Services
Tile Installation in New Orleans
We install ceramic, porcelain and stone tile floors in homes and businesses across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner and the Northshore. Tile installation in New Orleans comes down to the floor under the tile: a raised wood floor has to be stiff enough and a slab has to be flat enough before the first piece is set.
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Tile installation on raised floors and on slabs
This page is for owners planning a tile floor in a kitchen, bath, entry or living area. It covers tile on raised floors and slabs, how a tile job runs, how to choose tile and grout, and what changes the cost. Our tile flooring page compares tile types in more depth.
The shotgun is probably the most common historic house type in New Orleans, according to the city's Historic District Landmarks Commission, and raised center hall cottages often sit on piers 5 feet or more above grade. Tile goes into raised homes and slab homes alike, but the prep is different.
Raised wood floors: stiffness first
The TCNA Handbook limits deflection in a framed floor under ceramic tile to L/360, meaning the floor shouldn't bend more than its span divided by 360. If the joists feel springy, they get stiffened before any tile goes down, and a backer board or membrane goes over the wood subfloor.
A dry crawl space
A crawl space should be dry, with a vapor retarder covering the ground.
Slab homes: settlement and cracks
NASA's JPL found notable subsidence in Metairie and in the Upper and Lower 9th Ward, and the City of New Orleans notes that in parts of the city, houses not built on deep pilings are seeing uneven settlement and cracking. So cracks in a slab get looked at and treated before tile goes over them.
How flat the floor has to be
For tile with an edge of 15 inches or longer, the ANSI A108.02 standard allows no more than 1/8 inch of variation in 10 feet, checked with a 10-foot straightedge. The Ceramic Tile Foundation warns never to use thin-set or heavy tile mortar to flatten a floor, so low spots get floor leveling first.
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How a tile job runs
Here's the sequence for a typical tile floor.
Remove the old floor
The old flooring comes up and gets hauled away.
Prep
The floor gets whatever it needs first, from backer board to leveling. See subfloor preparation.
Lay out
We plan the layout from the room's center lines so the cut pieces at the walls come out even.
Set
For ceramic and porcelain tile, ANSI A108 calls for 80% mortar coverage in dry areas and 95% in wet areas.
Grout and cure
Grout goes in once the mortar has set, the haze gets cleaned off, and the floor stays off-limits for the time the setting materials' maker calls for.
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How it works
Choosing tile and grout for a New Orleans home
The right tile depends on the room and how much water the floor will see.
- 01
Porcelain or ceramic
TCNA says standards define porcelain as tile with water absorption of 0.5% or less, and that tile carrying the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA) mark has been certified as true porcelain. If porcelain matters to you, ask for that mark.
- 02
Slip resistance in wet rooms
For baths and entries, look at the tile's wet DCOF rating. The ANSI A326.3 standard sets 0.42 or more for its interior wet class.
- 03
Tile and flooding
FEMA rates ceramic and porcelain tile set in mortar as acceptable flood-resistant flooring, but rates the same tile set with organic adhesives as unacceptable. NTMA's Katrina account lists ceramic tile among the floors that were lost, so "acceptable" under FEMA rules doesn't mean undamaged.
- 04
Grout care later
When the grout needs cleaning or sealing down the road, see our tile and grout cleaning and restoration service.
What affects the cost and timeline of a tile floor?
We price each floor after seeing it. These are the things that move the number and the schedule.
- Size and pattern Larger floors and layouts with many cuts take more labor.
- Removing the old floor Old tile or glued flooring has to come up cleanly before new tile goes down.
- Floor prep Stiffening joists in a raised home or leveling a slab adds days before tile goes down.
- Cure times Mortar has to set before grouting, and grout needs its cure time before traffic.
Where we install tile and how to get a free estimate
We install tile across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Harahan, Slidell, and Mandeville; see all our service areas.
For a free estimate, tell us the rooms and the tile you have in mind, and whether the house is raised or on a slab.
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Reviews
What Customers Say About TurnKey Floorings
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As a builder, I’ve worked with numerous flooring contractors over the years, but my experience with Turnkey Floorings stands out. They were extremely professional, and their installation of carpet flooring for a big project was flawless. The client was ecstatic with the outcome, and I look forward to our future projects.
Charlie Cleghorn
They have transformed my hotel! Their suggestion of flake flooring for the lobby was a hit, adding an unexpected touch of luxury. Their team was professional and completed the project on time. They are the best flooring contractors in New Orleans.
Eve Harper
I recently had epoxy flooring installed in my garage by Turnkey Floorings. The quality of their work exceeded my expectations. They were professional, punctual, and their attention to detail was commendable. I am really happy with the outcome and highly recommend them.
Frank Johnson
I’m so glad I hired Turnkey Floorings for our floor heating installation. Their service was top-notch, and the crew was very informative and friendly. They made sure to explain everything and answered all of our questions. I wake up every morning to warm floors, thanks to them.
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Their team was incredibly professional and helpful when it came to choosing the right carpet flooring for my home. The installation process was quick and efficient, leaving no mess behind. The end product was fantastic. They really live up to their reputation as a top-notch flooring contractor in New Orleans.
Mary Lawson