Tile installation
Tile is one of the most common requests we hear from homeowners, and it does not have to come attached to a full kitchen or bathroom remodel. At Atlas Design & Build, we work as a tile contractor on standalone projects, from a single shower surround to a full home's worth of floors, not only as part of a larger renovation. We bring the same standard of planning, waterproofing and finish work to a standalone tile job as we do to any full renovation. We work throughout Bucks County, Montgomery County and the Lehigh Valley, including Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, Langhorne, Warrington and the surrounding communities.
Not every tile job needs a demolition crew or a new floor plan. If your bathroom needs a new shower surround, your kitchen needs a backsplash or your entryway needs a floor that holds up to daily traffic, we take that on as a standalone project. We handle the substrate prep, waterproofing and layout with the same care we bring to a full remodel, scaled to the size of the job.
Our scope
Every tile project starts with a conversation about the space, the traffic it sees and the look you are after. From there we handle layout, substrate prep, waterproofing and installation, start to finish.
Full height showers, tub surrounds, niches and floor tile, waterproofed and installed to hold up under daily use.
Custom pattern layouts, mosaic and natural stone backsplashes installed cleanly around cabinets, outlets and appliances.
Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone floors set level and true, with attention to transitions and grout lines.
Tile and stone surrounds that reset the focal point of a living room or family room.
Durable floor tile for the rooms that take the most daily wear.
Marble, travertine and mosaic detail work for accent walls, floors and shower niches.
Frost rated tile and stone set for Bucks County's freeze-thaw climate.
Cracked tile, failing grout and dated patterns replaced without redoing the whole room.
One-piece fiberglass or cultured marble surrounds replaced with a fully tiled, waterproofed shower, without remodeling the rest of the bathroom.
Electric heating mats under bathroom and mudroom tile, planned with a dedicated circuit and a programmable thermostat.
Our approach
Tile work fails when the prep underneath it is rushed. Waterproofing membranes, proper substrate and correct layout planning determine whether a shower holds up for twenty years or needs to be redone in five. We treat a standalone tile project with the same discipline as a full remodel because that is what makes the finished work last.
We are an owner-operated team working directly across Bucks County, Montgomery County and the Lehigh Valley. One of us is on site managing the work directly, not handing it off to a rotating crew. That is true whether the project is a full kitchen or a single bathroom floor.
Local knowledge
What sits under the tile changes with the age of the house. These are the conditions that shape tile work in homes across Bucks County, Montgomery County and the Lehigh Valley, and how we handle each one. We are EPA Lead Safe certified for homes built before 1978.
Many bathrooms from the 1950s and 1960s, common in Langhorne, Middletown Township and the South Side of Easton, have wall tile set in a thick mortar bed over metal lath. It is durable, but removing it takes the wall down to the studs, so we plan for that from the start.
In neighborhoods built from the 1970s through the 1990s, including Lower Makefield, Newtown Township and Warrington, showers were often tiled over moisture-resistant drywall and 12 by 12 ceramic floors crack where the subfloor flexes. We rebuild the substrate rather than tiling over the same problem.
In the boroughs of Doylestown, Newtown and Yardley, Easton's West Ward and College Hill and farmhouses in Williams Township and Solebury, floors have settled and walls are rarely square. We level and stiffen floors first and plan layout so grout lines read straight.
Hex, basketweave and penny mosaics still turn up in older homes, and Doylestown's Moravian Pottery and Tile Works still makes handmade tile from Henry Chapman Mercer's designs. We repair or match original mosaics and plan setting and grout around handmade tile.
Basements and slab-on-grade lower levels in split-levels and ranches take tile well once the slab is tested for moisture. We use crack isolation or uncoupling membranes so movement in the concrete does not crack the tile, including over radiant heat.
Homes on private wells in Solebury, Williams Township and other rural areas see scale and iron staining. We choose stone, grout, sealers and finishes, such as honed or matte surfaces, with the water in mind.
Service area
We install tile throughout Bucks County, Montgomery County and the Lehigh Valley, as standalone projects or as part of a larger remodel.
Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, Langhorne, Warrington, Chalfont and New Hope, including Doylestown Township, Newtown Township, Lower Makefield Township, Middletown Township, New Britain Township and Solebury Township.
Horsham, Lansdale, Blue Bell, Ambler, Hatboro, North Wales and the surrounding communities.
Easton, Forks Township, Palmer Township, Williams Township and Bethlehem Township.
Client experience
John and his team were top notch from start to finish. Their professionalism shined throughout the whole process. The attention to detail was second to none.
I can't say enough good things about our experience with Atlas. John made the process stress free. They were courteous and timely and the final product was even better than we expected.
If you're looking for quality craftsmanship, Atlas Design & Build is the one to call. Their attention to detail was incredible, and the final result exceeded our expectations.
How we work
A 20 to 30 minute conversation about your home, your goals and your timeline. We talk openly about investment so you know early whether we are the right fit. Complimentary.
We visit your home to see the space, take initial measurements and talk through your ideas and inspiration. Within two business days you receive a written budget range for your project. Complimentary.
This is where your project takes shape. We take full measurements and develop your layout, drawings and selections, refining them with you over two rounds of revisions. The design phase ends with an exact fixed price for your project. Your design fee is credited toward construction.
We present your complete proposal: scope, finishes, investment and timeline in one place. Your start date is set once the agreement is signed.
We protect your home, keep the site organized and send you an update every Friday covering what was completed, what comes next and any decisions we need from you. You walk through each milestone with us before it is invoiced.
We walk every space with you and complete any final details. You receive a closeout package with your warranty, product list and care guide. We check in at 30 days and again before your one year mark.
Questions
Yes. We work as a tile contractor on standalone projects, from a single shower surround to a full floor. You do not need to be planning a full kitchen or bathroom remodel to work with us on tile.
Cost depends on the size of the space, the material and the condition of what is underneath the existing tile or flooring. We walk the space and give you a detailed written proposal before any work begins, so you know the full scope and price before committing.
A single shower surround or backsplash typically takes one to two weeks once materials are on site. Larger floor projects or multi room jobs run longer. We build the schedule with you upfront and share it in writing.
Yes. Every wet area we tile, showers, tub surrounds and bathroom floors, gets a proper waterproofing membrane before any tile goes down. This is not an upgrade, it is part of how we build every wet space.
Cracks that run across several tiles usually point to movement in the floor below, such as joists that flex too much or tile set without a proper underlayment. We find the cause first, because new tile over the same floor will crack again.
Yes. We remove the surround, repair or replace the wall framing and backer, install a waterproofing membrane and tile the shower. We can do this without remodeling the rest of the bathroom.
Yes, once we confirm the slab is dry and flat. Porcelain holds up well below grade because it absorbs almost no water, and we add a crack isolation or uncoupling membrane so small movements in the concrete do not crack the tile.
Often. Hex, basketweave and penny mosaics are still made in traditional sizes, so small damaged areas can be patched. For larger areas, we can replace the floor in a matching pattern.
Yes, as long as the floor is flat and stiff enough. Large tiles need a flatter floor than small ones, so we check both before installation and level the floor or recommend a mid-size tile where needed.
Get in touch
A good tile project starts with a real conversation. We walk the space, talk through what you want and tell you what it would take, whether that is one room or the whole house.