Construction Estimating

Floor tile patterns are part of many home décor options, and getting the tile laid in correctly is a critical part of the process. Getting a good estimate of the amount of tile you need, the pattern it gets laid out in, the type and style of tile and the total dimensions of the room are critical elements of a good tile estimating job.

The first thing you do when doing tile estimating is get the exact dimensions - down to about half an inch - of the room that you're going to tile. In particular, note if foundation settling means that the room isn't exactly rectangular anymore. This isn't an insolvable problem, and setting up a good tile bed solves this issue and several others adroitly.

Second, look at the pattern of tiles you want to lay. The first rule of laying tile flooring is that you never want to cut a tile in anything other than halves - so take some time with drafting or tile laying software to see how you'd lay out the jigsaw puzzle of tile pieces on your floor to make the most attractive room you can, using the fewest number of pieces.

Third, when buying tile, understand that tile, brick and related construction materials come in batches. It is ALWAYS better to buy a little more than you need, say 5 to 10%. This helps cover you in the event of an oops, a broken tile, or simple expansion of the grouting. Buying tile from different batches means that you're almost certainly going to get tiles with slightly different shades and hues, which may not be the effect you want.

When doing tile estimating, it pays to get both software quotes, and quotes from the people who will be doing the actual work. The software quotes, available online, gives you a baseline to work from when comparing competing bids. It also provides a good set of "gotcha" catchers, to make sure you don't miss something important. Those tile estimating software sites are good, but recall that they'll probably be "under the mark" for what a professional job will run you - they're meant to lure new customers in to the business.

Setting up a good tile estimate is one of the foundational steps towards improving the value of your home. Make sure you take the time to do proper tile floor estimating and you will be rewarded with satisfaction of a job well done and greater resale value.

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