Tile contractors in Philadelphia should do more than make your new tile look good—they should ensure the surface beneath it is properly prepared, level, protected from moisture, and built to support a lasting installation. At Cumming Construction, we provide professional tile installation throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding area for bathrooms, custom showers, kitchens, backsplashes, floors, and complete home remodeling projects.
With more than 25 years of remodeling experience in the Philadelphia area, Cumming Construction understands that quality tile work starts long before the first tile is set. From uneven floors in older Philadelphia homes to waterproofing a new shower, proper preparation is what separates professional tile installation from a project that may develop problems later.
Professional Tile Installation in Philadelphia, PA
Professional tile installation in Philadelphia involves much more than attaching tile to a wall or floor. The existing surface must be evaluated, the layout carefully planned, appropriate setting materials selected, and every cut, transition, grout line, and edge properly finished.
Cumming Construction provides tile installation for a variety of residential projects, including:
- Bathroom tile floors
- Custom tiled showers
- Shower walls, benches, and niches
- Kitchen backsplashes
- Kitchen flooring
- Entryway and mudroom floors
- Fireplace surrounds
- Ceramic and porcelain tile
- Natural stone
- Mosaic and decorative tile
- Large-format tile
Because we are a full-service remodeling contractor, we can also coordinate tile installation with the other elements of your renovation instead of treating the tile as an isolated project.
Why Does Professional Tile Installation Matter?
Professional tile installation helps prevent uneven tile, cracked grout, poor drainage, moisture problems, loose tiles, and premature failure. The finished tile is only as reliable as the surface and installation system underneath it.
Before installing tile, an experienced contractor should consider the condition and flatness of the substrate, moisture exposure, waterproofing requirements, tile dimensions, layout, grout joints, transitions, and the materials appropriate for the application.
These details become especially important in bathrooms and showers, where water can expose installation problems that aren’t immediately visible when a project is completed.
Bathroom Tile Contractors in Philadelphia
Bathrooms are one of the most common places Philadelphia homeowners use tile—and one of the places where workmanship matters most.
As experienced bathroom tile contractors in Philadelphia, Cumming Construction can incorporate tile into a complete bathroom renovation, including bathroom floors, shower walls, niches, benches, tub surrounds, accent walls, and other custom features.
Tile selection should also consider how the bathroom will actually be used.
Porcelain is often chosen for bathroom floors and showers because of its durability and low water absorption. Ceramic provides extensive design flexibility. Mosaic tiles can add texture or detail to shower floors and niches, while large-format tiles can create a cleaner appearance with fewer grout lines.
The right option depends on the room, desired appearance, maintenance preferences, and installation conditions.
Custom Shower Tile Installation in Philadelphia
A custom tiled shower can completely transform a bathroom, but the most important parts of the shower are often the ones homeowners never see.
A properly built tiled shower requires an appropriate substrate, waterproofing system, drainage, slope, setting materials, and carefully planned tile layout.
Water needs to move toward the drain rather than collect in low areas. Niches, corners, benches, curbs, fixtures, and transitions all require careful attention because they introduce additional areas where water must be properly managed.
Once the preparation is complete, the tile layout determines the finished appearance.
Cumming Construction can install classic subway tile, large-format porcelain, marble-inspired tile, natural stone, mosaics, decorative patterns, contrasting shower floors, niches, benches, and other custom shower features.
Kitchen Tile and Backsplash Installation
Tile isn’t limited to bathrooms. A professionally installed backsplash can become one of the defining features of a remodeled kitchen.
Cumming Construction provides kitchen tile installation in Philadelphia for backsplashes, floors, accent areas, and larger kitchen remodeling projects.
Popular backsplash options include subway tile, handmade-look ceramic tile, porcelain, natural stone, mosaics, herringbone layouts, and full-height tile installations.
The best backsplash isn’t necessarily the trendiest option. It should work with the countertops, cabinets, flooring, fixtures, and architectural character of the home.
When the kitchen itself is being remodeled, having one contractor coordinate these elements can create a more cohesive finished space.
Tile Installation in Older Philadelphia Homes
Philadelphia has an incredible variety of housing, including historic rowhomes, twins, townhomes, older single-family properties, condos, and newer construction.
Older homes can present unique challenges during tile installation.
Floors may have settled over decades. Walls aren’t always perfectly square. Previous renovations can leave multiple layers of flooring or unexpected materials beneath the finished surface.
Installing new tile directly over a problematic surface doesn’t fix the underlying problem.
Before tile is installed in an older Philadelphia home, the existing floor or wall should be evaluated to determine whether leveling, repair, reinforcement, removal, or other preparation is necessary.
Cumming Construction’s decades of experience renovating homes throughout the Philadelphia area allows our team to evaluate the entire project—not just the finished tile.
What Type of Tile Is Best for Your Home?
There isn’t one “best” tile for every Philadelphia home.
Porcelain tile is durable, moisture-resistant, and well suited to bathrooms, showers, kitchens, and high-traffic areas.
Ceramic tile offers extensive options for colors, shapes, textures, and patterns and is commonly used for walls and backsplashes.
Natural stone provides unique character and a high-end appearance but may require more maintenance depending on the material.
Mosaic tile works well for decorative accents, shower floors, niches, and areas where smaller pieces allow greater design flexibility.
Homeowners should consider durability, moisture exposure, slip resistance, maintenance, grout requirements, room size, and the overall style of the home before making a final selection.
What Should You Look for in a Philadelphia Tile Contractor?
When comparing Philadelphia tile contractors, don’t evaluate the contractor based only on the price of the finished tile installation.
Ask how the underlying surface will be prepared.
For bathroom projects, ask how waterproofing will be handled. For showers, discuss drainage and slope. Ask how the tile layout will be planned and how difficult transitions, corners, niches, outlets, plumbing fixtures, and edges will be finished.
A detailed tile estimate should also make it clear what is—and isn’t—included in the scope of work.
The quality of a tile project often depends on preparation homeowners never see once the renovation is finished.
Common Tile Installation Mistakes
Many tile problems originate below the finished surface.
Common issues can include:
- Installing tile over an unsuitable or uneven substrate
- Inadequate waterproofing in wet areas
- Poor shower drainage or slope
- Inconsistent grout lines
- Poorly planned tile layouts
- Awkward cuts around edges and fixtures
- Using materials that aren’t appropriate for the application
- Failing to address movement or transitions
- Tiling over existing damage instead of correcting it
Correcting these problems after a project is completed can be significantly more difficult than addressing them during the original installation.
That’s why Cumming Construction focuses on the complete installation—not simply the visible tile.
Philadelphia Tile Installation From Cumming Construction
Cumming Construction provides professional tile and remodeling services throughout Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, the Main Line, and surrounding communities.
Our service area includes Philadelphia as well as communities such as Havertown, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood, Bala Cynwyd, Narberth, Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Media, and Newtown Square.
Whether you’re updating a bathroom in a Philadelphia rowhome, adding a backsplash to a Main Line kitchen, or planning a complete renovation in Delaware County, our team can help coordinate the tile work with the rest of your project.
Why Choose Cumming Construction?
Cumming Construction has served homeowners throughout the Philadelphia area for more than 25 years.
Our experience extends beyond tile installation to complete bathroom renovations, kitchen remodeling, flooring, carpentry, and other home improvement projects. That broader remodeling expertise matters when tile work involves plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, flooring transitions, walls, subfloors, or other parts of the home.
Instead of looking at tile as a standalone surface, we consider how it fits into the entire renovation.
The result is a project designed around craftsmanship, proper preparation, thoughtful planning, and the long-term performance of the finished space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tile Contractors in Philadelphia
How much does tile installation cost in Philadelphia?
The cost of tile installation in Philadelphia depends on the size of the space, tile material, installation pattern, demolition requirements, condition of the existing surface, waterproofing needs, and complexity of the installation. Custom showers and intricate patterns generally require more labor than straightforward floor or backsplash installations. An in-home evaluation provides the most accurate estimate.
Do tile contractors install waterproofing?
For wet areas such as showers, waterproofing should be addressed as part of the installation system. The specific waterproofing method depends on the shower design, substrate, and materials being used.
Can you tile over existing tile?
Sometimes, but it isn’t automatically the best option. The existing tile and underlying surface need to be stable, properly bonded, appropriately prepared, and suitable for the new installation. Removing the existing material may be preferable if there are underlying problems.
What tile is best for a shower?
Porcelain and ceramic are common shower choices because of their durability and extensive design options. Shower-floor tile should also be selected with traction, drainage, tile size, and the shower design in mind.
How long does a tile installation take?
The timeline depends on the project’s size and complexity. A kitchen backsplash may take considerably less time than a complete bathroom or custom tiled shower. Demolition, substrate repairs, waterproofing, setting and curing requirements, grout, and finishing work can all affect the schedule.
Does Cumming Construction provide complete bathroom remodeling?
Yes. Cumming Construction can handle tile installation as part of a larger bathroom renovation, allowing the shower, flooring, vanity, fixtures, lighting, storage, and other elements of the project to be coordinated together.
Looking for Tile Contractors in Philadelphia?
If you’re comparing tile contractors in Philadelphia, look beyond the finished tile. Proper preparation, waterproofing, layout, setting materials, drainage, and craftsmanship all play a role in how your tile installation looks and performs over time.
Cumming Construction provides professional tile installation and remodeling services throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding area, including bathroom tile, custom showers, kitchen backsplashes, flooring, and complete kitchen and bathroom renovations.
With more than 25 years of Philadelphia-area remodeling experience, we understand the challenges that can come with both older homes and modern renovations—and we approach every tile project as part of the home’s complete construction system.
Ready to start your tile project? Contact Cumming Construction today to request an estimate for tile installation in Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, or the Main Line.