I'm in the middle of a $100,000 home renovation. I spent $4,500 for Builder’s Custom Flooring to repair the walls (post demolition of prior tilework), and install about 56 square foot of back-splash. For the record, backspash tile with installation typically costs between $10 and $40 per square foot. Their price comes to more than $80 per square foot. This is no problem for us because we wanted a top-quality job. BCF sent out someone to measure and plan the job, who works with an experienced installer. He explained exactly how the job will be done, including replacing drywall. Just prior to the job, they dropped off all the supplies on our front porch, including enough drywall to repair the walls behind the backsplash. On the day of the job, their regular (experienced) installer wasn't available, so they send out an independent general contractor who had never installed glass tile before, and arrived without a blueprint. He went to work on the job without discussing many of the details with us. Even if he had, we expected an experienced tile expert to figure out the details for us. This was the reason we payed double the typical high-end rate. When the job was "complete", the general contractor admited that he doesn’t normally do backsplashes, and has never worked with glass tile. When he completed, the drywall, intended to be used to prep the surface for tile-installation, was still sitting on the porch. The tile was installed over top of the prior demolition work, with only minor repairs. The back-splash was even installed over top of holes in the wall, and everything. It looks BAAAAD. It looks like what I could have done myself, if I had been in a hurry. Months later, they send out the owner, whose job is apparently to schmooze customers, and tell them everything they want to hear, and then, apparently, disappear... He tells us all sorts of little tidbits, such as how you should never bevel glass edges (which was done in an attempt to make the tile fit in aluminum schluter that was the wrong size for the tiles). Now, it’s been months again since the owner came out. The kitchen is completely butchered. They just called my wife today. They are going to send the same general contractor, who, again, knows nothing about this type of tile, to do a little touch-up. A little touch-up? How about coming and fixing the kitchen you butchered, starting with fixing the drywall that it is installed on? What a mess! For $4,500, do yourself a favor and find a reputable place. I just paid $80 per square foot, and I’m probably going to have to hire another company to tear it all out and start again.
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