Ceramic tile is fairly affordable because it is made from readily-available materials and the process is not difficult. Natural stone flooring must be mined in large blocks and then cut into slabs using powerful saws with diamond-tipped blades, so it is quite expensive. When it comes to the process of installing either type of home flooring, the costs can be more than most other flooring types.

Tile and stone are expensive to install because the installation is labor-intensive for both. It is time-consuming. If you choose tile and want an elaborate design in your floor, the tile installation cost will rise significantly.

The following prices in this guide are approximate, for a more accurate quote please go ahead and request free estimates from local professionals in your area by CLICKING HERE.

In this guide to Tile and Stone Floors, you’ll learn about the cost of the products, materials used for the install, and of course the installation cost itself. Other guides on ceramic tile and stone flooring include: installation, tile buying guides, and for those interested in the long term durability, care and maintenance of tile flooring.

Average Price Range

The average price for ceramic tile flooring is in the $2.50-$3.00 per square foot range.For natural stone flooring, expect to pay an average of $7.50/sq foot.

• Ceramic tile can be found for less than $1 per square foot to about $5.50 per square foot. The size of the tile and how durable it is are among the factors determining price. For installation, expect to spend $4-$8 per square foot.
• For natural stone flooring, you’ll pay $5-$10 per square foot for the material. Stone flooring installation costs average $7 per square foot.

Determining the Amount of Material You Need

Measuring the square feet of flooring is easy. Use a tape measure to determine the length and width of each room – or you may be able to find this information on a blueprint. Multiply the dimensions. A room that is 20’ long and 15’ wide is 300 square feet. If the room is “L-shaped” then measure the 2 rectangles separately. Add up the totals from all of the rectangles to determine how many square feet you are covering.

Home flooring pros recommend adding 5% extra for natural stone flooring and tile flooring to account for trimming. So, multiply the number of square feet you need to cover by 1.05 and you’ll know how many square feet of material to cover.https://2983e92a6bd40e9bef6ade679b945bf0.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Factors that Can Affect Cost

How much time the installation will take is the key factor in determining the installation cost. Large, open areas go more quickly than tight areas with lots of trimming so they will cost less per square foot for installation.

If you are having ceramic tile flooring installed using different tiles to form an elaborate pattern, the time and cost will be increased.

Other factors such as product shortages do not usually affect tile installation, but they can have a profound effect on the cost of natural stone floors.

Designer floor tiles will also be priced significantly higher than mass manufactured tiles, floor tiles can easily exceed $25 – $30 per square foot.

Saving Money on Flooring Installation

The more of the preparation work you can do, the lower your tile floor installation cost will be. For example, if you are removing carpeting, do it yourself. Take off all the baseboard trim and remove doors from their hinges. Cut the carpet into 6’ strips and roll it up for disposal. Remove the tack strip and all carpet staples.

Ask the installer what else you can do to lower the potential installation costs. If you’re handy, and the subfloor needs work, you may be able to do it. It is important that you know exactly what is expected so that the subfloor is properly prepared. Otherwise, you may waste your time doing the wrong thing and not save any money if the installer has to do additional prep work anyway. Here’s a job you might want to leave to the pros.

The best way to find the lowest installation costs is to get several estimates for the work. Using a service to request the estimates is quick, convenient and may produce the lowest installation costs. The contractors are screened for quality assurance and they know that they must compete with their lowest price in order to get the job. Only screened, high-quality contractors are used by the service.

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