Sorry, but we would never price a job by the square foot. Way too many variables. Upper midwest.

Folks that give an estimate by the square foot end up having their work showcased here with the thread title of "should my backsplash / dark grout / subway tile / glass tile look like this?" and to which we all respond: "sorry - it's a total redo"

I'm going to disagree somewhat. We've done 2 major reno's (down to studs) + additions. In both cases the GC's bids were based off a price per square ft of tile. Now I don't know if that was just for the tile-setting, and the underlayment was separate or not in their minds. And of course since these were guts, there were no surprises to worry about - we had already committed to re-doing the plumbing, drywall, etc.

First select a tile for consideration from a professional tile shop. Not at a box store as many qualified installers won't work with material purchased there. Tile shops may have their own installers or be able to provide you with some names. Then get quotes with the scope of work, material selected, area to be tiled, pattern, transitions,subfloor prep. Specify all work to meet TCNA specifications. Then use the total price of the project for comparison. Don't ask for a break down. If you start to question each item line by line two things will happen. First it will create a lot of confusion. Second most installers won't waste their time and just go on to the next job. The bottom line and what is included is all you need. Minimum labor for a 30s/f backsplash is at $1,000 in some parts. That works out to about $33 s/f. Select glass, stone, mosaics, murals and the price goes up. s/f pricing does not exist with all the different products available and various installation methods required nowadays. No one will be out to you house for $150 considering minimums were at $200 in 1985. Best of luck.

Interesting! I just think it's so amazing how the tiling market has gone up so much!

My GF has 40sq ft of Arabesque tile, going around a bull nosed edge on either side, then around a garden window. 8 outlets to cut around! She was quoted $750 labor only and was able to beat that quote. (Colorado) But the earliest anyone can get to her is late September.

Do you have a feel for what a professional tradesman should earn per day? Just curious.

Creative....that's what my post is about. What professionals get paid.....in other states. Colorado is pretty "low" pay...

IMO, anyone who is looking "beat a price" is asking for trouble. You can always find a cheaper price. You can always find crappy workmanship to go with it, too.

jellytoast....so what's a reasonable price in your area?

I understand. You were asking about s/f pricing. I was curious if you personally had a opinion as to what you thought a tradesman would earn per day. I'm not asking to criticize. Just curious. No need to answer.

How much will you build me a spaceship for.

Well, are you in Denver or MARS

Creative..... My DH is a tradesman. Different trade tho.

Just trying to have a civil discussion...

Nicole, IMO it is not "reasonable" to shop a project based on "per square foot" price. Sure, money matters, but quality work and professionalism matters more. And I have seen way to many horrendous tile jobs (lots of examples of that on this forum) so if someone gave me a cheap price, I'd run for the hills. And I would never try to get someone to "beat" a price given to me by someone else. In my area, there are tons of unlicensed/uninsured/inexperienced/skill-less hacks in all the trades, so it is not difficult to "beat" the prices given by legit and experienced tradespeople.

I just referred a lady to one of the most respected solid surface fabricators in the country so she could compare his prices to a Home Depot sub. She managed to make him angry enough that he's no longer interested. This three-bid crap backfires. Take the referrals, please.

@nicole__ You're wasting people's time. There are quite a few folks who took considerable time to answer you, and are trying to help you define your project.

But it seems like there is no project. What's the point?

This is a back splash for a kitchen. The surface is clean, very little texture. Bull nose Schluter on each end. Half round tile to go on the bull nosed edges on the garden window. The tile is evenly set on mesh sheets. Non sanded grout.

My furnace guy/friend says he makes $400 a day, no matter how many hours he works. Is that how tilers figure their pay for a slap it up job? 2 days = $800 ???

You have 1 day to set tile, 1/4 day for grout....so there's a $800 minimum? My friends were quoted for a day and a half....per the tiler they got the 1st quote from. Is that how most tilers would quote it for a simple job...in THIS case? (in our area you can call a tiler for a simple job like this and they/my friends did get quotes by the square foot)

geoffrey...yes there IS a job......U didn't read "my" post. This is the internet where people hang out chatting. If U don't like what's being said .... Skip on by...

Tiles on sheets, especially Arabesque, are NOT a slap it up job! Slap it up and you will end up with a wavy and uneven mess. And grout in the wrong hands can ruin an otherwise nice job. When you hire someone to do a job, you are paying for their experience and workmanship. You are not paying them to "slap it up." If you search around for the cheapest price thinking that all a setter has to do is slap tile on the wall, then you will likely get exactly that. All tile setters are not created equal. Take a look around this forum at some of the horrendous tile jobs (and hideous grout jobs) and you will see what I mean.

When your friend called around for square foot quotes, did they just go with the low bid, not taking anything else into consideration?

jellytoast....they accepted a bid, then the tiler said he was going on vacation he'd do it when he came back. Now he says 6 months to get to them. So they got another bid, mid September to get to them.

I'm just trying to learn something here about tiler quotes. I'm going to assume the tilers they got quotes from had references and can level and square up a tile job. The price quotes seem to vary a LOT....several hundred dollars in a busy market. I went on "Nextdoor". Where people recommend professionals who have done work for them(I know these people, they're my neighbors)....some people were getting similiar jobs done for $150 labor. That just seems waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too low. Why would anyone even work for that? So I thought I'd ask....how does one come up with a price? and yes...I've gotton a LOT of great advice. Most here would NOT work for that.....period! :0)

What a waste of time.

geoffrey...you already said that. lol

"I'm going to assume the tilers they got quotes from ... can level and square up a tile job."

This is the same as assuming that all tile setters are created equal. THIS person assumed that their contractor could install tile, too.

I asked one of the reputable tile setters around here. $350 for the first square foot ... after that it varies.

jellytoast...:0) I would "assume" a contractor could use a square! Wow! Just Wow! Any/every tile job has to be level & square. No I don't stop in on this forum very often. My hobby is photography.

lazy_gardens.....Yes! That's what I was wondering....$350. A persons bare minimum they will do ANY tiny job for! Interesting!

Haha, hang out on this forum long enough and you will never assume anything again!

"My furnace guy/friend says he makes $400 a day, no matter how many hours he works. Is that how tilers figure their pay for a slap it up job? 2 days = $800 ???"

i did three jobs today and grossed over $1,000.00. I've got three delighted customers and I'm 61 and just nogondoit for less.

Nicole ... you misunderstood. $350 will get him and his tools to the door for the first square foot of tile.

After that square foot, his charges vary depending on what the job requires and what kind of tile is being laid. For your friend's job ... 40 sq feet of arabesque with outlets and windows would certainly be well over the $750 she was quoted.

She has run into the Engineer's (or handyman's) Paradox: Fast, Cheap, and Good ... pick the two you want. She went for Cheap, which takes either Fast or Good off the table.

When we get around to the bathroom remodel (tub goes, walk-in curbless shower and sub-floor heat appears,) I'm consulting with him about tile to make sure my choices don't cause him needless grief in the setting.

*************

Creative Tile ... "First select a tile for consideration from a professional tile shop. Not
at a box store as many qualified installers won't work with material
purchased there."

I've never had that problem. If the tile crumbles when the shower spray hits it - my issue and the big box store's issue. If the tile falls off the wall when the door is slammed - the installer's issue.

But then none of the tilers I work with also own a tile shop.

lazy...thanks! It's a just to show up starting price....I understood. I'll be at her house Monday, I'll take pics of the wall. And I agree....Home Depot is where everyone here purchases tile. I was in a hoity toity tile store last week, they've down sized, sold half the building to a restaurant. Not a booming place. Another flooring place has commercial office building contracts and it's doing well....not a home owners place to shop.

@Lazy_Garden- Simply pointing out that you have narrowed the amount of installers available to you when you purchase from a box store. That is a fact. Quality difference on many products also a fact. As for saving $$$ I went to a box store recently for buckets looked at a 10lb. mapei grout $25+ a couple blocks away Tile America $17+ such a deal the box stores have for the DIY'er. I personally support professional tile stores that have a trained staff and designers available. If you are under the impression I have a store you would be mistaken. But I can direct my clients to places where I have confidence and I know they are getting what they pay for. Am I anti Box store? You betcha! My choice:) I'm certainly not alone.

Way to gp @ Joeseph 1k in day did you break a sweat?

My Guess would be Joe broke a sweat for many years to be where he is now.

Not only was the selection a hundred percent better but the prices were comparable in my location between lowes and Homedepot to Tile America. Tile America also made sure all my tile was from the same lot which makes the project look more expensive even when it was not. I highly suggest going into a specialty tile shop before deciding the big box stores are just as good. I was very presently surprised by both selection and prices.

We don't have a Tile America "here"/Colorado Springs. Bedrosians has a lot of nice tile. Most of it is not in stock, it has to be ordered. I've been to Capco(special order), Tile World...

Sorry, but This whole concept throws me for a loop. Usually if someone asks me, even locally, how much I make a foot, I'll tell them 10.00. That'll either shut em up, or start up a discussion. Asking how much someone charges per foot is alot like asking how much does a car go for in your area. New? Used? Yugo? Lexus? Rolls? Condition? Options? So much goes into giving a price, I really can't give a square foot price that I'll stick to without more information.

Creative.....I stated the following.

The wall has never been tiled. Low texture. Eggshell paint. 45 sq feet of tile has been purchased.

******************************************************************************************************

Kitchen back splash

40 sq ft

white Arabesque tile

will go above a counter top, curve around a bullnose edge on either side of a garden window

8 outlets

Brushed nickel Schluter bullnose edging on each end to finish the edge

*******************************************************************************************************

For what you've described I'd be looking at about 1000.00, dependent on the number of outlets. I'm in a rural area, though.

Two ''half days'' from an expert tiler in my area are $1200. A backsplash isn't two whole days, but it mostly ruins two whole days for anything else, except another backsplash add in. Add in a fancy pattern time intensive and the price goes up. Add tile on mesh from a box store or décor outlet that is seconds and needs to be tweaked for hours and still won't be right and the price goes up. Add in glass tile, that shatters every time you cut it and takes a bunch of extra time to back comb, and the price goes up. Add in crackle tile that needs to be sealed before installation, and again before grouting, and the price goes up. Add in bevel edged tile, that has to be very carefully tooled for both thinnest squeeze out and grout removal, and the price goes up. Add in a lumpy bumpy wall, that takes two whole days must to straighten, and the price goes way up. Add in a hovering homeowner who wants to change things half way through because the white marble now looks like it has too many gray variations in the mix, and the price goes way up, and a third visit is scheduled. Time is money.

I consider "Tile America" to be a big box store. They are certainly not a mom and pop tile/decorator place.

The tile is OK, the prices are decent, but their reputation in the Phoenix area for installations was poor. And their "trained designers" could not grasp the concept of non-skid tile for a bathroom and were pushing the bargain du jour, which was a glass-slick faux marble. They didn't know what coefficient of friction was.

Lazy Garden - Wrong again. Tile America is part of East coast imports. Several on their sales staff have taken the written portion of the CTI test. They don't do installations and as the name indicates they are on the east coast. Don't you mean the dynamic coefficient of friction which is the current standard:)

Dragonfly.....:0) Yes. Cuts all along the bottom of the cabinets, little 3/8" fill ins.

I appreciate ALL your input. I see differences in the areas we live in. I find it all AMAZING that you can do what you do day after day, dealing with customers as Sophie pointed out....THAT'S how it is. Dealing with people ....OMG!

thatsmuchbetter-- I'm in rural Maine. I'm actually one of the more expensive installers in the area.

After seeing these types of costs for simple backsplash tile installation, I'm REALLY hacked at what the insurance company proposed to replace ours as part of the kitchen water damage re-do....

Insurance companies can all burn. workers comp being the current scam

I described the job and it wasn't a "simple" job.

Looks like you got the sq ft price guy. Not bad. not great. you should have a 1/8-3/16 gap at counter to tile transition for a flexible joint being but one concern other than over quality.

The spacers on the counter were removed. It does have a gap, 1/8". This is dry, ready for grout.

Most importantly, you have your backsplash and your lovely kitchen to enjoy. Beautiful backsplash tile by the way.

Dragonfly....it's nothing like some of the free hand mosiacs YOU do....lovely I might add.....but this is what my friends wanted.

And how much grout to leave when hitting the corner edge was a judgement call. :0)

You were a good friend. Take pleasure in that. All's well that ends well.

I just did a backsplash last week with that exact tile! LOL

Same tile I used in my backsplash a couple years ago. Must be a trend. :-)

Glad my DIY saved 1000 bucks.