Does it cost 40% more to install limestone than porcelain tile?

threeapples

11 years ago

Our tile quote went up a huge amount even though we did not change the materials, sizes, or designs of our spaces.

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Comments (7)

User
11 years ago
Natural stone needs a much stiffer subfloor than does ceramic or porcelain, thus more prep. It's more difficult to lay and needs different more expensive setting materials. Yes, it's usually 40-60% more expensive to lay than ceramic or porcelain. It is NOT "the same" material as ceramic or porcelain.
galore2112
11 years ago
The subfloor extra cost may apply to a wood subfloor but certainly not to a concrete slab. Even with a wood subfloor it seems a bit cheap to build a weaker one for non stone tiles.

Mortar bleed through is an issue with stone tiles but it's in the vicinity of a few cents per sf for the stone compatible mortar.

Stone tile is cut with a wet saw, which is more work to set up and clean vs. score and break.

40% upcharge includes a luxury labor charge because if clients are willing to pay for stone, it's likely they part with money a bit more freely than clients with a tighter budget who chose ceramic tiles instead.
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Bill, that's true. But the estimate was for 12 x 12 ceramic tiles on the floor only plus cove tile around perimeter. No shower, no walls. No pattern. No accents. Just straight 30sf of square tiles in a rectangular room with a 4sf linen closet to cut in to. Vinyl floor on there currently, so I do understand the underlayment is extra work. But we had the same work done in our kitchen 3 years ago, and the labor cost (on a diagonal) was $12 SF. I'm getting an estimate from the tile guy who did that work, then probably have this plumber just do the plumbing. It would be easier to have him do it all, so I don't get into a situation of a plumber blaming a tile installer, or tile installer blaming a plumber if things don't work right in the end. Speaking of shower pans....for our master bath, the plumber said that a tile floor in the shower (4 x 3) would cost $1500 above the cost of installing a shower pan (we supply tile or shower pan). By your guideline, that seems way over as well. (Maybe I shouldn't hire a plumber to do tile work....) Will be interesting to see how the other estimates come in.
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I just wanted to make sure we had covered every possible reason *besides* installation, so installer can't say it was structural, shrinkage as wood dried out, etc. - everything he was trying to say last year. We are always telling DD no to run in the house b/c it shakes the whole floor (and she's only 40 lb!) so was wondering if we have too much deflection. I think installer should have known that if we do (or at least figured it based on joist size/spacing), but he'd just say he put down what I asked him to - incl. the 1/4" Hardibacker that I bought so he wouldn't have to haul it here in his van (since I was buying so much stuff from HD I rented a truck to get it all home - Trex and stuff that wouldn't fit in my SUV). Even that, I asked if he wanted to put 1/4" under the Nuheat and 1/2" everywhere else (mainly to try to make up the diff. in height with 1 extra coat of thinset plus the 1/8" mat). He said no, he could level it out - NOT! My floor slopes from end of mat to edge of carpet 18" or so away. Didn't notice it with shoes on, by the time I moved in and floors were clean enough for socks it was too late to have him pull it up (ruin mat?) and redo the whole 13ft edge. Of course that's the area of the kitchen that hasn't come loose yet.
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Chibimimi, Yours is a minority voice in this issue, but (of course) it's the one I want to hear. I experimented some more with my sample, and tomato juice did some etching within a few minutes. I have read from experts that there is nothing one can do about this chemical process because sealers permeate the stone but cannot protect the surface. On the other hand, the etching shows up only when you look at the limestone from a certain angle. One question for you: Is your limestone polished, honed, or tumbled? I think the tumbled is not a major issue, but mine is polished.
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kirkhall
11 years ago
Plus, it is a change order.
LuAnn_in_PA
11 years ago
"Our tile quote went up a huge amount even though we did not change the materials, sizes, or designs of our spaces."

But you did change the materials!
threeapples
Original Author
11 years ago
We did not change the materials. The materials were on-site at the time of the estimate. We have no idea why he quoted for the wrong materials. There are areas he quoted for the right materials and added a huge amount to his updated invoice even though not one element had changed.
live_wire_oak
11 years ago
Natural stone is always more expensive to install than porcelain. Read the contract to see what you were quoted for what. If it doesn't specify natural stone tile, then it's a change order. It's back to your GC. He should have read the bids from the subs and determined that they incorrectly bid the job based on incorrect materials. If your contract with him specifies natural stone, then he should eat the overage. If the contract only says "tile", then the "changes" are on you.
athensmomof3
11 years ago
Yes it does ;). If he quoted the wrong material, that is not your fault but still if the material quoted is different from the material to be installed, the price will go up.

Stone is much more expensive to lay than porcelain, for a variety of reasons.

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Does it cost 40% more to install limestone than porcelain tile?

Comments (7)

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galore2112

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kirkhall

LuAnn_in_PA

threeapples
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live_wire_oak

athensmomof3

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Does it cost 40% more to install limestone than porcelain tile?

Comments (7)

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galore2112

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kirkhall

LuAnn_in_PA

threeapplesOriginal Author

live_wire_oak

athensmomof3

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threeapples
Original Author