Flooring and tile installer in Suffolk County

Floors and tile, done from the subfloor up

If you’re looking for a flooring and tile installer in Suffolk County, here’s what we tell everyone: the part of the job you’ll never see decides how long the floor lasts. Planks separate and tile cracks when the floor under them isn’t flat or firm. Showers leak when the layer behind the tile isn’t sealed. So we spend most of our time on prep, then lay the floor you picked on a base that will hold it.

This page covers our two flooring services: vinyl plank flooring and tile floors, showers and backsplashes. Because we’re a carpentry crew, we also handle the baseboard, the doors and the walls around the new floor, which is where a lot of flooring jobs come apart.

Vinyl plank and tile: when to use each

Vinyl plank flooring

Vinyl plank, sometimes called luxury vinyl plank or LVP, is a plank that looks like wood. Most of it clicks together and floats over the floor below, which means it isn’t glued or nailed down. It handles water much better than hardwood or laminate, so it’s a common choice for basements, kitchens, laundry rooms and whole floors in split-levels and high ranches. It’s also quieter and warmer underfoot than tile. For basements especially, see vinyl plank vs. laminate for a Long Island basement.

One thing to know: the planks themselves resist water, but water that gets under the floor can still cause trouble. Our answer on whether waterproof vinyl flooring is really waterproof explains the difference.

Tile

Tile is the right call for bathroom floors, showers, tub walls, backsplashes and entryways. It takes water, wear and cleaning better than anything else. The choice between porcelain and ceramic comes down to where it’s going. Porcelain is denser and handles wet floors and showers. Ceramic is easier to cut and works well on walls. We go deeper in porcelain vs. ceramic tile.

Using both in one house

Plenty of homes use both: vinyl plank through the living areas and bedrooms, tile in the bathrooms and at the back door. The trick is the transition. Where the two meet, the floors should be close to the same height, with a clean threshold between them. We plan those spots before either floor goes in.

Why prep matters so much

Every flooring material has the same enemy: movement. Here’s what we check and fix before anything new goes down.

• Flat. We run a long straightedge across the floor. Low spots get filled with a leveling compound, and high spots get ground down. Vinyl plank is especially fussy about this.
• Firm. A subfloor that bounces or squeaks will crack tile. We screw down loose spots and add support where it’s needed.
• Clean and dry. Old adhesive, paint drips and dust keep new material from sitting right. In basements, we check for moisture in the slab.
• The right base for tile. Tile goes on cement backer board, or a thin membrane that keeps the tile from cracking if the floor moves a little, not straight onto plywood.
• Waterproofing for showers. A sealed layer goes behind all shower tile. Grout lets water through, so the waterproof layer is what protects the wall.

If you’re curious about the details, see how to prepare a floor for new tile.

Planning a floor or tile project

• Decide how far the floor runs. Stopping new flooring at a doorway leaves a line. Running it through a whole level looks better and avoids extra transitions.
• Think about what’s under it. If you have old tile, wood or sheet vinyl, it may be able to stay, or it may need to come out. See can vinyl plank go over existing tile or wood.
• Plan the floor height. New flooring raises the floor. Doors may need trimming, and thresholds and stair nosings need to match.
• Do walls first. If the room is getting sheetrock, patching or paint, that should happen before the floor goes in so it doesn’t get scratched or spattered.
• For bathrooms, plan the plumbing. Moving a drain or valve means a licensed plumber, and it has to happen before the tile goes up.
• Pick materials early. Tile and plank can take time to arrive. Having your choices made keeps the start date on track.

For bathrooms, the most common question is timing. Our answer on how long tile installation takes for a bathroom explains what affects it. Your written price always includes a start date and how long the job will take.

What drives the price

• The size of the area, and how many rooms or closets are involved
• The material: vinyl plank, porcelain, ceramic, and the size of the tile
• How much prep the floor needs: removal, leveling, subfloor repair, backer board
• The pattern. Straight lay is quickest. Diagonal, herringbone and small mosaic tile take more cutting
• Showers: the number of walls, niches, benches and the waterproofing
• Trim work: new baseboard, shoe molding, thresholds and door trimming

You get a written, itemized price before any work starts, so you can see what each part costs.

How to choose a flooring and tile installer

• Ask about prep. If the answer is “we just lay it over what’s there,” be careful.
• Ask how showers are waterproofed. You want to hear about a sealed layer behind the tile, not just grout and caulk.
• Ask about layout. A good installer plans where the cuts land before setting the first tile.
• Ask who handles the trim and doors. Many flooring installers leave baseboard off or stacked in the garage.
• Get it in writing, and check the Suffolk County home improvement license. Ours is HI-73429.

Floors in Long Island houses

The houses we work in each have their own flooring quirks. Split-levels and high ranches have short runs of stairs between levels, and every stair needs a nosing, the rounded front edge, that matches the new floor. Capes often have a second floor with sloped ceilings and small closets, which means a lot of cutting. Ranches near the bay can have slab floors or crawl spaces that get damp. Basements almost everywhere on Long Island have a concrete slab that can pull moisture up from the ground. We look at all of this at the walk-through, because it changes which floor makes sense and how much prep it needs.

Living with a floor project

Flooring means the room has to be empty. We can help move furniture within the house, but it helps to clear out small things, closets and anything fragile before we start. Tile cutting makes dust and noise, so we cut outside or in the garage when we can. New tile needs time to set before it can be walked on or grouted, and we’ll tell you which rooms are off limits and for how long. Every day we sweep up, and at the end we clean the new floor so it’s ready to use.

What to have ready for the walk-through

• Which rooms, closets and stairs you want covered
• What’s on the floor now, and if you know, what’s under it
• Any spots that squeak, bounce, or feel soft underfoot
• Samples or photos of the plank or tile you like, if you’ve started looking
• For bathrooms: whether the tub, toilet or vanity is staying or being replaced
• Whether the baseboard is staying or you want new trim with the new floor

Floors as part of a bigger job

New floors are often the last big step of a basement finish or a room remodel. Since our crew also does baseboard and trim and interior doors, the new floor comes with new trim that sits tight on it. We’re based in Medford and install floors and tile up to about 45 minutes away.