Skip to content
Real Deal Builders

Service 08 / 16

Tile Work

Real Deal Builders is a tile contractor in Santa Clarita, and tile is one of the services we handle most often as part of a kitchen or bath project and as its own standalone scope. We install shower tile, floor tile, backsplash tile, and natural stone tile over prepared substrate and, in wet areas, over a proper waterproofing membrane. A tile install lasts as long as what sits under it, and the layer nobody sees is the layer you are actually buying. We install to the specifics of the material you chose and finish the grout and edges so the job reads as designed rather than improvised.

Finished walk in shower tiled floor to ceiling in marble look porcelain with a linear drain and black fixtures
Typical timeline
A few days to a couple of weeks
Trades we manage
Substrate prep, waterproofing, set, grout, seal
Permits
Not required for finish work
Typical scope
Backsplash, shower, floor, or natural stone install

Behind the work

How this comes together

01

The layers under a tile install

Every tile install is a stack of layers, and each layer has a job. The substrate has to be flat and firm. Backer board has to be fastened to spec. In wet areas, a waterproofing membrane has to cover the backer and turn into any drain or fixture penetration. Thinset has to be the right size for the tile format. Only then does the tile go on. We follow that stack because it is what keeps water out of the framing and keeps the tile bonded for the long haul.

This is the layer where cheap installs save money and where callbacks come from a few years later. We do not save money there, because it is the money that decides how long the finished job lasts.

02

Layout that reads intentional

The difference between a tile install that reads professional and one that reads sloppy is layout. Where the full tiles land, where the cuts fall, how the grid meets the drain, how the pattern turns a corner, how the backsplash ends against the cabinet or the window. We plan the layout before any tile is set so the finished job reads as designed rather than improvised.

Natural stone tile installation, large format porcelain, and specialty patterns like herringbone and chevron each ask for their own handling. We install to the specifics of the material rather than treat every tile the same, and we seal natural stone against stains as part of the finish.

Tile install layer cross section Five stacked layers, bottom to top: substrate, backer board, waterproofing membrane, thinset mortar, tile with grout. Anatomy of a tile install Five layers, each with a job 5 4 3 2 1 5 · Tile + grout Porcelain, ceramic, or natural stone. 4 · Thinset mortar Bonds tile. Trowel size matched to tile format. 3 · Waterproofing membrane Required in showers. Optional on dry floors. 2 · Backer board Cement or fiber. Fastened to substrate to spec. 1 · Substrate Floor sheathing or wall studs. Flat and firm. A tile install lasts as long as what sits under it. The layer nobody sees is the layer you are buying.
The layers under every tile install. A tile install is a stack of layers. Each layer has a job, and the substrate is what decides how long the finish reads flat. In wet areas the waterproofing membrane is the layer that keeps water out of the framing.

What this service includes

  • Tile work installation across kitchens, baths, entries, and floors
  • Shower tile installation over waterproofing membrane and backer board
  • Floor tile installation, small format through large format porcelain
  • Backsplash tile installation, cut cleanly around outlets and end pieces
  • Natural stone tile installation, sealed and detailed for the material
  • Substrate prep, waterproofing, and layout planning before the first sheet of thinset
  • Grout, sealing, and edge trim to finish the install cleanly

Recent work

Tile Work in the Santa Clarita Valley

Hands pressing a tile into fresh thinset over a combed mortar bed during a floor tile installation
Tile setter combing thinset with a notched trowel and setting floor tile to a straight line

Working with us

From first call to final walkthrough

  1. 01

    Free walk

    We come to your home or site, talk through what you want to change, and ask the questions that shape an accurate scope.

  2. 02

    Written quote

    A detailed, honest, written quote lands in your inbox. You know the scope and the number before any work begins.

  3. 03

    Trades in order

    We sequence the trades so each one sets up the next, with one point of contact holding the whole project together.

  4. 04

    Punch and walkthrough

    We walk every finish with you, correct anything on the list, and do not close the job until it is done rather than promised for later.

Keep exploring

Related services

Finished white shaker kitchen with a quartz waterfall island, pendant lights, and a professional gas range in a Santa Clarita home

Kitchen Remodeling

Full kitchen remodels in Santa Clarita, from a refresh to a complete layout redesign.

View service → Remodeled master bathroom in Santa Clarita with a freestanding soaking tub, curved glass shower enclosure, and a floating double vanity

Bathroom Remodeling

Full and master bathroom remodels with proper waterproofing under every tile.

View service → Completed two story home addition with floor to ceiling glass, a timber clad garage, and finished landscaping

Home Additions and ADUs

Room additions, second stories, and detached ADUs, from permit to completion.

View service →

Where we work

Real Deal Builders delivers this service across Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley, and the surrounding areas. Choose your city to see how we serve it.

Santa Clarita Tile Work in Valencia Newhall Saugus Canyon Country Stevenson Ranch Castaic Acton Agua Dulce Palmdale Edwards AFB Lancaster Quartz Hill Rosamond Mojave Lake Hughes Lake Los Angeles Frazier Park Thousand Oaks Moorpark Simi Valley Agoura Hills Newbury Park Westlake Village Oak Park Calabasas Hidden Hills Camarillo Fillmore Santa Paula Piru Sylmar Granada Hills Porter Ranch Chatsworth Northridge Mission Hills San Fernando Pacoima Sun Valley North Hollywood Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Studio City Encino Tarzana Woodland Hills West Hills Canoga Park Reseda Winnetka

Common questions

Frequently asked

The questions we hear most often, answered plainly. If your question is not here, call us and we will answer it the same way.

What kinds of tile work do you do?

We install shower tile, bath and kitchen floor tile, backsplash tile, wall tile, and natural stone tile. Tile work is one of the services we handle most often, both as part of a kitchen or bath remodel and as its own standalone scope.

Do you install shower tile with proper waterproofing?

Yes. Shower tile installation gets a waterproofing membrane over the backer board before any tile goes on, plus a properly sloped and bonded shower pan. That is the industry standard and it is what keeps the framing behind the wall dry.

Do you do backsplash tile installation as a standalone job?

Yes. Backsplash tile installation is a common standalone scope. It is a smaller project than a full kitchen and it changes the room meaningfully. We handle the tile, the layout around outlets and end pieces, and the grout and edge trim.

Can you install large format tile?

Yes. Large format tile, twelve by twenty four and up, asks for a very flat substrate and the correct trowel size for full mortar contact under the tile. Skipping that leads to lippage and hollow spots. We install to spec.

Do you install natural stone tile?

Yes. Natural stone tile installation, marble, travertine, limestone, and slate, is part of our regular work. Natural stone is porous and needs sealing, and different stones need different handling. We install to the specifics of the material you chose.

Do you do floor tile installation over an existing subfloor?

Sometimes. A subfloor for tile has to be very flat and rigid. Some existing subfloors work, others need an added layer of cement board or a self leveling underlayment first. We check and tell you what your specific floor needs.

How long does a tile job take?

A backsplash usually takes a couple of days. A bathroom floor takes a few days. A full shower tile install takes about a week including the waterproofing and grout cure. Larger scopes and natural stone can take longer.

Do you seal grout and stone tile?

Yes. Grout gets sealed as part of the finish. Natural stone gets sealed both before grouting and after, so grout does not stain the stone and stains do not soak into it in service.

How much does tile work cost?

Cost is driven by tile square footage, tile material, whether waterproofing is involved, and layout complexity. A simple square set backsplash and a large format herringbone shower with natural stone are very different projects. We price against a written scope.

Can you match my existing tile?

Sometimes. Older tile lines get discontinued, and an exact match may not be possible. We can often find a close match, or design a border, transition, or accent so the mix reads intentional rather than mismatched.

Planning a project like this?

When you are ready for a number on your own project, we will walk it with you and put the price in writing.

Get a free quote (818) 276-7344