tile with a notched trowel

Does the subfloor matter for large-format tile in the Lower Mainland?

Yes. A wood subfloor must deflect no more than L/360 under load for ceramic and porcelain tile and L/720 for natural stone, and thin plywood over 16 inch joists in older Vancouver and Burnaby homes often misses the stricter number. Adding a second layer of 1/2 inch plywood, screwed rather than nailed, stiffens the floor before any tile goes down.

An uncoupling membrane such as Schluter DITRA, about 1/8 inch thick, absorbs movement between the subfloor and the tile, but it does not correct a hump. We install Schluter systems to the manufacturer’s instructions, which is what the Schluter warranty is built on. Our guide to a proper tile installation in Richmond walks through subfloor prep in more detail. If you are searching for a tile installer near me in the Lower Mainland, ask whether they check flatness with a straightedge before they quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does large format tile installation take?

A 100-square-foot floor with prep usually takes three to five days: one for grinding and leveling, one or two for setting, and one for grout. Self-leveling compound needs 24 hours to cure before tile goes on.

Can you install large-format tile over existing tile?

Yes, if the old tile is bonded, flat to the same 1/8 inch over 10 feet limit, and clean. We tap-test for hollow spots and use a bonding primer, and the new floor sits roughly 3/8 inch higher, which matters at doors and appliances.

What grout joint size works for large-format tile?

Use at least 1/8 inch for rectified tile and 3/16 inch for non-rectified tile. A narrower joint shows every bit of lippage, and a wider one gives the tile room to move.

Townhouse entryway with large-format tile floor at dusk with warm pendant light

Ready to check your floor before you buy tile?

The cheapest time to find a flatness problem is before the tile arrives. Visit the RT Home Renovations showroom to see large-format samples, then book a floor check at your home.

Contact us or call us at 604.781.2510 to arrange a straightedge check and a firm quote.

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Burnaby bathroom with a honed Carrara marble vanity top in soft overcast morning light

Marble Bathroom Countertops in Burnaby: Sealing, Etching and Care

A marble bathroom countertop is a slab of natural calcium carbonate stone, usually 2cm or 3cm thick, that absorbs water and dulls when it meets acids. In Burnaby, a 60-inch marble vanity top costs about $1,200 to $2,500 installed, and it lasts for decades when it is sealed once or twice a year and wiped dry.

This guide covers how often to seal, why marble etches, and what to ask a fabricator before ordering. Homeowners planning a wider bathroom reno Burnaby project can price the vanity top alongside the rest of our bathroom renovation services.

How often should you seal a marble bathroom countertop?

Seal a marble bathroom countertop with a penetrating sealer every six to twelve months, because a bathroom vanity gets more water, toothpaste and hair product than a kitchen counter. Test it with a teaspoon of water: if the spot darkens within ten minutes, the sealer has worn off. Carrara and Calacatta absorb liquid faster than granite, so a new top usually needs two coats on the first application.

Before install day, we seal the underside and the sink cutout edges as well as the top face. Water wicking up from a damp cabinet edge shows as dark halos months later, and the exposed edges around the sink are where it starts. The sealer needs 24 hours to cure before the faucet goes on and the first shower runs. Sealer has a limit: it slows staining, but it does nothing to stop etching.

Water drops beading on a freshly sealed marble countertop during a seal test

What causes etching on a marble vanity top, and can it be fixed?

Etching is a chemical reaction: acids in citrus, vinegar, some toothpastes, vitamin C serums and acidic bathroom cleaners dissolve the surface of the marble and leave a dull patch. On polished marble the mark shows within minutes. On honed marble, which has a matte finish, the same mark blends into the surface, so honed Carrara is the safer pick for a Burnaby bathroom that gets daily use.

Light etches on honed stone can be buffed out with marble polishing powder. Deep etches on polished stone usually need a fabricator to re-hone the top, which runs roughly $300 to $600. One detail from the install side: use a neutral-cure silicone at the faucet and the wall joint. Some acetoxy-cure silicones release acetic acid while they set, and that can etch a faint line into the marble edge.

Close-up of a dull etch ring on polished marble beside a honed marble sample

How much does a marble bathroom countertop cost in Burnaby?

A 60-inch marble vanity top in Burnaby typically costs $1,200 to $2,500 fabricated and installed, depending on the slab grade, the thickness and the number of sink cutouts. A 2cm Carrara top with a simple eased edge sits at the low end, while a 3cm Calacatta top with a mitered edge and two sinks sits at the high end. Template to install usually takes two to three weeks.

Weight is the other cost. A 3cm marble top weighs roughly 20 pounds per square foot, so a 60-inch top comes in around 180 pounds and needs two people plus a lift. Metrotown and Brentwood high-rises add a booked strata elevator window to the schedule. For comparison, quartz costs about the same but never needs sealing. We covered the full material debate in whether marble countertops are still worth it in 2026.

Hands guiding a marble vanity top onto a cabinet with suction cup handles

Is a marble bathroom countertop right for your Burnaby bathroom?

A marble bathroom countertop suits a Burnaby primary suite or powder room where the vanity sees light daily use. It is a poor fit for a kids’ bathroom, where hair dye, toothpaste and bath products sit on the stone for hours. Marble does not hide neglect: a ring from a perfume bottle left overnight can leave a permanent mark.

If you are searching for a bathroom contractor near me in Burnaby, ask how they seal marble and whether they have installed it in a wet room before. Our Burnaby bathroom renovation team coordinates the fabricator, the plumber and the tile work, so the top is templated only after the walls and floor are finished. A bathroom renovation Burnaby homeowners can live with is one where the finish matches the way the room is used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you clean a marble bathroom countertop with vinegar?

No. Vinegar is an acid and etches marble within minutes. Use a pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft cloth, and dry the surface after wiping.

Can hair dye stain a marble bathroom countertop?

Yes. Hair dye penetrates unsealed or worn marble in minutes. Wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth, and treat an old stain with a stone poultice rather than bleach.

How thick should a marble vanity top be?

A 2cm top works when the cabinet supports it fully, and a 3cm top is the better choice for overhangs and wider spans. Thicker stone also lets the fabricator build a stronger mitered edge.

Narrow powder room with marble vanity top and brass tap in evening lamp light

Ready to see marble in person?

The easiest way to judge honed against polished marble is to hold a full-size sample under your own bathroom light. Visit the RT Home Renovations showroom to compare marble, quartz and porcelain side by side before you order.

Contact us or call us at 604.781.2510 to walk through your vanity and get a firm quote.

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