Custom Tile Installation in Central Pennsylvania
Tile Craft Artisans installs custom tile across Central Pennsylvania with two decades of experience. Founded by Eddie Batista, we tile showers, bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes, floors, luxury stone and commercial spaces for homes and businesses. Every job follows the same path: you request a quote, we visit and measure, and you receive a written estimate.
Request a quote or call (717) 275-5648
- Licensed and insured
- Active PA HIC #PA192729
- Two decades of experience
- Serving Central Pennsylvania
The photo shows a custom tile entry floor by Tile Craft Artisans, with a round mosaic medallion set into square mosaic tile.
What Does Tile Installation Involve?
Tile installation is setting porcelain, ceramic or natural stone tile with thinset on a prepared, flat surface, waterproofed in wet areas. The tile is then grouted and sealed. Every tile installation we do follows five steps.
- Measure the room and plan a precise layout, so cut tiles land evenly at walls and doorways. The layout is centered on the room or the main wall, so no row ends in a sliver.
- Remove the old surface and prepare the substrate, making it flat and adding backer board or an uncoupling membrane. A wood floor must be stiff enough for tile, commonly L/360 for porcelain and L/720 for natural stone (TCNA).
- Waterproof the wet areas with a bonded membrane, so water that passes the grout never reaches the wall or floor. A shower pan slopes about 1/4 inch per foot to the drain. A flood test proves it holds before tile goes on.
- Set the tile in the thinset the tile and surface call for, with full coverage under every piece. Dry indoor floors get at least 80 percent mortar coverage, and showers get 95 percent (ANSI A108.5).
- Grout the joints, caulk the movement joints at corners and edges, and seal what needs sealing. Movement joints sit at the perimeter and every change of plane, where rigid grout would crack (TCNA EJ171).
This tile installation process follows the TCNA Handbook and the ANSI A108 installation standards, the methods professional tile installers work to.
The same steps weigh most in luxury tile installation, where marble and large porcelain slabs show every flaw in the prep.
Which step matters most? Waterproofing matters most in a shower or wet room, and flatness matters most under large tile. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own, so the membrane and the flat base decide whether the job lasts.
Which Tile Installation Services Do We Offer?
A tile installation service is one tile job, named by the surface it covers. Ours cover showers, bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes, floors, walls, outdoor spaces, commercial buildings and tile repair. Each service has its own page with the method, the materials and the typical costs.
- Custom tile showers
Custom tile showers are built to the room, with a sloped, waterproofed pan under porcelain, marble or natural stone.
- Bathroom tile installation
Bathroom tile installation covers the floor, the walls, the tub surround and the shower of one room.
- Kitchen backsplash installation
Kitchen backsplash installation tiles the wall between the countertop and the upper cabinets, usually in 1 to 2 days.
- Tile floor installation
Tile floor installation sets porcelain, ceramic or stone on a stiff, flat subfloor in kitchens, baths and whole homes.
- Luxury tile
Luxury tile is Carrara and Calacatta marble, travertine, porcelain slabs and patterned layouts, set to a higher standard of flatness and finish.
- Commercial tile flooring
Commercial tile flooring is slip-rated porcelain and quarry tile for restaurants, restrooms, shops and offices, scheduled around your opening hours.
- Outdoor and patio tile
Outdoor and patio tile is frost-rated porcelain or dense stone, bonded to a sound concrete slab for Central PA winters.
- Wall tile installation
Wall tile installation covers bathroom walls, wainscoting, tub surrounds and kitchen feature walls.
- Fireplace tile installation
Fireplace tile installation covers the surround and the hearth in porcelain, marble or stone, set to the fireplace clearances.
- Tile repair
Tile repair replaces cracked, chipped or loose tile and renews failing grout without redoing the whole surface.
Beyond tile, we install vinyl and laminate flooring and build masonry in brick, block and stone. As a concrete contractor, we pour driveways, patios and foundations. Tile leads every job we take, and the other trades connect to it. A new slab can be poured under patio tile, and a brick fireplace can be repointed before its tile surround goes on.
Which Tile Materials Do We Install?
Tile materials are the fired clay, stone and glass products that tile is made from. We install porcelain, ceramic, natural stone (marble, travertine, limestone, slate), glass and mosaic tile, and large porcelain slabs. The table below compares where each material works, how it handles water and wear, and what care it needs. Use it to choose a material by room.
| Material | Best places to use it | Water and wear | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | Floors, showers, patios and commercial spaces | Absorbs 0.5 percent water or less (ANSI A137.1) | Wipes clean and needs no sealing |
| Ceramic | Walls, backsplashes and lighter-use floors | Absorbs more water than porcelain | Wipes clean; the cement grout is sealed |
| Marble | Shower walls, bathroom floors and backsplashes | Etches from acids such as lemon and vinegar | Sealed, then cleaned with a pH-neutral stone cleaner |
| Travertine | Floors, shower walls and backsplashes | A porous stone with natural holes | Sealed after installation and resealed on schedule |
| Limestone and slate | Limestone in low-traffic rooms, slate in entries and mudrooms | Limestone is soft; slate is dense and grips | Sealed, then cleaned with a pH-neutral stone cleaner |
| Glass and mosaic | Backsplashes, shower accents and niches; mosaics on shower floors | Glass absorbs no water; mosaics grip through their grout lines | Cleaned with a non-abrasive product |
| Porcelain slabs | Shower walls, backsplashes and feature walls | The same low absorption as porcelain tile | No sealing and only a few seams to clean |
Porcelain is the most durable of the common tiles, and natural stone tile suits rooms where its look is worth the sealing. We install Carrara and Calacatta marble among the natural stones. Porcelain slabs run about 6 millimeters thick and up to 63 by 126 inches (MAPEI, 2018). One panel can cover a whole shower wall. On a shower floor, small porcelain or stone mosaics grip best, because every grout line gives the foot an edge. Mosaics come on mesh-backed sheets, commonly about 12 by 12 inches. Travertine comes filled or unfilled, and honed or tumbled. For a floor walked on wet, the tile data sheet should show a wet DCOF of 0.42 or more (ANSI A326.3). Glazed floor tile carries a wear rating from 0 to 5, and 3 suits most home floors (ASTM C1027). Subway tile is a glazed rectangle, classically 3 by 6 inches. On bathroom floors, the usual choices are hexagon, penny round, basketweave and small herringbone mosaics. Herringbone and chevron layouts take 15 to 20 percent extra tile, according to RUBI (2026). A large-format tile has at least one edge of 15 inches, and the TCNA Handbook sets stricter flatness rules for it. Our comparison of the types of tile gives each material's pros, cons and costs in full.
What Sets the Price of a Tile Job?
Tile type and size, surface prep, waterproofing and layout set the price of a tile job. Typical tile labor runs $5 to $22 per square foot nationally in 2026 (RUBI). Four factors move the price of every tile job.
- Tile type and size. Natural stone and large-format tile cost more to buy and take longer to set than standard ceramic.
- Surface prep. Removing an old floor, levelling it and adding backer board or a membrane add labor before any tile goes down.
- Waterproofing. Showers and wet rooms carry the cost of a pan and a membrane that dry rooms do not need.
- Layout. Herringbone, diagonal and small mosaic layouts take more cuts, so they take more labor per square foot.
We quote every job after a site visit. The typical national ranges for labor, tile and prep are set out on our tile installation cost page.
How Long Is a Typical Tile Job?
A typical tile job takes 1 to 2 days for a backsplash and 2 to 4 days for a bathroom floor. A tiled shower needs about 1 to 2 weeks, counted from removal to cured grout.
The table below gives the usual time for each job, counted from removal to cured grout.
| Job | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Kitchen backsplash | 1 to 2 days: one to set the tile, one to grout it |
| Bathroom floor | 2 to 4 days |
| Kitchen floor | 3 to 5 days |
| Tiled shower | 1 to 2 weeks: about 7 to 10 working days, plus about 3 days of grout cure |
| Whole tiled bathroom with a tile shower | About 7 to 10 working days, since the floor and walls are tiled while the pan and flood test cure |
A tile job is working days plus waiting days, because thinset, grout and waterproofing each need time to cure. Standard thinset needs about a day before grouting. Light foot traffic is fine about 24 hours after grouting, and furniture can go back after about a week. A new shower waits about 72 hours after grouting, as most setting-material makers direct. Hidden damage found after removal, floors far out of level and special-order tile all add days. Thinset and grout cure slowly below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so a cold room takes longer. Only small jobs, such as a small backsplash or a powder room floor with rapid-setting materials, can be done in a day. The written quote gives the day count for your job, and the start date follows the tile arriving.
Why Do Central PA Homeowners Hire Tile Craft Artisans?
Homeowners hire Tile Craft Artisans for the tile work that has to last: waterproofed showers, flat floors and natural stone. We are licensed and insured, an active PA home improvement contractor (PA HIC #PA192729), with two decades of experience.
Tile Craft Artisans was founded by Eddie Batista, and tile is the trade the company is built around. Every tile shower we build is waterproofed before the tile goes on. Customers rate Tile Craft Artisans 5.0 out of 5 on Google and on HomeAdvisor (September 2026). We tile for homeowners and for businesses, from a single backsplash to whole floors and commercial kitchens. We serve all of Central Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Reading, Lebanon, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Hershey, Camp Hill and the towns between. Far towns such as Williamsport, State College and Altoona are part of the same service area. Our page for tile installers serving Central PA sets out the areas we cover, town by town. The reviews and photos below come from real Tile Craft Artisans jobs.
What customers say
Absolutely amazing job!!!! My bathroom was a rather large project but these guys did fantastic. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Eddie did an absolutely incredible job on our shower—we are beyond happy with how it turned out. The final result is not only beautiful but truly exceeded our expectations in every way. His attention to detail, craftsmanship, and pride in his work really show.
On top of his talent, Eddie is one of the kindest and most professional people we’ve had work in our home. He was always friendly, respectful, and made the entire process feel easy and stress-free. We felt completely comfortable having him in our space, which means so much.
If you’re considering a shower remodel, I genuinely cannot recommend Eddie enough. He is skilled, trustworthy, and truly passionate about what he does—you will be in the best hands!
Eddie did am amazing job! He came in (on moving day) and installed a beautiful kitchen backsplash for me. He was kind, respectful, and hardworking. He built trust immediately, and that was a big deal to me as a momma with two kiddos. His attention to detail in his work was clear, and he ensured the tiles in the corners lined up perfectly. I am not hard to please, but I was excited and grateful for the tedious work he endured to make my kitchen look amazing. Thanks, Eddie. 10/10, would recommend.
How Do You Get a Tile Installation Quote?
A tile installation quote is a written price for your job. You get one in three steps: you request it, we visit and measure, and you receive a written estimate.
- Request a quote with the form below or by calling (717) 275-5648.
- Book a site visit, where we measure the space and check the surface the tile will go on.
- Review your written estimate, which sets out the scope, the materials and the price.
The form asks for your town and the project type, so the site visit can be planned before we call you back. At the site visit we measure the area and check the floor or walls for flatness, flex and moisture. Then we talk through the tile. A written estimate follows. Ask any installer to show removal, prep, waterproofing, tile work and trim as separate lines, so quotes compare line by line. We take calls Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., at (717) 275-5648, and email reaches us at support@tcartisans.com.
(717) 275-5648 · support@tcartisans.com · Serving Central Pennsylvania
What Else Do Homeowners Ask Tile Craft Artisans?
Homeowners often ask whether we tile over old tile, who does the plumbing and which towns we cover. The other common questions are about flooring, concrete and masonry.
Can You Tile Over Existing Tile?
Yes, you can tile over existing tile when the old tile is flat, sound and well bonded; otherwise it comes out. Tiling over tile means setting the new tile directly on the old. The new layer raises the floor, so the doors, thresholds and toilet flange are checked before any tile is set. A second layer adds weight too, so a springy wood floor is checked for stiffness first. The full checklist is in our guide to tile over tile.
Do You Do the Plumbing for a Shower or Bathroom Remodel?
No; a licensed plumber moves or replaces the valves, drains, water lines and fixtures. We do the tile work: removal, prep, the shower pan and waterproofing, tile and grout. We plan the order of work with your plumber. The valve and drain are set first, then the pan and the tile.
Do You Install Tile in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York?
Yes; we install tile in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York, and in towns across all of Central Pennsylvania. More than 40 percent of homes in Harrisburg and Lancaster city date from 1939 or earlier (US Census Bureau, ACS 2024). Floors and plaster walls in homes of that age are checked for level and flex before the tile is chosen.
Local detail for the city is on our page on tile installation in Harrisburg.
Do You Also Install Vinyl, Laminate and Linoleum Flooring?
Yes; we install vinyl plank (LVP), luxury vinyl tile, laminate, linoleum and sheet vinyl. Vinyl, linoleum and sheet vinyl are resilient floors that give slightly underfoot, and laminate is a click plank on a fiberboard core. Tile stays our main trade, and these floors suit bedrooms, basements and family rooms where a warmer, quieter floor fits.
Do You Pour Concrete Driveways, Patios and Foundations?
Yes; we pour concrete driveways, patios, walks and slabs. We build and repair house foundations as well. Sidewalks and commercial concrete floors are part of the same work, and we do not pour stamped or decorative concrete.
Do You Build Masonry, Retaining Walls and Repair Chimneys?
Yes; we build brick, block and stone walls, retaining walls and flagstone, and we repair chimneys. Masonry is building with brick, block and stone set in mortar. Our chimney work covers crowns, caps, liners and repointing, and it does not include chimney sweeping or brick pavers.
Request a quote or call (717) 275-5648
- Licensed and insured
- Active PA HIC #PA192729
- Two decades of experience
- Serving Central Pennsylvania