John Cooper Tile

I couldn't be happier with this experience! After my last bathroom remodel I was a little weary about starting this one, but John came highly recommended and I couldn't have asked for a better tiler or completed job. PROFESSIONAL - John was on time each and every time he said he was going to show up or do something. If he had to stay late to finish what he said he was going to do, then he did. - John's estimate was the exact cost for the job - no surprises at the end. - John was cautious on the job site, even hosing off the driveway every night to wash down any tile dust. - John takes pride in his work and it shows in the final product. SKILL - John floats the shower walls, which is proper for a shower. No concrete board. (Concrete board will eventually settle and leak, and because it flexes like drywall it's actually more difficult to get a level surface to install tiles.) When the glass contractor came to measure for the shower glass he said, "Whoever did your tile did a great job. Everything is within 1/16 to 1/32 which is awesome. I've seen some really bad tile work that makes it impossible for me to install the glass properly." - All surfaces that were supposed to be sloped, like the curb, had the proper slope to ensure proper water movement. - John bull nosed all the edges of the exposed corners. This is a detail often neglected by less skilled tile setters because bull nosing is a skill that is difficult to master. Other tilers send their bull nose work to John, and based on my bathroom I see why. - John's attention to detail was top notch. For example, where the shower wall met the drywall in the bathroom, he cut 1/2" strips of tile to fill in the surround, instead of just filling the gap with grout. I also had a new pocket door, and he came back and installed a 1" x 2" piece of tile under the door so you couldn't see bare concrete under the door. - He made recommendations on grout color and helped me avoid a mistake that would have been a big detraction from the beautiful marble. And he made other recommendations, like adding enhancer to the sealer, that made a big difference in the overall look. PRICE - I got one other estimate from a similar quality tile setter, and John's price was nearly the same. - If you're looking for the cheapest possible shower install, you can find someone to use concrete board and you'll save on the up front cost. But 1) Using concrete board is cutting corners, like taking the lazy way out of doing something properly, 2) If the tile setter is willing to cut corners by using concrete board, they're probably going to cut corners on sealing the shower pan properly, 3) Because of the above two reasons, sooner or later you will get water damage, and 4) your tile will never look as good than if it had been properly floated. When you start your project and you find someone to quote the tile install by floating the walls, ask them if they'll help save costs by using concrete board. If they say no, they float or they don't do the job, then you have found someone worth considering. (My two cents.) OVERALL EXPERIENCE - John was always timely. His estimated price was accurate - no surprises at the end. The job site was clean. He suggested changes to my plan that made a big difference in the completed bathroom looking better than I had imagined. He was attentive to every detail. It is obvious he takes pride in his work and goes the extra mile to ensure you're happy with the job. I wonder how in this day and age how his business survives without a web page. Being a Gen-X'r I have come to expect that from companies and professionals, and am normally leery of places that don't have a defined web presence. But there is something to be said for someone who has set tile for over 15 years and in the slow economy of 2011/12 still has eight jobs lined up after mine. But if you're the type that needs a web presence to make you feel comfortable, I Googled him and found him on FB, and there are examples of his work on this tile store's web site: http://www.tileencountersventura.com/portfolio.html