Floor Tile Installation in Greater Boston
At Davie Mac Tile, we’ve been installing floor tile across the Greater Boston area since 2001 — 25 years of porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, large format, and cement tile installations done the right way. Owner Davi Santos is a CTI Certified Installer (#1344), NTCA member, and Schluter and Laticrete certified. Every floor we install is built on proper subfloor prep, the right setting materials, and careful workmanship. That’s why our work lasts.
Floor Tile Types We Install
We install every major category of floor tile residential and light commercial clients call us for. The right choice depends on the room, the traffic, and the look you want.
Porcelain Tile — Dense, durable, low absorption — porcelain is the workhorse of modern floor tile. Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, mudrooms, and basements. Handles heavy foot traffic and moisture without issue when installed correctly.
Ceramic Tile — A solid choice for lower-traffic floors and budget-conscious projects. Ceramic is easier to cut and slightly more forgiving than porcelain, but proper substrate prep still matters. Best suited for interior floors away from high moisture.
Natural Stone — Marble, travertine, slate, limestone, granite. Stone floors bring warmth and character no manufactured tile can match, but they demand expertise — proper sealing, correct setting materials, and patient layout work. We’ve installed natural stone floors in Newton, Brookline, Wellesley, and across the North and South Shores.
Large Format Tile (24×48, 32×32, and Larger) — Large format is the dominant look in modern Boston-area homes, but it’s unforgiving. Lippage, hollow spots, and cracked tiles all come from skipped prep. We follow TCNA and ANSI standards for substrate flatness (1/8″ in 10 feet for tiles with any side 15″ or longer), back-butter every tile, and use Schluter DITRA or DITRA-HEAT underlayment where conditions call for it.
Cement Tile — Cement tiles bring bold pattern and color that no other material can match. They’re also one of the most demanding materials to install — they’re porous, they stain easily if not sealed properly, and they require specific setting materials and handling. We have the experience to install cement tile correctly and protect your investment.
How We Install Floor Tile
Every floor we install follows a consistent process. No shortcuts, no guessing.
Subfloor Inspection & Assessment — We check deflection, moisture, flatness, and condition of the existing subfloor before we quote anything. A floor that flexes too much will crack tile and grout no matter how well it’s installed. If the subfloor needs reinforcement, we tell you before the job starts, not halfway through.
Substrate Preparation — This is where most tile failures start — and where we spend the time others skip. We self-level where needed, install the correct underlayment (cement board, Schluter DITRA, or DITRA-HEAT for radiant floors), and bring the substrate to the flatness spec required for your tile size.
Layout Planning — Before any thinset comes out, we plan the full layout. This is where we find the best visual starting point, minimize awkward cuts at doorways and focal walls, and confirm the pattern works in the actual room. For complex patterns like mosaics, we do a full dry fit to ensure every detail is right before setting. A rushed layout is a floor you’ll stare at for 20 years and wish was different.
Setting with the Correct Thinset — We use Laticrete and Mapei modified thinsets matched to the tile type, substrate, and conditions. Large format tiles get LFT (Large and Heavy Tile) mortar and full back-buttering. Natural stone gets stone-appropriate mortars that won’t cause staining. Every tile gets checked for full coverage — no hollow spots under a finished floor.
Grout, Seal, and Finish — We grout with the right product for the joint width and tile type — epoxy grouts where durability and stain resistance matter, high-performance cement grouts elsewhere. Natural stone, cement tile, and porous tiles get sealed. We clean the floor, walk it with you, and answer any questions before we call the job done.
The Materials We Trust
We’ve worked with every major setting material brand on the market. After 25 years, we install with three:
Laticrete — Industry-leading thinsets, grouts, and waterproofing. We’re Laticrete certified, which means we’ve been trained and tested on their full system — and we carry the manufacturer’s warranty backing when we install it correctly.
Schluter — The gold standard for underlayment, waterproofing, movement joints, and transitions. We’re Schluter certified, and DITRA is our default uncoupling membrane on floors that need it — especially over wood subfloors and radiant heat installations.
Mapei — A reliable alternative for thinsets and grouts where the job specifies it. We carry Mapei on every truck alongside Laticrete.
We don’t install with whatever’s cheapest at the big box store. Materials matter, and we tell you exactly what’s going into your floor.
Floor Tile Installation Pricing
Most of our floor tile installations start at $15 per square foot for labor on standard porcelain or ceramic over a prepared substrate. Final pricing typically lands between $15 and $30+ per square foot depending on the scope of work:
- Tile type and size — large format, natural stone, cement tile, and intricate patterns require more time and precision
- Subfloor condition — self-leveling, structural reinforcement, or backer board installation adds cost
- Uncoupling membrane — Schluter DITRA, DITRA-HEAT, or Laticrete Strata_MAT, each priced differently based on project needs
- Radiant heat installation — DITRA-HEAT system, coordinated with your electrician
- Pattern complexity — herringbone, diagonal, and mixed-size layouts take longer than straight sets
- Demo and disposal of existing flooring
- Waterproofing requirements
Every estimate we write is itemized — labor, setting materials, and any additional prep work are broken out separately so you know exactly what you’re paying for. No vague lump sums, no surprise add-ons.
See Us in Action
25 years of floor tile installations across Greater Boston — porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, large format, decorative patterns, and wood-look plank tile.
Why Homeowners Choose Davie Mac Tile
CTI Certified Installer (#1344) — Certified through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. Less than 5% of tile setters in Massachusetts hold this credential.
25 Years of Experience — Installing tile professionally since 2001. We’ve completed thousands of projects and solved virtually every tile installation challenge.
5-Star Google Reviews — Homeowners consistently rate us 5 stars for quality workmanship and professional service.
Factory Trained — Schluter Systems and Laticrete certified for proper waterproofing, underlayment, and installation systems.
Large Format Tile Specialist — NTCA certified for large format porcelain installation, including tiles up to 48″ requiring specialized techniques.
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Greater Boston Service Area
We serve 100+ communities within 50 miles of Boston. See our full service area and town-by-town coverage.
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Floor Tile Installation FAQ
How long does a floor tile installation take?
Most residential floor tile jobs take 2–5 days depending on square footage, substrate prep, and grout cure time. A standard bathroom floor is typically 2 days; a large kitchen or open-plan first floor can run 4–5 days. We give you a realistic timeline at estimate and stick to it.
Do I need to remove my old floor before you arrive?
No. We handle demo and disposal as part of the job. If you’d like to remove the old flooring yourself to reduce cost, we’ll adjust the estimate accordingly — but most clients prefer we do it so the subfloor is inspected the same day.
Can you install tile over my existing floor?
Sometimes. Tile-over-tile and tile-over-vinyl installations are possible when the existing floor is sound, flat, and well-bonded — but it’s not always the right choice. We inspect the existing floor before recommending whether to overlay or demo and start clean.
What tile brands do you recommend?
We don’t sell tile — we install it — so we work with whatever you’ve chosen. That said, we’ve had consistently good results with Daltile, MSI, Emser, Florida Tile, and specialty stone suppliers around Boston. If you’re still shopping, we’re happy to give honest feedback before you buy.
Do you install radiant heated floors?
Yes. We’re Schluter certified and install DITRA-HEAT systems regularly. If you’re considering heated floors, let us know at estimate so we can size the system correctly and coordinate with your electrician.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Davie Mac Flooring Inc is fully insured, BBB A+ rated, NTCA member, and Davi is CTI Certified Installer #1344 — the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation’s third-party certification for proven installation skill. We carry all documentation and are happy to provide it.
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