Tile Flooring Installation in Dunwoody, GA

The edges of a tile floor get more attention than the middle. A step that catches a toe, a raw tile edge at a stair or a front door that suddenly drags are the details people notice. A Dunwoody tile flooring installation should give transition height, water exposure and edge details their own lines in the scope, so none of them is settled in a hurry at the end.

Beneath the tile, we check how stiff and flat the base is and where the first layout line should go.

Planning the height at every doorway

The new floor’s height comes from the tile, the mortar and whatever membrane or backer sits underneath. We measure the floor on the far side of every opening and compare it with that build-up before anything is ordered.

Small differences can be bridged with a flush strip or a slim metal profile. Larger ones need a reducer that slopes down to the lower floor, or a threshold across the doorway. Knowing the numbers early lets you choose a thinner membrane or tile if a doorway is tight.

Steps, stair edges and exposed tile ends

Where tile stops at a step down into a room, at the front of a stair tread or beside a fireplace hearth, its edge is exposed. A stair-nosing profile or a matching bullnose piece protects that edge and gives the step a defined line, which also helps people see it.

Tiled stairs take more time than open floor, since each tread and riser is cut and set individually and the stair framing must be stiff. Exposed ends elsewhere, such as at an open wall or a carpet edge, get metal or PVC trim so they do not chip.

Exterior doors and wet entries

At a front or back door, new tile can raise the floor enough to interfere with the door sweep or the threshold seal. We check how the door closes and how the threshold sits before tile is chosen, so adjustments are planned rather than discovered.

Entries, bathrooms and laundry rooms all see water. In those areas, a waterproofing membrane under the tile protects the subfloor, and a tile with good slip resistance helps when shoes are wet. The transition at each wet-room doorway must account for the membrane’s thickness.

Grout width, color and the layer below

These three are picked together: joint width, grout color and the layer under the tile. Joint width depends on the tile’s size and edges. Color affects how dirt shows and how visible the grid is. The membrane determines height, water protection and how well the floor handles small cracks below.

Stiffness, flatness and the first layout line

We test wood subfloors for flex and look at slabs for cracks and movement. Flatness is checked across the room with a straightedge, and corrections are listed in the estimate. Room squareness is measured so the first layout line can be placed where any taper will be least visible, and door clearance is noted for every swing.

Permit checks in Dunwoody

Dunwoody is in DeKalb County. If the floor project also takes in structural, plumbing or electrical work, you can check with City of Dunwoody Community Development, Permits and Inspections whether those parts need a permit.

Order of work, stairs included

After the substrate is prepared, the membrane is installed and layout lines are snapped. Tile is set in mortar suited to its size, cured, then grouted, with stair nosings, trim and transitions finished last. The finished floor is then checked for movement joints, grout width and any part of the slab or subfloor that was corrected.

The estimate lists rooms, stairs or steps, preparation, membranes, tile, grout, transitions and exclusions. Tile floors that are part of a larger bath project are covered under Dunwoody bathroom remodeling.

Questions about stairs, doors and thresholds

Can tile be installed on stairs or a single step?

Yes. Each tread and riser is measured, cut and set individually, and the front edge is finished with a stair-nosing profile or a bullnose tile so it is protected and easy to see. The stair has to be solid, since any movement will crack grout. Tiled stairs take more labor than flat floor, so they are usually priced separately.

Will new tile at my front door stop the door from closing?

It might, if the floor rises enough to hit the door sweep or the bottom of the door. We check the door, the threshold and the clearance before choosing materials. Fixes include adjusting or replacing the threshold, trimming the door or selecting a thinner build-up so the door closes and seals properly.

What is the difference between a reducer and a threshold?

A reducer is a sloped profile that steps a higher floor down to a lower one, such as tile meeting thin vinyl. A threshold, sometimes called a saddle, sits across a doorway and can be flat or beveled on one or both sides. Which one fits depends on the height difference and the look you want.

Ask about steps and doorways

To talk through the rooms, doors and steps involved, call 404-409-4448. We can visit, measure every opening and give you a written estimate.