When it comes to home renovation, few things mean as much to a homeowner as the finish work. All of the interior nuts and bolts are important to the integrity of the process, but it’s the coverings on the outside of all those pieces of wood that make the final impression. For this reason, flooring becomes a critical part of a major home renovation. The last thing a homeowner wants is for the tile work to look less than professional, placing a huge amount of importance on correctly selecting a tile contractor.

First, it is important to understand that many handymen and women in the world are capable of doing tile work. In fact, the average homeowner is capable of doing it, too, if enough time and effort is put into diligent research. If you’re doing a large project, or one that involves tile and not a full sheet of vinyl, there are plenty of reasons to go with the professionals and not with your neighbor, Bob.

Understanding the project at hand is vital when looking at how to pick a tile contractor. You will want to have a basic understanding of what happens during a tile install so you know what questions to ask during the initial screening process. This will also help give you an idea for industry standards as far as cost and project timeline. Thankfully, the Internet is full of all the information you could possibly want when it comes to projects in the home. If you haven’t started doing some research just to know what types of flooring might be best, this is absolutely the first place to start. You might be surprised to know that just because you want tile doesn’t mean it will be the best choice for your room. Homes that are older and have uneven floors are not the best candidates for tile products because the varied floor levels will make the seams prone to cracking. This may mean significant floor leveling requirements and other material needs that may not have been taken into account in the original budget. Do some research and see what questions you come up with before contractor selection begins.

If you have a handle on what you know and what you need to know from a professional, the next step in picking a tile contractor is asking trusted people around you who they recommend. There is a good chance someone you know, or someone a friend knows, has had some tile work done in their home. Ask them if they would refer the individual who did the work, and also ask them what they wish they had known before getting into the project. There is a lot of truth in the saying “hindsight is 20/20.” Talking to someone who has been through a floor remodel will help you prepare for your own.

This is also the opportune time to decide if you need a tile contractor. If you’ve already hired a general contractor, will he or she be able to do the work? General contractors often have an all-inclusive skill set, and while they might sub contract out on large jobs, there are many that can handle local tile work within their own team. There may not be a need for you to find a tile contractor on your own. You may not need one at all, or your general contractor may already have one he or she works with.

If your remodel is limited to just the floor and no other professionals are already involved, focusing on the family and friend recommendations is still Phase One.

Once you have some names to go on, go back to the Internet and see what types of reviews are coming up online. Remember to take what you read with a grain of salt; many of the reviews on websites are paid for or are written by people who unnecessarily want to damage someone’s reputation. Look for quality reviews that give details - good or bad. Look for patterns in what you are reading. Is this tile contractor always on time, or did the five reviews saying they never showed up indicate a red flag?

If your tile contractor choices have passed all the family/friend/internet investigation work, now you can feel good about initiating phone conversations with the candidates. While a lot of sources say not to judge a book by its cover, you absolutely should place a lot of importance on how this initial phone call goes. If you call into a business and are treated poorly, what makes you think those professionals would treat you any better in person? Make sure you feel good about the service you receive on that first call. If the individual who answers the phone isn’t able to answer all of your questions, see if there is a time you can schedule to talk to the actual contractor.

You can learn a lot during this initial interview, and that is what you should treat it as. This is someone you want to feel comfortable bringing into your home, so don’t feel shy when you get them on the phone. Make sure you ask about their credentials. Who have they done work for? Can you see any of their previous projects? Will they let you contact several clients for referrals? Will this tile contractor come to your home and do an assessment first? Are there any areas of tile work they are not comfortable working in? What does the contract look like? How are payment plans set up? Will they provide an itemized estimate? Who is responsible for cleanup?

All of these questions are very important and they offer you a baseline to compare companies against one another. While it may seem like a lot of work, writing down these answers or putting them into a spreadsheet can be very helpful when comparing what one contractor offers over another. Remember, price is not always the deciding factor. Someone may have an amazing price point, but if they didn’t treat you with respect on the phone or fill you with much confidence, would you really want to hire them for the job?

Take your time making this decision; don’t wait until the last minute. Most contractors operate on a monthly schedule. You want to make sure you get on their calendar in plenty of time or your project may not be done when you’d like it to be.